Immediately after turning off the highway to visit Mesa Verde National Park, glimpse the sleek Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center. The single-story building complements the stunning natural setting of Point Lookout. The facility is a necessary first stop for introduction to the park and its features. In the past, visitors had to travel far into the park’s interior before getting the opportunity to learn about the park’s history and sign up for tours. The current location makes it easy to set a plan for exploring Mesa Verde’s various ruins and outdoor opportunities.
The visitor center was designed to be a state-of-the-art research facility, an archival storage site and an education center. Throughout its construction, the center’s development team worked closely with the national park’s 24 Native American tribes to create a structure that resembles the original adobe designs of the Puebloan people of the Colorado Plateau.
Notice the central rotunda, intended to emulate a kiva, or ceremonial space. It now functions as a display space for park exhibits. The building has been assigned a LEED platinum rating for its energy-saving and sustainability features.
The park’s archives, as well as its collection of more than 3 million museum-quality artifacts, are housed within the building. These documents and specimens bring to life the nearly 5,000 known archeological sites of the park, including its 600 cliff dwellings, many notably preserved.
Explore the exhibits to learn about the archaeological, geological and biological features of the park. View the artwork and sculptures portraying modern artists’ perspectives of the area, its people and its landscape.
Purchase tour tickets for Cliff Palace, Balcony House and Long House here. If you’ve already reserved a tour online, pick up your physical ticket here. This is also the place to pay the park entrance fee between early January and early March.
Stop at the Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center for fresh water, free Wi-Fi, bathrooms and information desks. Hours vary by season. Check the website for open times.
Purchase books, maps and other useful items at the Mesa Verde Museum Association bookstore, located inside the structure.
