Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum facts for kids
Entrance of the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum
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| Location | Mesa Verde National Park |
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| Type | Archaeological museum |
The Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum is a cool place to learn about ancient history in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. It's an archaeological museum, which means it shows off old artifacts and helps us understand how people lived long ago. This museum is a really important part of the park, and it's even been a National Historic Landmark since 1987!
The Museum Building
The museum building was built between 1922 and 1925. It's a great example of "parkitecture." This is a special way of designing park buildings. They are made to look like they belong in the natural area. They also reflect the local culture.
The building uses local buff sandstone. It also has wooden beams called "vigas" sticking out. These materials help it blend in with the beautiful surroundings. The museum's construction was made possible by donations from John D. Rockefeller Jr..
The museum is located on Chapin Mesa. It's near Spruce Tree Canyon. From behind the museum, you can see Spruce Tree House. This is one of the biggest and best-preserved cliff dwellings in the park.
What You Can See Inside
The museum has a short film. It tells you all about Mesa Verde National Park. It also explains how archaeologists have studied the area.
You can see many cool artifacts on display. These include:
- Pottery
- Baskets
- Weavings
- Tools
- Household items
The museum also has five special dioramas. These are like 3D models that show scenes from the past. They help you imagine what life was like for the Ancestral Puebloans. These dioramas cover a long time, from 13,000 BCE to 1200 CE.
The dioramas were made by members of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. They are now an important part of the park's history themselves!
New and Exciting Changes
The museum is getting some updates! A grant was given to the University of Colorado. This money will help fix the dioramas. It will also make the display cases better. Plus, new interactive exhibits are being added.
A special team is creating an augmented reality mobile app. You can download this app to your phone. When you point your phone at the dioramas, it will add digital figures. This will make the exhibits come alive! It will help you see an even clearer picture of the Ancestral Pueblo people.
Renovations
As of October 2021, the museum is closed for renovations. It will reopen after these exciting improvements are finished.
See also
- Frederick H. Chapin
- National Park Service rustic "parkitecture"
