Manitou Cliff Dwellings Explained

The Manitou Cliff Dwellings are located at the foot of Pikes Peak in the town of Manitou, Colorado. Very few tourist attractions attract the mixed reviews of this one. Most of the negative comments come from those who are either annoyed by the fact that the Anasazi (“Ancient Ones”) did not live on at the site of the Manitou Cliff Dwellings (in fact that did not live anywhere near Colorado Springs), or they think the attraction is overpriced, considering the limited area that the dwellings cover.

Ancestors of today’s Pueblo Indians, the Anasazi lived in the Four Corners area of the Southwest (southern Utah, southwestern Colorado, northwestern New Mexico, and northern Arizona) from about from A.D. 200 to A.D. 1300. They left behind a large quantity of dwelling remains and debris. Recently the archaeological community, following requests from the Pueblos of today, have dropped the name Anasazi and replaced it with Ancestral Pueblo People. The logic behind the change was the Ancient Cliff Dwellers never disappeared because the Pueblos are direct ancestors. In New Mexico, Pueblos still occupy homes similar to the Manitou Cliff Dwellings.

The cliff dwellings are not authentic, but the red sandstone used in their construction are authentic remnants of original dwellings. They were taken from a collapsed Anasazi site several hundred miles southwest of Manitou. The dwellings were reconstructed on this site in the early 1900s, and they were opened to the public in 1906. A respected anthropologist of the era, Dr. Edgar Lee Hewett, was involved in the construction.

The second point of criticism is the price. Thirty minutes is enough time for most adults to experience the dwellings. Children depending on their age, mood, and interest might be entertained a good bit longer. This is a great place for children to get a history lesson and outdoor exercise at the same time. Visitors are free to not only touch the dwellings but climb inside them. For adults (without the senior discount) the price is $12.

We have visited the Manitou Cliff Dwellings and enjoyed it. Reconstructed or not, climbing into one of the forty chambers gives one an idea of how these people lived hundreds of years ago. Informational signs explain what is known about the Anasazi.

Since these dwellings were reconstructed on this site over one hundred years ago, that construction is a piece of history, apart from that of the Anasazi. Photos inside the museum show vintage cars and tourists in period dress. Several hundred years from now, our history will be intermeshed with that of the Anasazi, and we will just be another link in the chain.

Many visitors enjoy the three-story Pueblo-style museum and gift shop as much as the dwellings. Inside the museum, dioramas depict how the Anasazi lived their daily lives. Authentic artifacts are on display, everything from tools to weapons.

The gift shop is connected to the museum. You will see a display of authentic artifacts, and next to it will be modern-made replicas. This is disconcerting to some, but since it is a commercial establishment it does not bother me. Had it not been for the commercialism of this museum and the dwellings, many of the artifacts would have been lost to time by now. In the past, historical preservation of archaeological sites was not a priority. In fact, archaeologists sometimes destroyed important sites as they were excavating them. Locals often looted them for whatever they could sell to tourists or collectors.

Most people who have an interest in Native American history will find the gift ship and museum educational.

If you visit during the summer, Native Americans entertain in designated areas .