The site preserves the archaeological remains of the 16th-century Native American Gíusewa Pueblo and the 17th-century Spanish colonial mission called San José de los Jémez.

The site is about 6 acres (2.4 ha) in size, and includes partially stabilized remains of a Native American pueblo and a Spanish mission compound.

Portions have been finished in the traditional mud plaster style, and have had partial restorative and preservative work done on the wall tops to limit erosion.

Portions of the pueblo have been excavated and are open to visitors, while others have been backfilled or plastered over to limit damage by erosion or weather.

The Jémez people continued to occupy the pueblo, and even built a square kiva in one part of the mission compound.