Bandelier National Monument

Bandelier National Monument in northwestern New Mexico, 46 miles west of Santa Fe, was established in 1916 and preserves a 32,737-acre site containing the ruins of Anasazi Indian cliff dwellings from the 13th to the 16th century. The largest and most easily accessible ruins are multistory masonry structures in Frijoles Canyon, a deep and verdant gorge that extends across the northern portion of the monument. Caves cut in the soft volcanic rocks of the canyon walls formed the back rooms, used for storage, of one- and three-story masonry pueblos. The canyon floor has the outlines of almost 250 ground-floor rooms.