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 known for its archeological sites, which contain over 600 cliff dwellings. A park regulation requires that a Park Ranger accompany all visitors who wish to enter one of the dwellings.      
   

Cliff palace
               
  Cedar tree tower        
                   
       

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.

    
                   
      Mesa Verde winter view  
             
                         
A variety of activities is available within the park. Bird watching, hiking trails, nature walks, wildlife 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, the park contains 15 recreational vehicle sites with hookups
                         

Park Service Information Office:
Mesa Verde National Park
P.O. Box 6208
Mesa Verde, CO 81330

E-mail: Mesa Verde National Park
   
                     
                         
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