Fred and Barney didn't dwell in these historical ruins....

Anasazi Heritage Center-Dolores, CO

Near Cortez, CO is one of the most interesting and beautifully curated visitor centers, Anasazi Heritage Center, that we have encountered on exploring our "bucket list" of national parks. A mere 3 miles outside of Dolores and 10 miles from Cortez this center was educational, interesting, visually gratifying and was filled with artifacts that have been excavated from the nearby Canyons of the Ancients sites.





Overlay of Anasazi cultures in the area

Displays of pottery by the period created, hands on educational displays, and even a replica of a pueblo and kiva that is accessible for close up viewing.

Educational drawers

Anasazi pottery 900-1150 A.D.

 

Sand Canyon site map



 

According to the information panels scattered around,Sand Canyon Pueblo consisted of 420 rooms, 100 kivas and 14 towers, in 13 room block. A community of several hundred people lived here between A.D. 1245 - 1290, and is twice as large Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde NP.  Excavation of the pueblo community was done between 1983 - 1993 and then re-buried to preserve the ruins.

 

Our day continued as we moved on to Painted Hand Pueblo....

 

        

 We ended our day at Hovenweep National Monument....stunningly beautiful, easy 2 mile stroll of the rim loop that captures both cliff dwelling and pueblo houses...well their remains at least.

 

 

Hovenweep National Monument & Visitor Center

Visiting during October can be risky at this elevation we lucked out with clear sunny skies and a brisk mid 40's afternoon.  Although the ranger informed us that the loop was 1.5 hours, we managed to see all of it in roughly 60 minutes, which included descending to and crossing the canyon floor.

The trail map below gives you an idea of where the buildings were located along the canyon rim.

If you are in Cortez you can see these and a few others that we didn't get to this trip. It certainly was worth the drive.  (I have included a separate slideshow on the right side of my blog with additional pictures of all three sites.)

~ Ciao

And we are OUT and About again....

It's our third winter departure...one would think that the actual process of getting ready to leave would become easier, quicker, certainly more familiar. It hasn't. Jeez, I am exhausted by the time we get into our truck, it as if we were going to be eliminated if we didn't cross the finish line without record time.

The drive up the Columbia River Gorge was stunning today....Oregon is experiencing an exceptional October blast of sunshine.

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Our final destination, several weeks out for sure, will be Brownsville, TX. However, in the meantime I'll chart our journey as in previous winters with photos, dialogue and the occasional "history lesson of the day"...may even throw in a pop-quiz to see if you all are paying attention!

So today we pulled into .Emigrant Springs State Park, just 25 miles SE of Pendleton, OR, for two nights. We saw this last fall when we left Pendleton far too late to pull into and look around. We are going to "use Emigrant Springs as a base camp to explore nearby attractions such as the Blue Mountain Crossing Oregon Trail interpretive park or the Pendleton Woolen Mills".... not the mills, but certainly the interpretive park tomorrow before we continue east into Idaho.

The park boasts both cabins, yurts, tent camping and rv spots. Our full hook-up is $16/night, but the prices can be slightly higher during the summer season.

 

 

Nice parking slot with a trees! Smells like the pine forests I love...all snug and surrounded by pine trees. Heaven!

 

 



 Next: Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.

~CIAO!