Río Grande del Norte National Monument (Part 2)

The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is a steel deck arch bridge that spans 1,272 feet across the Rio Grande Gorge. It is also called the "High Bridge" or the “Gorge Bridge.” The bridge was designed by Herman Tachau and engineered by Charles E. Reed, with construction completed from 1963-1965. It quickly became known as the bridge to nowhere since U.S. Route 64 abruptly ended after crossing the bridge and New Mexico lacked funding to continue the highway west for several years. In 1997, the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The exact height of the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is disputed with various sources citing the height of the bridge as anywhere between 565-650 feet. Regardless of the exact number, this makes it the seventh highest bridge in the U.S.

The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge has appeared in the films Natural Born Killers, Twins, White Sands, She's Having a Baby, The Signal, Paul, Vacation, Wild Hogs, and Terminator Salvation.

The tarantula hawk (Pepsis grossa) is the state insect of New Mexico. According to the Schmidt sting pain index, this wasp has the second most painful sting of any insect behind only that of the bullet ant.

Earthship Biotecture is an eco-construction and self-sufficient living company located northwest of Taos, NM about two miles away from the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. Founded by Micheal Reynolds in the 1970s, the company specializes in building earthships, which are homes made of natural and upcycled materials that are designed with thermal mass construction to take advantage of passive solar energy and natural ventilation. They are typically off-the-grid and rely minimally on public utilities and fossil fuels. Although Earthship Biotecture lies just outside the border of the Río Grande del Norte National Monument, its uniqueness and proximity make it worth a quick visit.

At least 130 people live in more than 70 earthships spread out over 630 acres at the Greater World Earthship Community.

Residents of the Greater World Earthship Community have a clear view of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Access beyond this point is restricted to employees of Earthship Biotecture and residents of the Greater World Earthship Community.