Bandelier National Monument

Bandelier National Monument is a 33,677 acres (13,629 ha) National Monument preserving the homes of the Ancestral Pueblo People. It is named after Swiss anthropologist Adolph Bandelier, who researched the cultures of the area. Bandelier was designated a National Monument on February 11, 1916, and most of its backcountry became a "designated wilderness" in October 1976. The National Park Service co-operates with surrounding pueblos, other federal agencies and state agencies to manage the park, which receives 300,000 visitors annually. The park's elevations range from about 10,000 feet to 5,000 feet at the Rio Grande. Roughly 70% of the monument (23,367 acres (9,456 ha)) is a designated wilderness area. The Valles Caldera National...