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All the United States New Mexico Albuquerque Calabacillas Arroyo Artificial Fossils

Calabacillas Arroyo Artificial Fossils

From a T-rex to a teapot, a cast of artificial fossils illustrates New Mexico's history.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Liz Fox
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Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus   Liz Fox / Atlas Obscura User
More mesozoic fossils   Liz Fox (Atlas Obscura User)
A priest depicts the of arrival of Spanish colonials   Liz Fox / Atlas Obscura User
A wagon wheel represents Western expansion   Liz Fox / Atlas Obscura User
Triceratops   Liz Fox / Atlas Obscura User
Past meets future   Liz Fox / Atlas Obscura User
A revolver and jail lock recall the Wild West   Liz Fox / Atlas Obscura User
The channel tunnels   Liz Fox / Atlas Obscura User
A chalice reminds of missionary churches   Liz Fox / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Created by artist Michael Wallace and a team of around 300 volunteers and school students, the artificial fossils of Calabacillas Arroyo is a large-scale art installation in Albuquerque. Inspired by the way that buried fossils serve as a timeline of natural history, it serves as an interpretive timeline of New Mexican history from the Precambrian era through the unknown tomorrow. 

The arroyo itself is an important flood-control structure that empties into the Rio Grande as well as a major public open space in the city. The addition of the artwork in the '90s, which is designed to be an "open space scavenger hunt," led to the arroyo's current motto of "Flood Control, Open Space, and Art." In the arroyo, you'll find life-sized T-Rexes and triceratops alongside human artifacts of local history, including Robert Oppenheimer's car and the "Fat Boy" atomic bomb (a nod to the nuclear research at nearby Los Alamos).

While the most obvious fossils are cast in white, don't miss more subtle features impressed and carved into the red walls. Take your time and stay curious while exploring this walking tour of New Mexico history.

Related Tags

Geology Fossils Art Art Outside

Know Before You Go

Finding the trail can be tricky. Head north on Coors Blvd NW (north of Irving), take a right on Westside Blvd NW. The entrance is on the left, where Westside Blvd intersects with Riverfront Drive. Follow the access road to the right to the parking area.

Safety in the arroyo is subject to weather conditions. Be cautious of heavy rainfall as the channel can flood quickly.

There is no fee and no shade.

Community Contributors

Added By

Liz Fox

Edited By

Alex Mayyasi

  • Alex Mayyasi

Published

October 2, 2020

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Sources
  • https://amafca.org/projects/calabacillas-arroyo/
  • https://amafca.org/calabacillas-arroyo-flood-control-artwork-fossils-and-art-poster/
  • https://amafca.org/documents/Calabacillas_Flyer.pdf
  • https://www.amafca.org/calabacillas-arroyo-flood-control-artwork-fossils-and-art-poster/
  • https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23471316/bones-on-the-arroyo-wall/
  • https://amafca.org/projects/Calabacillas-arroyo/
  • https://books.google.com/books?id=eQryDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT69&lpg=PT69&dq=calabacillas+arroyo+artificial+fossils&source=bl&ots=KUytgOXVF5&sig=ACfU3U2gWpemdeN0inDVL8cnCzzuI6RnYQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj2l82g1P_rAhWDZd8KHeZ1CtoQ6AEwFnoECAcQAQ#v=onepage&q=calabacillas%20arroyo%20artificial%20fossils&f=false
Calabacillas Arroyo Artificial Fossils
Albuquerque, New Mexico
United States
35.184944, -106.653495
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