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Our cliff dwellings are authentic Anasazi cliff dwellings dating 800 to 1000 years old. They were originally located in Mc Elmo Canyon, which is in the southwest corner of Colorado near Mesa Verde. The process of relocating these cliff dwellings began in 1904 and was completed in 1907 when the preserve was open to the public. William Crosby, the original founder/owner of the Manitou Cliff Dwellings Ruins Company, wanted to preserve and protect these dwellings from looters and relic pot-hunters. His company spent many months mapping out a blueprint of the dwellings in Mc Elmo Canyon. Prior to the 1906 Antiquities Act, Crosby’s company acquired the rights to move a portion of the dwellings from Mc Elmo Canyon to Phantom Canyon, later to be renamed Cliff Canyon, here in Manitou Springs. Over a several year period, the ruins from Mc Elmo Canyon were slowly dismantled stone by stone, packaged, and finally moved by oxen out of Mc Elmo Canyon to Dolores, Colorado. There, they were loaded and shipped by railroad to Colorado Springs, and finally brought to Cliff Canyon by horse and wagon. Crosby’s men then, following the blueprints, reassembled the dwellings in dimension and appearance as they found them, only they used a concrete mortar in 1906 as opposed to the adobe mud/clay mortar the Anasazi used. This is why people such as you are allowed to climb inside and tour through our dwellings. The Manitou Cliff Dwellings is a preserve of these ancient dwellings, here to protect them for future generations to visit. The creation of the Manitou Cliff Dwellings Museum and Preserve was undertaken to create a museum that preserves and protects the fine stone work of the Southwestern Indians, that at that time, were unprotected from vandals and artifact hunters. The impact of these careless people threatened to wipe out the great architectural achievements of the Anasazi Indians. In 1907, our preserve was acknowledged by Dr. E. L. Hewett, Director of American Archaeology, for it’s detail of workmanship and educational purpose. Our three story pueblo structure demonstrates the architecture of the Taos Pueblo Indians of New Mexico. These Pueblo Indians are descendants of the Cliff Dwelling Indians belonging to the Anasazi cultural line. This pueblo building was erected in 1906 and was home to a family of Native American dancers who entertained the tourists for many years. This Native American family lived in the pueblo until as late as 1984. Over the years, the pueblo was expanded into museums of pottery and artifacts. It has since been expanded to include our souvenir gift shop. We welcome you to explore the Anasazi culture while you are visiting the Pikes Peak region.
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Dwellings Museum, P.O. Box 272, Manitou Springs, Colorado 80829 Copyright 2011 |
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