Chimney Rock
Near Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Visitors at the site of the Chimney Rock Great House.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation believes that Chimney Rock is arguably the most important cultural site managed by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). Chimney Rock was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. Between A.D. 925 and 1125, the ancestors of modern Pueblo Indians occupied the surrounding lands, and the site remains of cultural significance to many descendant tribes. Hundreds of cultural elements surround Chimney Rock's soaring twin rock spires, including the Great House Pueblo. Chimney Rock is the most northeasterly and highest (7,600 feet) Chacoan site known. Every 18.6 years the moon, as seen from the Great House Pueblo, rises between the rock spires during an event known as the Northern Lunar Standstill.
The site is open to the public between May and September and receives approximately 9,000 visitors a year. Still, it suffers from many of the problems that plague the USFS' Heritage Program, including the lack of a clear cultural resource preservation mandate and inadequate funding. Without the assistance of the non-profit Chimney Rock Interpretive Association (CRIA), which operates the site through a USFS special use permit, Chimney Rock would likely further deteriorate from neglect.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation believes that National Monument designation would bring Chimney Rock the recognition, resources and protection it so clearly deserves. This designation would maintain USFS management, guided by a master plan crafted with community involvement. The National Trust for Historic Preservation recommends that the plan allow CRIA to continue to operate the site in partnership with the USFS and provide for continued access rights for tribes.
Please visit http://www.chimneyrockco.org/ to help plan your visit to the site.
Updates
July 21, 2010
Chimney Rock Pueblo
On July 21, the US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) brought Colorado’s Chimney Rock one step closer to achieving National Monument status by voting to approve the Chimney Rock National Monument Act of 2010. The bill was introduced in May 2010 in the Senate by Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, and is strongly supported by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, as well as a broad coalition of preservation and environmental organizations and the Archuleta County Commissioners. A companion bill was introduced in the House by Representative John T. Salazar.
May 21, 2010
The bill to designate Chimney Rock Archaeological Area as Chimney Rock National Monument is off to an excellent start in the Senate. The bill, S. 3303, was introduced in the Senate on May 4, 2010. On Wednesday, May 19, 2010, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks held the hearing on the Chimney Rock National Monument Act of 2010.
Subcommittee Chairman Senator Mark Udall (D-CO), an original co-sponsor of the bill, began the hearing with his opening remarks that included glowing praise for Chimney Rock. U.S. Forest Service Deputy Chief Joel Holtrop represented the Administration and also testified in support of the bill with some minor changes. He confirmed that Chimney Rock was in fact worthy of this designation. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO), the lead for the bill in the Senate testified in strong support of the monument designation. His staff displayed two gorgeous blow-up posters of Chimney Rock thanks to photos provided by the National Trust’s own Amy Cole. Republican Archuleta County Commissioner Bob Moomaw flew in to DC from Pagosa Springs, CO, to testify in support of the bill and share the importance of the designation for the economic development of the County.
A designation with undoubtedly lead to increased heritage tourism and benefit the resort town of Pagosa Springs and the county which has an unemployment rate of over 10%. The next steps for the bill will be a mark-up and passage out of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee in the Senate. In the House, our original champion for the monument designation, Rep. John Salazar (D-CO) introduced the House version of the bill H.R. 5223 on May 4. The Congressman has requested a hearing for the bill from the House Natural Resources Committee.
A portion of Senator Bennet's commentary about Chimney Rock can be seen in the video below.
