Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park is located in southwestern Colorado. The name, Mesa Verde, is Spanish for "green table." The park is best know for its archeological sites, which contain over 600 cliff dwellings. A park regulation requires that a Park Ranger accompany all vistors who wish to enter one of the dwellings.
Congress passed the Preservation of American Antiquities Act in 1906, which made it a Federal crime to collect or destroy any historic or prehistoric object or building on federally owned land. Then President Theodore Roosevelt signed a Congressional bill to make Mesa Verde a national park in June, 1906.
A variety of activites is available within the park. Bird watching, hiking trails, nature walks, widlife viewing, geological stops, plant viewing, and stargazing are some of the more popular things to do. Ranger-guided tours are available in the summer. Camping is available with over 435 campsites. Additionally, this park contains 15 recreational vehicle sites with hookups.
