Going Back in Time for Your Summer Travel Adventures
Summer vacation this year could be the perfect opportunity to travel to the past. Not with a time machine, but with your imagination and some great sites. This is the perfect opportunity to sneak a little learning in with your fun. Imagine what it would be like to live as the Indians or gold miners did. Compare that to your life now and picture how different that life was from this one. From ancient Indians to miners searching for gold and silver and even farther back to the era of the dinosaurs, there is a lot of history to explore.
Aztec Ruins National Monument
Aztec Ruins National Monument is just 36 miles from Durango in Aztec, New Mexico. This site was occupied for over 200 years and is sacred to the Pueblo people. Its ruins date from over 900 years ago. This area was excavated in the 1900s. Artifacts recovered, give insight into the Ancestral Pueblo way of life. Structures present include over 400 masonry rooms where the fingerprints of the builders can still be seen in the mortar.
The half-mile walking trail is self-guided and starts at Earl’s House, the former home of archeologist Earl Morris. The Pueblo people consider this site part of their migration journey. Deep spiritual ties to this site continue today with Southwestern Native Americans. Visit the nearby Aztec Museum and Pioneer Village open Tuesday thru Saturday during the summer season.
Mesa Verde National Park
Populated for approximately 700 years, 1400 years ago, Mesa Verde was home to many of the ancestral Pueblo people. They constructed stone buildings in the sheltered alcoves of the canyon walls and on top of the mesas. In the late 1200s, they moved away and abandoned the site. Theories for this migration away from the site include an extended drought and a reduction of the big game in the area. This area was later inhabited by the nomadic Ute Indians. When mining activity in the area increased, Native Americans became confined to reservations near Mesa Verde but they still maintain ties to their ancient ancestors.
Mesa Verde contains nearly 5000 known archeological sites. Cliff Dwelling tours are offered May through October. Purchase a ticket online up to 14 days in advance. Print your ticket before you leave because cell service in the park is very limited. There are also several self-guided hikes and viewing sites that do not require tickets. Check with the park service for more detailed information.
Strike it Rich
If you want to explore a bit more recent history, check out the beginning of Durango, Colorado. The town was built to support silver and gold mining operations in the area. The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Company bought up land for the railroad and the town was born to support it. This was a great area to smelt the ore coming from the surrounding mines including from Silverton. The Durango and Silverton narrow gauge railroad still runs between Durango and Silverton but now for tourists instead of mining.
Silver and gold miners were working in this area in 1860 and by the time Durango became a town in 1880, the population had grown to 2400. It was an important supply and transportation center for this remote region. Durango was later the site for a uranium mill that operated from 1942 to 1963. Tourism is now Durango’s biggest business.
If you would like to tour a former mining operation, nearby Silverton offers the Old Hundred Gold Mine Tour. See how gold was mined and ride the electric “man trip” train car once used in the mine. In addition to equipment demonstrations, you can also pan for gold, silver, and copper and keep anything you find. They are open from mid-May to September.
The Dinosaur Experience
If you would like to travel even farther back in time, try the Dinosaur National Monument on the border of Colorado and Utah. Located between Dinosaur Colorado and Vernal Utah, this area offers a glimpse into the era of the dinosaurs. See the Wall of Bones or visit the Quarry Exhibit Hall. There are also river rafting opportunities, hiking, and petroglyphs in the area.
There are other areas across the state including Picketwire Canyonlands (dinosaur footprints), Dinosaur Ridge (footprints, bones, and fossils), Florissant Fossil Beds (petrified redwood, plants, and insects), Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience (museum great for kids), and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. All will require a road trip from Durango but are worth the drive.
Durango is the epicenter of a wide range of historical experiences just waiting to be explored. For those lucky enough to live here, there are a wealth of adventures awaiting. For everyone else, consider making an extended visit to Durango, maybe even renting a home or apartment, to give you plenty of time to check out all that this area has to offer. The Property Manager can help you find just what you are looking for.
https://www.durango.org/outdoor-adventure/national-parks-monuments/aztec-ruins/
https://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm
https://www.crowcanyon.org/EducationProducts/peoples_mesa_verde/historic_ute.asp
https://durangogov.org/274/History
https://westernmininghistory.com/towns/colorado/durango/
