Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde is a Spanish phrase meaning “green table.” It is easy to assume that the name was given by the Native American people who once inhabited this area and whose homes can still be found carved into the sandstone walls within the boundaries of Mesa Verde National Park, however that is not the case. The name actually originated when Spanish explorers happened upon the region in the 1760’s and 1770’s while seeking a rout from Santa Fe to California.
Although these Spanish explorers are credited with naming the area and consequently the national park, they never did discover the ancient stone villages which are carved into the steep sandstone walls. The remarkable stone villages would remain a secret for another century.
In the late 1800’s ranchers started moving into the area and as these ranchers started to discover the ruins they began to loot the area and destroy many of the structures.
In 1891 a Finnish/Swedish explorer named Gustaf Nordenskiold began to document and photograph the ruins. He published a book called “The Cliff Dwellers of the Mesa Verde” which is largely responsible for getting the word out about the area, and eventually leading to it’s establishment as a national park.
Mesa Verde National Park was established as a national park on June 29, 1906 amidst growing concerns for the preservation and archeological well-being of the ruins for which the park is so well-known.
In addition to the cliff-dwellings, Mesa Verde boasts a number of mesa-top ruins such as the Far View complex, the Sun Temple, and the Badger House Community. The park also contains many hiking trails, a campground and facilities for lodging, dining and fueling up your vehicles.
To learn more about Mesa Verde National Park and the Mesa Verde lodging options available, visit: http://www.NationalParkReservations.com/mesaverde.htm