Explore the real-world places that appear in Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Laguna Pueblo, Mount Taylor, Gallup, Los Alamos, Jackpile Uranium Mine and 5 more.
Tayo's home reservation
Tayo returns here after WWII, struggling with trauma and disconnection from his community. His Auntie and grandmother live here, representing traditional Pueblo values. This is where Tayo begins his healing ceremony guided by traditional stories.
Laguna Pueblo was established around 1400 CE by Ancestral Puebloan peoples. Spanish colonizers arrived in the 1600s, followed by American territorial control in 1846. The pueblo has maintained its sovereignty and traditional governance.
Laguna Pueblo remains an active Native American community with about 8,000 enrolled members. The pueblo operates gaming enterprises, maintains traditional pottery and weaving practices, and continues ceremonial traditions.
Sacred mountain to the north
Tayo sees this sacred mountain throughout his journey, serving as a spiritual compass. Old Betonie conducts healing ceremonies with Mount Taylor visible, connecting Tayo to traditional Pueblo geography and cosmology.
Named by Spanish explorers after Saint James, this extinct volcano rises 11,301 feet above sea level. It has been sacred to Pueblo peoples for over a millennium, serving as a boundary marker and ceremonial site.
Mount Taylor is protected as part of the Cibola National Forest. Mining controversies continue as Native tribes fight to protect this sacred site from uranium and coal extraction.
Visit: Mount Taylor / Cibola National Forest (park)
Border town with bars and traders
Tayo and Harley drink here, representing the destructive escape many veterans sought in alcohol. The town symbolizes the corrupting influence of white society on Native communities, where traditional people lose themselves.
Founded in 1881 as a railroad town, Gallup became a major trading center for Native American goods. It earned the nickname 'Indian Capital of the World' but also became notorious for exploiting Native peoples.
Gallup remains a trading hub with numerous pawn shops, trading posts, and Native art galleries. It continues to struggle with issues of poverty, alcoholism, and cultural exploitation while serving as an economic center for surrounding reservations.
Visit: Gallup (landmark)
Atomic bomb development site
Though not directly visited, Los Alamos represents the culmination of uranium mining that devastated Native lands. Tayo connects his war trauma to this larger pattern of destruction beginning on his own homeland.
Los Alamos was secretly established in 1943 as the primary site for developing atomic weapons. The Manhattan Project employed thousands of scientists and workers in complete secrecy until the bombs were dropped in 1945.
Los Alamos National Laboratory continues as a major nuclear research facility. The town remains economically dependent on weapons research while grappling with its role in nuclear proliferation.
Site of environmental destruction
Tayo sees the environmental devastation caused by uranium mining and connects it to the global pattern of destruction. The mine represents how Native lands were exploited to create weapons of mass destruction.
The Jackpile Mine operated from 1953 to 1982, producing over 24 million tons of uranium ore. It left behind massive contamination and health problems for the Laguna Pueblo people, including cancer and birth defects.
The mine site underwent cleanup efforts costing over $600 million, though contamination persists. It stands as a symbol of environmental racism and the costs of nuclear weapons development.
Ancient Pueblo sacred site
Tayo visits ancient sites like this during his healing journey, connecting with ancestral presence and traditional stories. These places help him understand his place in the continuing story of his people.
Archaeological evidence suggests this 430-foot sandstone mesa was inhabited by Ancestral Puebloan peoples from 1200-1400 CE before they joined other communities at Laguna Pueblo below.
The mesa remains a sacred site for Laguna Pueblo people. Archaeological preservation efforts protect ancient structures while respecting ongoing ceremonial use by the community.
Traditional Laguna village
Represents traditional Pueblo life continuing despite outside pressures. Tayo encounters elders here who maintain old ways and help him understand the importance of ceremony in healing.
Established as one of Laguna Pueblo's satellite villages, Paguate has maintained traditional architecture and social organization while adapting to modern challenges like uranium mining nearby.
The village continues as a residential community within Laguna Pueblo, maintaining traditional practices while dealing with ongoing environmental and economic challenges.
Life-giving waters
Tayo finds healing near water sources throughout his journey. The river represents the continuing flow of life and the importance of water ceremonies in Pueblo culture.
The San Jose River has supported Pueblo agriculture for centuries, providing irrigation for corn, beans, and squash. Spanish colonizers and later American settlers also depended on this water source.
The river continues to flow seasonally, though uranium mining and other development have affected water quality. Restoration efforts work to protect this crucial water source.
Ancient mesa-top pueblo
Represents the enduring strength of Pueblo culture and the connection between different pueblo communities. Tayo's healing journey connects him to this broader network of traditional communities.
Acoma has been continuously inhabited since at least 1150 CE. Built on a 367-foot mesa top, it provided defense against raiders while maintaining agricultural fields below.
Acoma remains inhabited year-round by several dozen families while hundreds more maintain homes there. It operates a cultural center and casino while preserving traditional pottery and other arts.
Visit: Acoma Pueblo (historic site)
Uranium mining boom town
Represents the industrial boom that disrupted traditional life and brought environmental destruction. The town symbolizes how outside economic forces exploit Native lands and resources.
Grants exploded during the uranium boom from the 1950s-1980s, growing from a small railroad town to a mining center. The boom brought prosperity but also environmental and health problems.
The uranium industry collapsed in the 1980s, leaving Grants to diversify its economy. The town struggles with the legacy of radioactive contamination while developing tourism and other industries.
More by Leslie Marmon Silko: All Leslie Marmon Silko books