Page 2 of 2 - History of the First Ancestral Puebloans at Mesa Verde and the Cliff Dwellers

The two RV Gypsies did NOT get to go to the Step House. They were told it was quite strenuous and a very steep trail, and it was already too late in the day to complete the hike. They were disappointed.

poster about the Step House

So the two RV Gypsies took the tram service to an easy trail to see the Badger House Community which includes Pueblo Village and Two Raven House.

poster about the Tram Service
  poster about the Badger House Community and trail

Below: The two RV Gypsies on the trail to Pueblo Village.

sign: Pubelo Village
 
sunflowers
dead trees due to fire
sunflowers and dead trees
 
sunflowers and dead trees
Karen Duquette on the Mesa Top Loop Trail
Lee Duquette on the Mesa Loop Trail

History bookPithouses were the first permanent dwellings at Mesa Verde. Previously, the people were semi-nomadic, hunting deer and small animals and gathering wild seeds, berries, and pinyon nuts. Permanent houses and cultivated fields gave them time to develop pottery, formal ceremonies, and architectural skills that eventually led to elaborate pueblo villages.

Pithouse floor plan
pithouse
 
Pithouse
Pueblo Village ruins
 
Pueblo Village ruins
Pueblo Village ruins
 
Karen Duquette at the Badger House
 
 
sign about construction the village
Badger house ruins
 
Badger house ruins
Badger house ruins
 

Two Raven House

Two Raven House history sign
Two Raven House ruins
 
Two Raven House ruins
 

Back on the tram for a ride to the Kodak House Overlook and a quick view of the cave dwellings. The tram driver said this was the last tour of the Mesa Top Loop and the Kodak House for this season, but the rest of the Mesa Verde National Park would remain open all year. Again, because the park would soon close for the day, the two RV Gypsies only got to see the Kodak House from an overlook. The Kodak House is the major highlight of this park, but it is a long strenuous tour, costs extra, and there are ladders to climb as you will see in the photos below.

The trail from the tram to the overlook took less than a minute to walk. The two photos shown below are side paths off the trail to the overlook. They are part of the original horse trails.

original horse trail
 
original horse trail
sign: Kodak House information
Long House cave dwellings
 
Long House cave dwelling
panorama of the Long House cave dwelling
people touring the Long House cave dwellings
 
 
Long House cave dwellings
Long House cave dwellings
 
Long House cave dwellings
top of the cliff dwellings
panorama of the cliff dwellings

Wild horses at Mesa Verde National Park

wild horses at Mesa Verde National Park
 
wild horses at Mesa Verde National Park

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