AZTEC Home of the Great Kiva and Six Old Sorehads

Nestled among cottonwood trees along the Animas River, the City of Aztec is a vibrant community with an enchanting story to tell. Named after 12th century Pueblo-an ruins, the City of Aztec has been a thriving community center for almost a millenia.

HISTORY BUFFS will be charmed by the historic Aztec community predating New Mexico statehood and will enjoy the Aztec Museum and Pioneer village, as well as a historic walking tour of the original Aztec town site. 

Aztec Ruins National Monument will mesmerize CULTURAL ENTHUSIASTS. Located within Aztec city limits the Monument is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering lectures on everything from archaeoastronomy to Native American mythology. Visitors to Aztec in March can attend the nationally renowned Aztec UFO Symposium and can tour the site of the 1948 UFO crash.

ADVENTURE SEEKERS in search of an adrenaline rush or a healthy dose of New Mexico sunshine will find over twenty-five miles of competitive mountain bike trails, as well as countless hiking trails and outdoor excursions. Aztec is less than thirty minutes from Navajo Lake State Park, as well as from world-class fly fishing in the Quality Waters of San Juan River.

SOREHEADS Every community has them, fortunately, Aztec's soreheads are a cut above the rest.  The tradition of Aztec's soreheads began in the 1960s and was initiated by the Aztec City Commission as a means of injecting some humor into the community and recognizing outstanding community members and volunteers. Today, the Sorehead tradition continues thanks to the Talon, Aztec's local newspaper. Every year "Soreheads" are nominated by the community, each nominee participates in a friendly competition to acquire the most community votes. Residents "vote" for their favorite Sorehead by contributing cash donations to each nominee's "campaign", the top six nominees with the most votes win the revered "Sorehad" title and are unveiled in a community parade every fall. In addition to creating a unique history for Aztec, the Sorehead tradition has tangible value for the community; every year the Soreheads donate their "campaign contributions" to a local charity or nonprofit, proving they're not so "sore" after all. 

Sorehead Signs depicting caricatures of the Six Old Soreheads welcome visitors to Aztec as they enter city limits. Next time you visit Aztec, don't forget to stop by the Aztec Visitor Center and take a picture with the official Sorehad sign, we even created a cut-out in the sign for you so can be an honorary Sorehead for a day. Stop by and visit, be a part of the tradition!