Although the Ancestral Puebloans did not live in this area, they lived in the four-corners which is over three-hundred miles away, It is still possible to see their cliff dwellings without actually going to the four corners. Because part of the dwellings that were at the four corners have been relocated to the Manitou Cliff Dwellings just outside of Colorado Springs. Rest assured that these are an authentic reproduction of the Anasazi cliff dwellings so it’s just like visiting the real thing, without the all the driving to get there. In fact, I love this place so much that I visit on a regular basis.
In brief, these cliff dwellings were originally located in McElmo Canyon, on the southwest corner of Mesa Verde, they wouldn’t have survived in that original location. Because sadly, people keep looting and stealing parts of it. So Virginia McClurg came up with a clever way to preserve them. Back in 1904, she decided to move the cliff dwellings from their original location to Manitou springs. So over the next three years, she intensively mapped the dwellings at McElmo. Then they carefully disassembled the ruins, packaged them up and moved them just west of Colorado Springs. Since they wanted the dwellings to last, instead of using clay and mortar like the Anasazi did, they used concrete mortar to put the structures back together. Resulting in solid dwellings that will last for years. Not only can people walk inside the dwellings, but also crawl through the openings, without having to worry about damaging the structures.
Adjacent to the Manitou Cliff Dwelling site is a replica of a three-story pueblo-style building that resembles the architecture at Taos Pueblo. As well as a museum showcasing Anasazi pottery, art and their lifestyle. Overall, this museum has some of the most beautiful displays I have ever seen. I just love how all the pottery is displayed on beautiful painted scenery and how things are set up to look like they would have in their natural state. On top of that, the gift shop is fully stocked with oddities and beautifully recreated Ancestral Puebloan art available for purchase.
| May – August | 9:00 am to 6:00 pm |
| March – April & September – October | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| November | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm |
| December – February | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm |
Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas Day
$10 + tax
For an additional $9.50 you can get an annual pass, it can be purchased at the gift store and they will mail it to you.
Click Here for $1 off your admission
Plan to spend between one and two hours here.
Manitou Cliff Dwellings
10 Cliff Rd,
Manitou Springs, CO 80829
From I-25, take Exit 141 then turn right on U.S. Highway 24. Turn right at the sign for the entrance.
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