Culturally Modified Tree at Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center

Within the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, there are over 130 culturally modified ponderosa pine trees. This is one of the largest known groups of culturally modified trees in North America. Indian Grove is a stand of over seventy of these trees and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Dendrochronological research on these modified trees document Native American utilization of bark during the late 1700s to early 1900s. Core samples from this particular tree date back to 1693, with the peel dating to about 1800. The tree was approximately 300 years old when it died of natural causes. It was collected and curated into the park's museum collection in 1995, and is now on display at the park's visitor center.