Mesita: History at the Foot of Mount Taylor

Mesita lies on the Rio San José at the foot of Mount Taylor and brings together its own founding story, church traditions, and connections to Route 66. If you’re looking for hotels in Mesita, this local context can help you assess the destination according to your interests. The village’s origins, the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, and the historic road segment between Laguna and McCarty’s are particularly telling.

Location and Founding of Mesita

Mesita is located in the Laguna Pueblo Reservation, on the Rio San José and at the foot of Mount Taylor. In the early 1870s, conservative tribal members from Laguna founded a new community there after leaving Laguna Pueblo. Their goal was to build a new community. The river and mountain place Mesita in the landscape; its founding story tells how the village came into being. These local connections complement one another but describe different aspects: the geographical location and the community’s origins.

Church History and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church

An older church connection is the chapel built in 1915 and dedicated to Saint Anthony. The construction of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church is distinct from it: work began in March 1936, with Mesita residents helping. A life-size image of Our Lady of Guadalupe hangs in the rear of the Mesita Church. The church’s history thus includes both the older chapel and the later church construction; the image is a specific detail of the church interior.

Highway 66 and the Historic Road Segment

Mesita lies one mile north of Highway 66. Another Route 66 connection is the 17.7-mile road segment from Laguna to McCarty’s. It is accessible via I-40 Exit 117 at Mesita and passes through the Route 66 Rural Historic District. The district encompasses about 216 acres and seven buildings. These figures refer to different measurements: one mile describes Mesita’s location relative to Highway 66, while 17.7 miles is the length of the road segment. The area and number of buildings, in turn, describe the district, not the length of the route.

Mass Times and Visit Planning

In summer, the Mesita Church’s mass times are occasionally exchanged with those of other villages. Changes to mass times in Mesita are announced in the Sunday bulletin. If you’re planning to attend a service, check the bulletin before your visit; this will help you account for occasional changes when planning your schedule.

The Mesita Village Feast on August 15

The village celebrates its three patron saints on August 15. The Mesita Village Feast is also celebrated on this date. If you’re planning your trip around the Feast, check in advance whether it is open to the public and what details apply to the event. These are separate considerations when planning: for a service, the mass time matters; for the Feast, check access and event details.

Discover more destinations: Pueblo Of Acoma, Grants.

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