Under the wide open skies of scenic New Mexico, Sandia Memory Gardens is a haven of peace and solitude in the midst of a splendid natural setting. Located in the city of Albuquerque, the cemetery lies just off of I-25 on San Pedro Drive. Established in the 1950s, Sandia Memory Gardens is a well-manicured, beautifully landscaped park surrounded by the grandeur of the Sandia Mountains.

Known for its sunny, dry climate, Albuquerque is a bustling city with a rich history. Settled in the 1706 as a Spanish colonial outpost, the city is now a thriving metropolis merging many different cultural influences. The Petroglyph National Monument is a testament to the settlers of the region. The park protects not only several volcanic cones, but also many archaeological sites and an estimated 20,000 images carved into the landscape. These images read like a history book, written first by ancient Puebloans and other native groups, then added to by Spanish and Mexican settlers, and finally by Northern European pioneers in the last two centuries.

Nearby, the Sandia Mountains, which can be viewed from the cemetery, rise up and greet visitors to Albuquerque. This magnificent range is aptly named, given that Sandia is the Spanish word for ?watermelon?. It is thought that the pink hue of the mountains at sunset, coupled with the thin line of green conifers that edge them, are what inspired the name. These millennia-old peaks, paired with the serene beauty of the desert region make the Sandia Memory Gardens a tranquil setting for repose.