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The new Superintendent’s wide and practical experience enabled him to lead the way in coordinating and directing many important activities: overall plans for the general functional layout; architectural plans; road construction; establishment of public campgrounds; development of water supply and other facilities needed by the vastly increased number of visitors who were beginning to discover this fascinating, unique, and hitherto almost unknown National Park.
Outstanding among the permanent achievements of this constructive decade were the development of the Ranger Guide Service made up for the most part of trained young archaeologists, under the direction of a permanent naturalist-archaeologist; the building and equipment of a museum from funds contributed by public subscription; the establishment of evening campfire lectures, and demonstrations by the Navajos of their tribal chants and dances—activities that today form the pattern of the inspiring interpretive program conducted here by the National Park Service.
THE MUSEUM
An ancient medicine man’s pouch with its magic treasures—mummy of a Basketmaker maiden who lived 1,500 years ago—the primitive hunter’s atlatl—might pique your curiosity and lure you to visit the Mesa Verde Museum. Soon you would discover, however, that this is not just a storehouse for dry-as-dust dead things, but rather a living center of knowledge and its interpretation—the key to your understanding and enjoyment of the real museum which is the Park itself.
CLIFF PALACE IN 1270 A.D.
From a Painting by PAUL COZE
Collaborating with the staff of the Mesa Verde Museum, the artist has shown typical activities at 3:00 P.M. on a sunny autumn afternoon in 1270 A.D.