Monumental Decisions: Antiquities Act
From The Observatory
Dates
September 13–19, 2026
Location
Cortez, Colorado
Area
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A Cultural Exploration programme from Crow Canyon Archaeological Center examining the legacy of the Antiquities Act and how decisions about public lands and archaeological heritage have shaped the American Southwest. The immersive, multi-day experience includes guided visits to ancestral landscapes, engagement with Indigenous perspectives and community members, and structured reflection on the intersection of archaeology, policy, and stewardship. Crow Canyon's Cultural Explorations are designed as small-group journeys grounded in respect for Indigenous voices and cultural landscapes.
Agenda
Day 1 – Sunday, September 13
- Arrive at Crow Canyon campus, Cortez, CO by 4:00 PM
- 5:00 PM – Program begins: introductions, dinner, and overview
- Overnight: Holiday Inn Express, Cortez
Day 2 – Monday, September 14: Crow Canyon & a Presidential Encounter
- Explore Crow Canyon's 170-acre campus
- Learn about Mesa Verde region ancestral farmers and 19th-century events leading to the Antiquities Act
- Interactive Q&A with "President Theodore Roosevelt" (portrayed by Clay Jenkinson)
- Nature trail walks to reconstructed pithouse and pueblo
- Roundtable discussion
- Overnight: Holiday Inn Express, Cortez
Day 3 – Tuesday, September 15: Mesa Verde's Cliff Dwellings & Sunset Reflections
- Travel to Mesa Verde National Park
- Explore 800-year-old ancestral villages
- Visit park museum; discuss how the Antiquities Act supported the first in-park cultural museum
- Check into Far View Lodge
- Dinner at Metate Room
- Overnight: Far View Lodge, Mesa Verde NP
Day 4 – Wednesday, September 16: Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park
- Journey to Ute Mountain Tribal Park — learn about Ute Mountain Ute Tribe's stewardship
- Behind-the-scenes curation tour at Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center
- Discussion of repatriation of ancestors and belongings removed by Nordenskiöld (1891)
- Dinner in Cortez, then travel to Bluff, UT
- Overnight: Desert Rose Inn, Bluff, UT
Day 5 – Thursday, September 17: Bears Ears National Monument
- Visit Bears Ears Education Center
- Learn about Bears Ears Intertribal Coalition's role in establishing the first U.S. monument co-managed by Indigenous nations
- Explore ancestral places
- Conversations on land use: ranching, mining, tourism, cultural heritage
- Overnight: Desert Rose Inn, Bluff, UT
Day 6 – Friday, September 18: A Tapestry of Lands
- Traverse backroads crossing Ute, Diné, private, and federal lands to Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
- Discuss how monuments affect local economies and Indigenous continuity
- Celebratory dinner and final discussion
- Overnight: Holiday Inn Express, Cortez
Day 7 – Saturday, September 19
- Airport shuttles to Cortez and Durango airports
- Departure
Participants
Crow Canyon Archaeological Center
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Founded in 1983 near Mesa Verde in southwestern Colorado, the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to empower present and future generations by making the human past accessible and relevant through archaeological research, experiential education, and American Indian knowledge. Each year Crow Canyon welcomes people of all ages to its campus for groundbreaking research, transformational programs, and meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities. The Center's Research Institute brings together an interdisciplinary network of scholars—archaeologists, economists, geographers, educators, and indigenous culture specialists—addressing big questions with large and complex datasets.
