the anasazi heritage center

Wonderful hands on learning program for children, parents and old folks alike. Also walkways to tour the many paths and information on the local flora and fauna.

This is a very well done museum. They have an excellent timeline wall which shows the different period on the Ancient people Basketweevers to Pueblos and the display have picture of the structures, people, and artifacts of the time. They also have great displays with real artifacts and displays with samples you can actually touch and feel. The staff are very friendly and eager to answer any questions and provide maps and guidance. We spoke with them for nearly an hour I think. Also don't miss the Escalante ruins which are just up the hill from the Museum.

On our trip through Colorado, we were detoured down the San Juan Skyway and discovered this little gem of a museum managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Artifacts and information are very well presented. The volunteers on the desk were very knowledgeable and helpful. Great tribute to the Native Americans who lived in the area centuries ago. We highly recommend this as a place to visit if in the area

Southwestern Colorado is literally littered with thousands of Ancient Puebloan archaeological sites. The Anasazi Heritage near Dolores and Cortez Colorado is the most excellent place to go to learn about pre-European contact societies. In addition there is a very fine gallery where local and regional artists can show their work. It is the VERY best place to view Stanton Englehart's brilliant representations of this awesome desert landscape.MB McAfee

This museum provides a wealth of information on the culture and history of the Anasazi. I highly recommend visiting the museum before going to Mesa Verde or the Hovenweep National Monument. it will give you a much better understanding about their culture.

This facility administered by the Bureau of Land Management was such a great experience that I cannot think of enough superlatives to describe all the educational and fun exhibits. Outside is a half mile wheelchair accessible trail to two 12th century Pueblos, a picnic area and a hilltop view of the surrounding area. Huge gardens with plants labelled are in front of the building.Inside a theater showing two different films, large exhibit area with interactive exhibits allowing you to try activities such as weaving using a loom or use stones to grind nuts, corn or seeds, a special exhibit hall with traveling exhibits (currently one on the large cats of North America is featured), and a book store/gift shop await guests. This is also the Visitor Center for Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and there is information available on other sites in the area.The exhibits are well laid out and give you an overview of the history and culture of the Ancestral Pueblo people that were here. Computers, microscopes and lots of interactive displays give you a chance to further explore in depth areas of special interest to you. I spent an entire afternoon and only saw a portion of what there is to see and do. I was particularly impressed with how much fun the younger children visiting were enjoying the exhibits. Volunteers are knowledgeable and anxious to help you get the most from your visit. With over a million artifacts on display you cannot see everything in one visit. I strongly recommend making your first stop a talk with a volunteer. This place is huge and it's helpful to have the volunteer direct you to activities that will be of the most interest to you in the time you have to spend here.

We visited this museum only by a lark. We had toured Mesa Verde and was venturing on to our next destination, Canyon de Chelly. This museum was mentioned briefly in a Cortez city web site. So, we took the drive from Cortez out to this somewhat remote, but wonderful place. It was a total surprise. First rate facility, done in pueblo style, exhibits that were displayed in innovative means, the best "theater" showing their 16 minute video, chest of drawers which you pull out and examine artifacts, etc with explanations underneath them, microscope stations to view close up pieces of pottery, sandals, etc, an entire room dedicated to ancestral and current mountain lions, a reconstructed pit house with baskets, vessels, pottery, metate, and on and on. If you visit Mesa Verde, you must budget two hours to tour this wonderful place. What is the BLM doing in the museum business? I don't know, but they sure hit the nail square on the head with the Anasazi Heritage Center.

Loved it, and it was much nicer than I expected it is a must stop if you are in the area its not huge but an hour is enough time to see everything...

This is absolutely one of the best museums we've visited of any genre. We spent hours reading about and admiring the many exhibits-a beautiful facility. The volunteers are very friendly and among the most knowledgeable we've met in the Southwest. Very helpful in understanding and admiring the Anasazi. We will definitely return the next time we're in this area. Excellent collection of artifacts and pictures. The special exhibit featured while we visited was about mountain lions and the big lions which used to exist.

We stopped by this museum on the way from Moab, UT to Pagosa Springs, CO. This is probably one of the best collections of Native American artifacts that we have ever experienced. Well laid out, great short films. friendly and helpful staff. This museum would appeal to all ages. Interactive experiences, local artist displays, life size replica of a housing unit. Right next to Canyon of the Ancients National Monument. Well worth the stop.

Wonderful artifacts, well displayed. Go here before you check out the sites in the area. Cheap too...$3. (Course i have the Senior pass ...so it was free!)

This place is about 3 miles from Dolores. The building is beautiful and gives real insight into how archaeology works. It is well worth the $3 admission. Unfortunately, there is no food or coffee available, so make sure you bring your own if you are visiting at meal time.

Our second visit was just as awe inspiring as our first. If you are the least bit interested in ancient Native American history, this is the place to go for the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument.

If you're in Delores, CO... You've got stop here. The wonderful thing about this museum is how hands on it is. At first it can be overwhelming because there is much to do. It's beautifully set up and we loved crushing the corn and trying to weave. The microscopes are neat. It's amazing how much can be incorporated into such a space.

Spent 2 hours+ touring the museum and it wasn't enough. So very interesting and educational. Very well presented exhibits throughout and very helpful and attentive staff - all of whom were volunteers. Highly recommend this as the very first place you visit before touring Canyons of the Ancients and Hovenweep.