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Welcome to "Verde Views," the e-newsletter for Mesa Verde
Museum Association members and friends. This periodic publication will keep you
informed about Association news and events, park happenings, new products and
special sales.
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Cliff Palace Twilight Tours
Begin May 24th
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Through a special arrangement with the National Park Service
and the Mesa Verde Institute (an experiential education program of the
nonprofit Mesa Verde Museum Association), extended Cliff Palace
twilight tours will be offered daily from May 24th through September 7th, 2009. These
ranger-led 90-minute tours begin at 7:00 p.m. and are limited to 20
participants to provide an intimate, leisurely encounter with Mesa Verde's
largest cliff dwelling. The tour's dramatic sunset lighting will appeal to
amateur and professional photographers as well as those seeking a deeper
connection with this extraordinary archeological treasure. Knowledgeable
rangers share their insights about the site while allowing plenty of time for
exploration and contemplation.
Tickets are $10 per person and may be purchased in person at
the Far View Visitor
Center. (The MVMA member
discount does not apply to this special offering.) As with all Mesa Verde Museum
Association programs, Institute proceeds help fund educational, interpretive,
and research programs in Mesa Verde National Park.
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Mesa
Verde National Park Received Recovery Act Funding
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The National Park
Service (NPS) announced on Earth Day the nearly 800 projects across the
country, totaling $750 million with funding from the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). For Mesa Verde National Park, in southwestern Colorado, this means over $14.6 million for
six projects.
The funded projects
include:
- Replacing
waterline from the north boundary to Chapin Mesa
- Installing eight
photovoltaic systems on historic headquarters buildings
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Modification of
the Spruce Tree House trail to meet ADA
requirements
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Purchase of
three alternative fuel transit buses for Wetherill Mesa
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Replacing
failing waterline at Morefield
Village and Campground
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Replacing
inadequate electrical service in Navajo Loop of Morefield Campground.
"We are extremely
pleased with the funding of these projects that will strengthen the
infrastructure of the park, and enhance visitor experiences," stated
Superintendent Larry T. Wiese. "These
projects will certainly stimulate the local economy, and create new jobs, for
many people - it will make a huge difference in Mesa Verde National Park."
Mesa Verde also
received Federal Land Highways Program projects for a total of $14 to $18
million. This will resurface the park
road from the entrance station to Park Point, which is about 10 miles of
road. The project will also do
preliminary road work near the entrance in preparation for access to the park's
Visitor and Research
Center.
All the projects are
long-standing priorities of the National Park Service and meet the criteria put
forth in the Recovery Act: namely, that a project addresses the Department's
highest-priority mission needs; generates the largest number of jobs in the
shortest period of time; and creates lasting value for the American public.
Interior Secretary
Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability in
the implementation of the Department's economic recovery projects. The public will be able to follow the
progress of each project on the recovery website and on http://www.interior.gov/recovery/nps.
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Remembering Those Who Served Our Country
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As Memorial Day approaches, we reflect with gratitude on
those who help preserve the freedoms we hold so dear in the United States. Among their stories
are those of the Navajo Tribal men who created the only unbreakable code in
modern military history, resulting in their pivotal role in World War II and
the battles of the South Pacific. We
recommend two books to expand your knowledge of this unique, dedicated, and
honorable group of warriors.
Navajo Weapon: the
Navajo Code Talkers by Sally McClain is the meticulously researched story
of how and why the Navajo code became one of the US Marine Corps' most valuable
secret weapons. Numerous photographs and maps illustrate the chronological
review of a project that grew from 29 Navajo volunteers in April 1942 to more
than 550 by the end of World War II. Fascinating appendices include the
original code as well as a 1945 Navajo dictionary. Our copies are signed by the
author. Paper bound; 304 pages; $16.95.
Warriors: Navajo Code
Talkers features photographs by Kenji Kawano, a stirring foreward by Code
Talker Carl Gorman, and a comprehensive introductory essay by Benis M. Frank,
USMC. Code Talkers' own statements elegantly complement Kenji's sensitive
portrait photos. Paper bound; 107 pages; $19.95.
MVMA members: please call 1-800-305-6053 to obtain your 20%
discount on these items. Click here to order yours!
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The Mesa Verde Museum Association, in cooperation with the
National Park Service and Mesa
Verde National
Park, assists with and supports various
interpretive programs, research activities, and visitor services. We are a
501(c)(3) nonprofit providing educational and interpretive material to visitors
of Mesa Verde
National Park through an active
publishing program and the operation of retail bookstores online, in the park,
and in Cortez, CO. Our services enhance the visitor
experience and promote stewardship of Mesa Verde's world-renowned
archaeological resources and natural landscapes. Proceeds from all Association
operations are donated to the park's interpretive, research, and education
programs.
You
are receiving this email from Mesa Verde Museum Association because you
are a member or purchased a product from us. To ensure that you
continue to receive emails from us, add info@mesaverde.org to your
address book today.
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Attend Free Programs this Summer!
The free Four Corners Lecture Series is underway, and we
invite you to make your plans now to take in these extraordinary offerings.
Beginning May 26th and continuing every Tuesday and Thursday through June 27th,
Sharon French will present "Black Shawl," her moving outdoor drama about a
Navajo, Paiute Child and Grandmother. This program is offered at 7:30 p.m. at the Cortez Cultural
Center.
On May 29th,
hear Zia Pueblo representative Peter Pino speak on "The Two Sisters According
to Zia Oral History and the Difference Between Them," 7:00 p.m. at the Cortez
Rec Center.
June 12th will see the first in-park offering of the
season; Randall McGuire will give his talk, "Setting Things Right: the Massacre
in the Sierra Mazatan and Indigenous Archaeology in Sonora, Mexico,"
7:00 p.m. at Far View
Lodge.
Then on June 21st, David Edwards will discuss the
contemporary Hopi political economy at 1:00
p.m. at the Anasazi
Heritage Center.
The Four Corners Lecture Series offers free programs for the
public from May through October at a variety of locations in Cortez, Dolores, Durango, and Mesa Verde
National Park.
The Lecture Series is
sponsored by the Mesa Verde Institute (an educational program of the Mesa Verde
Museum Association), the Anasazi Heritage Center, ARAMARK/Mesa Verde Company, Cortez Cultural
Center, Crow Canyon
Archaeological Center,
Fort Lewis College Center of Southwest Studies, KSJD Dry Land Community Radio,
and the National Park Service.
We hope to see you at a program this year! Click here to
view the entire schedule.
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