Petroglyph National Recreation Site A volcanic ridge rising between the desert and the snowy slopes of 12,000-foot Sierra Blanca Peak is inscribed with more than 5,000 etched symbols. This is one of the largest collections of petroglyphs in the Southwest. The site of the Gadsden Purchase of 1854, which made this territory part of the U.S., Mesilla is known for its restaurants, museums, and art galleries, and it retains much of the charm of bygone days. In countless shops and markets, you have access to the popular culture of historical and contemporary Mexico. With more than 40 restored buildings, the historic village of Lincoln looks much like it did in 1878 when Billy the Kid and others ignited the bloody Lincoln County War.
Scientists here listen for intergalactic transmissions.
The site was featured in the movie, Contact.