One of the last trips we took while in Colorado was to Mesa Verde National Park (Mesa Verde - Spanish for Green Table). It is one of 13 national parks in Colorado. With over 52,000 acres, it preserves and protects nearly 5,000 archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings and over three million objects and archives.
On June 29, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt established Mesa Verde National Park to “preserve the works of man”. It is the first, and still only, US national park of its kind. Here is preserved an extraordinary record of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made this place their home for more than 750 years, from A.D. 550 to A.D. 1300.
We decided to stay at the Far View Lodge inside the park. It was a good decision since the Visitor Center and most of the sites are 15, very winding, miles from the entrance to the park.
The drive into the park is beautiful.
We upgraded to a newly renovated room. Although the room was quite nice, you would think for $160 a night, it would at least have a TV!
View from our balcony.
We got to the park in late afternoon and after dinner at the Far View Terrace restaurant, we headed to the Far View sites. There are a few self-guided sites where you are allowed to walk around without a Ranger.
Far View House was the first mesa top site excavated. Work began in May 1916 and was completed in less than four months.
The Far View area was one of the most densely populated regions of Mesa Verde. At peak population, there were at least 50 occupied villages within a half square mile area.
Far View House was built around A.D. 1000 and occupied for nearly 300 years. Wood recovered from the site indicates that there is most likely an older structure below Far View House.
I found it amazing that any of the structure was still standing.
Sunset over Mesa Verde.
Next time - A full day at Mesa Verde.
Teri
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