Cortez in Montezuma County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 14, 2020

1. Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

Inscription.

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. .

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument encompasses 164,000 acres of southwest Colorado. It was established on June 9, 2000, to protect the cultural and natural resources of the canyons and mesas.

For hundreds of years, the canyons and mesas that make up what is now the Four Corners were inhabited by the Ancestral Puebloans. Today, some areas have more than 100 sites per square mile and some village sites cover 10 acres or more. Archaeologists estimate that there are tens of thousands of sites within the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument , the highest density of archeological sites in the nation.

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is administered by the Bureau of Land Management.

Lowry Pueblo , Located on County Road CC, about 12 miles west of Pleasant View, Lowry Pueblo is a 1,000-year-old Ancestral Puebloan village. It was constructed around AD 1060 and was inhabited for about 165 years. It started as a small village with a single kiva. By the time the village was abandoned it had grown to 40 rooms and had eight kivas and a Great Kiva.

Anasazi Heritage Center , Your starting point in exploring the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is the Anasazi Heritage Center. Located on Highway 84, about 3 miles west of Dolores, the center has exhibits, galleries, and interactive programs on the Ancestral Puebloan resources found throughout the Four Corners.

McElmo Canyon , Traversing the southern edge of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is the historic route of McElmo Canyon (County Road G). This road allows visitors access to hiking trails in a number of side canyons, including Sand and Rock Creek canyons, that contain Ancestral Puebloan sites in natural sandstone alcoves.

[Top photo caption reads] , The Anasazi Heritage Center is your first stop in exploring Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.

[Bottom left photo caption reads] , Rock Canyon site in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.

Please Remember: Cultural resources are not renewable. All sites, artifacts, and historical items are protected by the Archaeological Resource Protection Act of 1979

For hundreds of years, the canyons and mesas that make up what is now the Four Corners were inhabited by the Ancestral Puebloans. Today, some areas have more than 100 sites per square mile and some village sites cover 10 acres or more. Archaeologists estimate that there are tens of thousands of sites within the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument — the highest density of archeological sites in the nation.

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is administered by the Bureau of Land Management.

Lowry Pueblo
Located on County Road CC, about 12 miles west of Pleasant View, Lowry Pueblo is a 1,000-year-old Ancestral Puebloan village. It was constructed around AD 1060 and was inhabited for about 165 years. It started as a small village with a single kiva. By the time the village was abandoned it had grown to 40 rooms and had eight kivas and a Great Kiva.

Anasazi Heritage Center
Your starting point in exploring the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is the Anasazi Heritage Center. Located on Highway 84, about 3 miles west of Dolores, the center has exhibits, galleries,

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and interactive programs on the Ancestral Puebloan resources found throughout the Four Corners.

McElmo Canyon
Traversing the southern edge of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is the historic route of McElmo Canyon (County Road G). This road allows visitors access to hiking trails in a number of side canyons, including Sand and Rock Creek canyons, that contain Ancestral Puebloan sites in natural sandstone alcoves.

[Top photo caption reads]
The Anasazi Heritage Center is your first stop in exploring Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.

[Bottom left photo caption reads]
Rock Canyon site in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.

Please Remember: Cultural resources are not renewable. All sites, artifacts, and historical items are protected by the Archaeological Resource Protection Act of 1979

Erected by US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and San Juan Mountains Association.

Topics. This historical marker and monument is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Environment • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is June 9, 2000.

Location. 37° 20.953′ N, 108° 34.37′ W. Marker is in Cortez, Colorado, in Montezuma County. Marker is on Mildred

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 14, 2020

2. Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

At the Colorado Welcome Center kiosk, but on a side not photographed

Road north of Main Street (U.S. 160), on the left when traveling north. Marker is at the Colorado Welcome Center kiosk. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 928 East Main Street, Cortez CO 81321, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Welcome to the San Juan Skyway (here, next to this marker); Four Corners Resettled (here, next to this marker); The Native Americans (here, next to this marker); War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Owl Café (approx. 0.6 miles away); Cortez Public School (Calkins) (approx. 0.6 miles away); Belmont Bar (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cortez.

Also see . . .
1. Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. (Submitted on November 16, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Anasazi Heritage Center at Wikipedia. (Submitted on November 16, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 16, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 16, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 151 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 16, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.