08/17/2023
Mesa Verde National Park was established in 1906 to preserve and interpret the archaeological heritage of the Ancestral Puebloan people who called it home for over 700 years from 600 to 1300 CE. The park protects nearly 5,000 known archaeological sites including 600 cliff dwellings. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1978 – one of the first World Heritage locations in the United States. The exceptional archeological sites of the Mesa Verde landscape provide eloquent testimony to the ancient cultural traditions of Native American tribes.Mesa Verde has also been selected the No. 1 historic monument in the world by readers of Condé Nast Traveler, and was chosen by National Geographic Traveler as one of the 50 Places of a Lifetime — The World's Greatest Destinations.In 2021, Mesa Verde was certified as the world's 100th International Dark Sky Park, so you're guaranteed to get gorgeous views of the heavens in this sacred place. In summer, keep an eye out for ranger-led stargazing programs.