Bridges on the Rio Grande: Santo Domingo and Sile Bridge--New Mexico

Monday, May 31, 2010

Santo Domingo and Sile Bridge--New Mexico

So, here we go on our first mission. This morning my brother in law Dave Miller and I set out for a quick trip up the Rio Grande to Sandoval County. The Bridge at Sile, New Mexico is my first stop.

This is a little known structure that lies on the river between Santo Domingo Pueblo and the Village of Sile.

It doesn't get a tremendous amount of traffic because not many folks use it or even know of its existence on State Road 22. And so far there is a dearth of historical information on Sile, NM which lies on the west side of the Rio Grande between Santo Domingo and Cochiti Pueblos. Across the river lies the Baca family home village of Pena Blanca.

The bridge is narrow and aging, but sturdy. Its coordinates are N35º 31.593' W106º 22.371' at an elevation of 5200 feet. Click here to see a satellite map at the google site.

I have always liked the little village of Sile and the pueblos that surround it and Pena Blanca on all sides. There are about 2500 acres or so that comprise the two villages. They could see a lot of growth as new Corrales style communities with the advent of the Rail Runner Service at Santo Domingo.

1 comment:

deeAugust 27, 2017 at 11:31 PM
This is great!!! Just came across this article by accident. You are talking about Pena Blanca the place where I grew up. I knew Jim Baca and his father Delfin, my uncle. Leonor, his wife was sister to my grandfather Godofredo Armijo who raised me and my two brothers. Godofredo's son Valentin Armijo was my father. I am Delia Armijo Lara, Age 81. It's so much fun finding something like this on the internet. I especially liked to see my great grand fathers Manuel Armijo's tomb stone. off course I got caught up reading about the pueblos Bridges etc. Great stuff.
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The Great River

This blog of bridges over the Rio Grande certainly will not be a definitive work. I am just doing it for the fun of it in my retirement. It is my intention to take a picture of every bridge over the Rio Grande from the Head Waters to the Gulf of Mexico.

For better quality views always click on the picture. Also, there will be many links about the history of the area where the bridge spans the Rio Grande. I will eventually put the bridges in the correct order from North to South, but in the meantime I am experimenting. I would greatly appreciate suggestions and sources that might be tapped.