United States Department of the Interior
_Harold L. Ickes, Secretary_
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
_Arno B. Cammerer, Director_
[Illustration: DOI Logo]
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON: 1937
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|| Events ||
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|| OF HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE ||
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|| 1st century[1] | The earliest occupation of Cliff Palace cave was ||
|| B.C. or | probably before, or immediately following, the ||
|| A.D. | beginning of the Christian era. These earliest ||
|| | occupants, known to scientists as Basket ||
|| | Makers, were the first agricultural Indians of ||
|| | the Southwest. ||
|| | ||
|| 4th to 7th[1] | By the beginning of the fourth century A.D., the ||
|| centuries | early agriculturists were developing the art of ||
|| A.D. | pottery making. Later, their semisubterranean ||
|| | homes were spread widely over the Mesa Verde. ||
|| | ||
|| 7th to | During the three or four centuries preceding 1000 ||
|| 10th[1] | A.D., the Pueblo Culture on Mesa Verde was ||
|| centuries | developing from modest beginnings toward its ||
|| A.D. | classical stage, which culminated in the ||
|| | building of the great cliff dwelling. ||
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|| 1066 | Earliest date established for large Mesa Verde ||
|| | cliff dwellings (Beam section from Mug House.) ||
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|| 1073-1273 | Construction of Cliff Palace. ||
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|| 1276 | Beginning of 24-year drought, an important factor ||
|| | in forcing the cliff dwellers from the Mesa ||
|| | Verde. ||
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|| 1776 | Expedition of Padre Silvestre Velez de Escalante ||
|| | to southwestern Colorado. Party camped on the ||
|| | Mancos River near the base of the Mesa Verde. ||
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|| 1859 | Ascent of the north escarpment of Mesa Verde by ||
|| | Capt. J. N. Macomb, of the United States Army, ||
|| | and members of his party of geologists. ||
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|| 1874 | Discovery of the ruins in the Mancos Canyon by ||
|| | W. H. Jackson, United States Geological Survey. ||
|| | Party harrassed by Ute Indians. ||
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|| 1888 | Discovery of Cliff Palace and other major ruins ||
|| | by Richard Wetherill and Charlie Mason. ||
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|| 1891 | First organized archeological expedition to Mesa ||
|| | Verde, under direction of Baron G. Nordenskioeld.||
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|| 1906 | Mesa Verde National Park created June 29. ||
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|| 1907 | Excavation of Spruce Tree House by Dr. J. Walter ||
|| | Fewkes, of Smithsonian Institution. ||
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|| 1909 | Excavation of Cliff Palace. ||
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|| 1911 | Excavation and repair of Balcony House by Jesse ||
|| | L. Nusbaum. ||
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|| 1913 | First entrance road completed. First automobile in||
|| | Spruce Tree Camp. Extension of park boundaries ||
|| | to include notable ruins and archeological ||
|| | remains. ||
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|| 1914 | Construction of first wagon road from Spruce Tree ||
|| | Camp to principal cliff dwellings. ||
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|| 1915 | Sun Temple excavated by Dr. Fewkes. ||
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|| 1916 | Far View House excavated by Dr. Fewkes. ||
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|| 1917 | First Government-constructed trails to Spring ||
|| | House and Soda Canyon. ||
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|| 1918 | First camp accommodations established at Spruce ||
|| | Tree Camp. ||
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|| 1919 | Square Tower House excavated. ||
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|| 1921 | Establishment of superintendent's office and home ||
|| | at park headquarters. ||
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|| 1925 | First unit of park museum constructed by donated ||
|| | funds. ||
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|| 1926 | Excavation in Step House Cave and discovery of ||
|| | its occupation by Basket Maker III people more ||
|| | than 3 centuries in advance of cliff dweller ||
|| | occupation. ||
|| | ||
|| 1928 | Exclusive jurisdiction of park tendered to the ||
|| | United States and accepted by act of Congress ||
|| | April 25. ||
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|| 1934 | Completion of deep water well (4,192 feet). ||
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|| 1936 | Addition to park museum completed. ||
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