The Cliffside Condos of America's Bandelier
Explore New Mexico’s Bandelier National Monument and the enduring architecture of the Ancestral Pueblo people
A guided walk at Long House in the 1930'sOriginal Source: National Park Service Bandelier National Monument Exhibit
Bandelier National Monument was established in 1916 to preserve and protect thousands of sites occupied by the Ancestral Pueblo on the Pajarito Plateau for over 400 years.
Long HouseOriginal Source: National Park Service Bandelier National Monument Exhibit
Masters of Cliffside Architecture
Ancestral Puebloans ingeniously used the volcanic cliff walls for structural support. Building outward from carved rock rooms, they constructed terraced stone dwellings. Connected by ladders, these homes reached 4 stories, using rooftops as patios.
A Room With a ViewOriginal Source: National Park Service Bandelier National Monument Exhibit
Families created elevated rooms that captured warm winter sunlight, caught cooling breezes, and provided sweeping, panoramic views of the bustling Tyuonyi village far below.
Tyuonyi from AboveOriginal Source: National Park Service Bandelier National Monument Exhibit
Tyuonyi (Qu-weh-nee) was once two stories tall with over 400 rooms, most of which were used for storing food.
Cave KivaOriginal Source: National Park Service Bandelier National Monument Exhibit
Among these cliffside dwellings sits Cave Kiva, a sacred ceremonial space carved directly into the rock. Unlike the everyday living quarters, this intimate sanctuary was used for spiritual gatherings.
Pictograph and Cavate at Long House (1956)Original Source: National Park Service Bandelier National Monument Exhibit
Long House
At Long House, the back row of rooms was anchored to the cliff. Small rooms, called cavates, were often carved into the stone. Here, the house is gone, but the cavate entrance and the holes for anchoring the roof beams are still visible.
Some rooms had designs painted on the back walls. This rare surviving painted wall decoration has been covered with glass for preservation.
Alcove HouseOriginal Source: National Park Service Bandelier National Monument Exhibit
Alcove House
Home to approximately 25 Ancestral Pueblo people was Alcove House - a 140 feet climb above the canyon floor. While the Ancestral Puebloans absolutely used wooden ladders to reach their elevated homes, the four massive ladders visitors climb today are not the originals.
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Explore the Site
Take a walk down Pueblo Loop Trail, the primary path through Bandelier National Monument.
Explore the rich and varied museum collections at Bandelier National Monument.
National Park Service Museum Management Program
Joan Bacharach, Senior Curator
Amber Dumler, Museum Specialist and Web Designer
Dara Shore, Museum Technician
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