Description
The mission church of La Purisima Concepcion in the Quarai ruins lies empty in central New Mexico. Quarai is one of three distinctive parts of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument and was once home to a thriving community. Prior to the arrival of Don Juan de Onate in 1598, the area was the location of a large pueblo village. Thereafter, with successive Spaniards bringing their faith to the area, Quarai remained inhabited until 1678, when disease, drought and Apache raids led to its abandonment.