Even though Colorado didn't become a state until 1876, residents of all different backgrounds called the area home for centuries prior. From miners to pioneers, Native Americans to explorers, there is no shortage of history to go around, as demonstrated by this historic place in Colorado that is nothing short of fascinating:
Welcome to Mesa Verde National Monument; a whopping 52,485 acres that has been designated both a World Heritage Site and U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Built by Ancestral Puebloans between 1190 CE and 1260 CE, Mesa Verde consists of an incredible 4,300 sites, ranging in elevations from 6,000 to 8,572 feet.
Just who were the Ancestral Puebloans? The 12th-century tribe is remembered for not only creating the intricate dwellings (which provided provided protection against invading groups through the absence of ground-floor doors and windows), but also for growing sustainable farms, hunting local venison, and creating high-quality pottery and baskets, some of which can still be seen today.
(In addition to designing the dwellings for protection against invading groups, the homes were built up high to also repel both native wildlife and inclement weather.)
Because of a devastating drought and lack of food, the cliffs were abandoned in 1300 and remained forgotten until local farmers stumbled upon the sandstone, mortar and wooden dwellings in 1888.
Mesa Verde was designated a official National Park in 1906 and has since welcomed nearly 600,000 visitors!
Mesa Verde National Park is located 35 miles west of Durango and is open year round.
For more information on Mesa Verde, please visit the National Park Service's website.
Ready for even more Colorado history? Click on These 9 Unbelievable Ruins In Colorado Will Transport You To The Past.
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