Bandelier National Monument
Explore historic and contemporary photographs of Bandelier National Monument.
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. Their descendants live today in nearby pueblos including San Ildefonso and Cochiti. San Felipe, Santo Domingo, and Zuni Pueblos also recognize cultural connection with the area. Historic and contemporary photographs of these sites provide a glimpse into their lives.
Pictograph and Cavate at Long House (1956)Original Source: National Park Service Bandelier National Monument Exhibit
Pictograph and Cavate at 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. A rare surviving painted wall decoration has been covered with glass for preservation.
Long HouseOriginal Source: National Park Service Bandelier National Monument Exhibit
Long House
At Long House the homes were built along the base of the cliff allowing them to be 3 to 4 stories tall.
Long House from Long TrailOriginal Source: National Park Service Bandelier National Monument Exhibit
Cave KivaOriginal Source: National Park Service Bandelier National Monument Exhibit
Cave Kiva is part of the Pueblo Loop Trail at Bandelier National Monument.
A Room With a ViewOriginal Source: National Park Service Bandelier National Monument Exhibit
A Room With a View
This photograph depicts a view of a snowy landscape from a cavate on the Main Loop Trail.
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.
Alcove HouseOriginal Source: National Park Service Bandelier National Monument Exhibit
Alcove House
Today visitor can climb a series of ladders to reach Alcove House. This site that was home to approximately 25 Ancestral Pueblo people is located 140 feet above the canyon floor.
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
