Approximately 700 years ago, ancestors of the present day people of Jémez (Walatowa) Pueblo, constructed a large pueblo in the narrow San Diego Canyon and called it "Giusewa," a Towa word that refers to the many hot springs found nearby. They lived peacefully for many generations.
Franciscan missionaries accompanied the Spanish colonization. Between 1621 and 1625, the Franciscans designed a massive, stonewalled church and convento (priests quarters) at Giusewa. They named their church San José de los Jémez. This mission complex was constructed with Pueblo labor. According to contemporary reports, the construction was "sumptuous and curious" in its design and beauty.
The church is unusual for its massive size and rare, octagonal bell tower. Colorful frescos that once decorated the interior walls were revealed during archaeological excavations in 1921 and 1922.
San José de los Jémez was abandoned by 1640. The pueblo of Giusewa was occupied until the Pueblo Revolt against the Spanish in 1680, when the Jémez people abandoned it and relocated to more defensible sites in nearby mesas.
Visit Jémez State Monument and experience the history and the beauty of this historical site. The ruins are among the most impressive in the Southwest.
The cache is located outside the Monument property.