When it comes to outdoor family vacations, taking the kids on a hike is one thing, but opening up their minds to history while you’re doing it is an experience they’ll not soon forget. The ruins of the prehistoric Anasazi civilization are located in the famous four corners of the southwestern US: Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona, giving you four choices of where to travel to see them.
The Anasazi civilization flourished in this region for nearly 1,000 years before abandoning the area completely in 1300 CE. Initially hunter-gatherers, the Anasazi excavated the ground to build “pithouses,” which had coverings over them to protect the interior. As they learned to cultivate crops, their need for permanent housing rose, leading to the construction of pueblos along the walls of the cliffs, evolving to become ever more vast and intricate over time. The bricks made of sand, clay, and fibrous plant material were shaped with a mold and dried in the sun, which allowed the Anasazi to quickly progress in their masonry skills and plans.
Of the great pueblos of Chaco Canyon, Pueblo Bonito was the biggest, and once held the title of the largest building in North America. From 800 CE to their departure in 1300 CE, the Anasazi people lived well within these magnificently created structures. Remains of their history in the area are quite well-preserved, and very accessible for people of all ages. If your family vacation is taking you to any of the four states listed above, you’d do well to make sure you can include a stop here.
Image via Rob Lee
