Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

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Glimpses of our National Monuments

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  • wcu_great_smoky_mtns-10668.jpg
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  • OUR NATIONAL MONUMENTS 13 striking of the ruins. Elliptical in outline, its long diameter is 500 feet, its short 365 feet. It was originally four stories high. Kin Klizhin (the black house), 3 miles south and 5 miles west of Pueblo Bonito, and Kin Binioli (whirlwind pueblo), 10 miles west and 4 miles south, are among the best preserved ruins, portions of fourth-story walls still standing. Near each of these the remains of extensive irrigation works are plainly traceable. Pueblo Pintado (painted village) is the most easterly ruin. The surrounding country lies near the Continental Divide and is a rolling plateau used for grazing by the Navajo Indians. Casa Morena (brown house) and Kin Yai complete the important ruins. The Chaco Canyon is most accessible from Thoreau, on the Santa Fe Railroad and National Old Trails Highway connecting Albuquerque and Gallup, N. Mex. From Thoreau the road passes north through Crown Point, where is located the Pueblo Bonito Indian School and Navajo Agency. It is about 20 miles from Thoreau to Crown Point and 40 miles from Crown Point to Pueblo Bonito. The road is marked, and during dry weather the round trip can be made in one long day. There is a small trading store near the monument operated by Gus Griffin, the custodian of the monument, from whom information may be obtained. A supply of foodstuffs is carried at the store, and limited accommodations are available, but motorists should be prepared to camp and should make certain they have a full supply of provisions, gas, oils, etc., before leaving Thoreau and Crown Point. The national monument was created March 11, 1907, and contains about 20,629 acres. COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT This monument, near Grand Junction, Colo., is similar to the well-known Garden of the Gods area at Colorado Springs, only much larger in size and more beautiful and picturesque. The area exhibits magnificent examples of erosion, particularly of lofty monoliths, all highly colored. It was created May 24, 1911, and is 13,883 acres in extent. The monument includes a part of the escarpment rising about 1,000 feet above Grand Valley that is seamed with numerous canyons cutting back a few miles into Uncompagre Valley. In these canyons and along the escarpment, are hundreds of sandstone monoliths standing out separately from the main ledges like giant sentinels. One of the largest of these is Independence Rock. 500 feet high. 250 feet long, and 100 feet wide at the base. Surrounding it 53287°—26 2
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).