Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1988 |
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| Location | 27501 Highway 184 Dolores, Colorado |
| Type | Archaeological museum |
The Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum is a special place in Dolores, Colorado. It used to be called the Anasazi Heritage Center. This museum is all about the history of Native American cultures, especially the Pueblo people and early hunter-gatherers.
Right at the museum, you can explore two ancient villages called Escalante and Dominguez Pueblos. These villages were home to the Ancient Pueblo peoples about 800 years ago. The museum has many amazing artifacts, like tools and pottery, from these ancient cultures. It also has a library for research, learning materials, and a gift shop. You can even enjoy a picnic area and a special trail that explains the history and nature of the area.
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Who Were the Ancient Pueblo People?
The Ancient Pueblo people were a group of early Native Americans. They lived in permanent villages called pueblos. Unlike people who moved around a lot, these groups grew their own food. They also hunted wild animals and gathered plants.
These ancient people might have lived in the Four Corners area as early as 1500 BC. The Four Corners is where the states of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico meet. At one time, as many as 20,000 to 30,000 people lived and farmed in the Montezuma County area of Colorado.
They grew crops like corn, beans, and squash. They also hunted wild game and gathered foods like berries and piñon nuts. Sometimes, the area had long dry periods, called droughts. One big drought happened in the late 1200s. Because of this and other reasons, by the year 1300 AD, most of these people moved south. They settled in what is now New Mexico and Arizona.
You might hear the term Anasazi used for these ancient people. This word comes from the Navajo people. It means "ancient enemy" or "outsider." Modern Pueblo people do not like this term. They see their ancestors as sacred and celebrate them through spiritual traditions.
Exploring Escalante and Dominguez Pueblos
The Escalante and Dominguez Pueblos are right next to the Visitor Center and Museum. These sites were homes for the Ancient Pueblo people at different times.
Escalante Pueblo: An Ancient Village
Escalante Pueblo was built around 1120 to 1130 AD. It was made up of stone-walled family homes and shared community rooms. These rooms included special underground chambers called kivas. The way it was built is similar to the famous Chaco Canyon in New Mexico. People lived in Escalante Pueblo again around 1150 AD and then once more around 1200 AD.
Dominguez Pueblo: A Family Home
Close to Escalante Pueblo is a smaller ancient home called Dominguez Pueblo. This shows how some families might have lived in their own separate homes. Archaeologists found many interesting items here. These included 6,900 beads made of turquoise, jet, and shell. They also found a frog pendant, beautiful pottery, tools made from bone, and a woven mat. These items help us understand how these ancient people lived their daily lives.
Naming the Pueblos
These two ancient pueblos are named after two Spanish friars. Their names were Francisco Atanasio Domínguez and Silvestre Vélez de Escalante. They explored this area in 1776 and wrote about these ancient sites.
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Escalante Pueblo and McPhee Reservoir
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Escalante Pueblo, house walls
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Escalante Pueblo, kiva
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Dominguez Pueblo
The Museum and Visitor Center Today
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) takes care of the Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum. The center opened in 1988. It also serves as the main visitor center for the larger Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. This monument protects many more ancient sites in the area.
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Anasazi Heritage Center, Museum
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Map of Canyon of the Ancients National Monument
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Lowry Pueblo, Canyon of the Ancients
More Ancient Sites to Explore
The Canyons of the Ancients area is full of history. There are many other important archaeological and heritage sites nearby. These places help us learn even more about the ancient people who lived here long ago.
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San Juan National Forest
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Pleasant View | San Juan National Forest | San Juan National Forest, Rico, Telluride | |
| Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, Lowry Pueblo |  |
San Juan National Forest | ||
 Anasazi Heritage Center  |
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| Towaoc, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Reservation, Hovenweep National Monument | Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, Cortez Culture Center, Mesa Verde National Park, Ute Mountain Tribal Park | Dolores, Durango |
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Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
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Kiva ruins at Canyons of the Ancients
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Hovenweep Castle
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Mesa Verde National Park, Cliff Palace
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Mesa Verde National Park, Spruce Tree House
