Mesa Verde [Colorado] National Park

"Mesa Verde [Colorado] National Park" by the United States Department of the Interior is a guide that acts as a window into the past, unveiling the mysteries of Mesa Verde National Park and its ancient cliff dwellings. This publication, written in the late 1930s, chronicles the story of the prehistoric Pueblo people who built their homes within the cliffs and canyons while emphasizing the importance of preservation. Readers are introduced to a timeline of discovery and excavation, including the various cultures, from early Basket Makers to advanced cliff dwelling societies and how their ruins are preserved today. The guide paints a picture of strategic importance, natural beauty, and geography that made Mesa Verde both a refuge and a home for its early inhabitants, inviting to discover the unique ruins and cultural practices that define this landscape.