{"id":4340,"date":"2016-07-12T12:25:21","date_gmt":"2016-07-12T12:25:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/?p=4340"},"modified":"2022-06-30T22:09:04","modified_gmt":"2022-06-30T22:09:04","slug":"mesa-verde-the-most-popular-ancient-cliff-dwelling-sites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/?p=4340","title":{"rendered":"Mesa Verde &#8211; the most popular ancient cliff dwelling sites"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Probably the most famous of the ancient Puebloan sites is Mesa Verde in southwest Colorado. There are over 1,000 archeological sites on the Mesa Verde plateaus, about 600 of them are cliff houses. Most are unexcavated and not accessible to visitors, and most that are accessible are only through a guided tour. We visited one cliff dwelling that didn&#8217;t require a guided tour although there was a ranger at the site, and Jeff visited two others with a guided tour. Based on the steep steps and ladders (my hip has been bothering me when climbing up) and on the very small tunnels visitors have to crawl through I decided to stay home.<\/p>\n<p>Cliff Palace is the &#8216;crown jewel&#8217; of all the sites at Mesa Verde. It really is a palace! The site was excavated to recover artifacts, and the rubble removed and many walls rebuilt so that visitors can see how the ancient puebloans lived here. The Balcony House is also very large and fabulous.<\/p>\n<p>We also walked around some of the pueblo style structures.<\/p>\n<p>We had a great time visiting Mesa Verde &#8211; here are some pictures:<\/p>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" scoped>.rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121Spinner{\r\n\t\t\t\tmargin: 50px auto;\r\n\t\t\t\twidth: 50px;\r\n\t\t\t\theight: 40px;\r\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\r\n\t\t\t\tfont-size: 10px;\r\n\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t.rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121Spinner > div{\r\n\t\t\t  background-color: #333;\r\n\t\t\t  height: 100%;\r\n\t\t\t  width: 6px;\r\n\t\t\t  display: inline-block;\r\n\t\t\t  -webkit-animation: rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121-stretchdelay 1.2s infinite ease-in-out;\r\n\t\t\t  animation: rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121-stretchdelay 1.2s infinite ease-in-out;\r\n\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t.rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121Spinner .rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121Rect2 {\r\n\t\t\t  -webkit-animation-delay: -1.1s;\r\n\t\t\t  animation-delay: -1.1s;\r\n\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t.rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121Spinner .rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121Rect3 {\r\n\t\t\t  -webkit-animation-delay: -1.0s;\r\n\t\t\t  animation-delay: -1.0s;\r\n\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t.rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121Spinner .rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121Rect4 {\r\n\t\t\t  -webkit-animation-delay: -0.9s;\r\n\t\t\t  animation-delay: -0.9s;\r\n\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t.rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121Spinner .rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121Rect5 {\r\n\t\t\t  -webkit-animation-delay: -0.8s;\r\n\t\t\t  animation-delay: -0.8s;\r\n\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t@-webkit-keyframes rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121-stretchdelay {\r\n\t\t\t  0%, 40%, 100% { -webkit-transform: scaleY(0.4) }  \r\n\t\t\t  20% { -webkit-transform: scaleY(1.0) }\r\n\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t@keyframes rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121-stretchdelay {\r\n\t\t\t  0%, 40%, 100% { \r\n\t\t\t    transform: scaleY(0.4);\r\n\t\t\t    -webkit-transform: scaleY(0.4);\r\n\t\t\t  }  20% { \r\n\t\t\t    transform: scaleY(1.0);\r\n\t\t\t    -webkit-transform: scaleY(1.0);\r\n\t\t\t  }\r\n\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t<\/style><div class=\"robo-gallery-wrap robo-gallery-wrap-id6852 robo-gallery-grid\" ><div id=\"rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121-block-loader\" class=\"rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121Spinner\"><div class=\"rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121Rect1\"><\/div> <div class=\"rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121Rect2\"><\/div> <div class=\"rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121Rect3\"><\/div> <div class=\"rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121Rect4\"><\/div> <div class=\"rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121Rect5\"><\/div><\/div><div id=\"robo_gallery_main_block_rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121\" class=\"robogallery-gallery-6852\" style=\"width:100%;  display: none;\"><div id=\"rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121\" data-options=\"rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121\" style=\"width:100%;\" class=\"robo_gallery  \"><div class=\"rbs-img  category6852 \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-thumbs\"  data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/at-Cliff-Palace-walls-were-built-right-up-to-the-cliff-ceiling-300x199.jpg\"  title=\"at Cliff Palace walls were built right up to the cliff ceiling\"  data-width=\"300\"  data-height=\"199\" ><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img-data-popup\"  data-popup=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/at-Cliff-Palace-walls-were-built-right-up-to-the-cliff-ceiling.jpg\"  title=\"at Cliff Palace walls were built right up to the cliff ceiling\" ><\/div><div class=\"thumbnail-overlay\"><div class=\"rbsTitle \">at Cliff Palace walls were built right up to the cliff ceiling<\/div><div class=\"rbsIcons\"><i class=\"fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon \" ><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img  category6852 \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-thumbs\"  data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Mesa-Verde-also-has-pueblo-style-houses-Far-View-Community-is-one-with-several-multifamily-structures-300x199.jpg\"  title=\"Mesa Verde also has pueblo style houses - Far View Community is one with several multifamily structures\"  data-width=\"300\"  data-height=\"199\" ><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img-data-popup\"  data-popup=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Mesa-Verde-also-has-pueblo-style-houses-Far-View-Community-is-one-with-several-multifamily-structures.jpg\"  title=\"Mesa Verde also has pueblo style houses - Far View Community is one with several multifamily structures\" ><\/div><div class=\"thumbnail-overlay\"><div class=\"rbsTitle \">Mesa Verde also has pueblo style houses &#8211; Far View Community is one with several multifamily structures<\/div><div class=\"rbsIcons\"><i class=\"fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon \" ><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img  category6852 \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-thumbs\"  data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/to-visit-Cliff-Palace-you-must-go-through-narrow-passage-199x300.jpg\"  title=\"to visit Cliff Palace you must go through narrow passage\"  data-width=\"199\"  data-height=\"300\" ><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img-data-popup\"  data-popup=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/to-visit-Cliff-Palace-you-must-go-through-narrow-passage.jpg\"  title=\"to visit Cliff Palace you must go through narrow passage\" ><\/div><div class=\"thumbnail-overlay\"><div class=\"rbsTitle \">to visit Cliff Palace you must go through narrow passage<\/div><div class=\"rbsIcons\"><i class=\"fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon \" ><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img  category6852 \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-thumbs\"  data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Step-House-included-some-petroglyphs-300x199.jpg\"  title=\"Step House included some petroglyphs\"  data-width=\"300\"  data-height=\"199\" ><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img-data-popup\"  data-popup=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Step-House-included-some-petroglyphs.jpg\"  title=\"Step House included some petroglyphs\" ><\/div><div class=\"thumbnail-overlay\"><div class=\"rbsTitle \">Step House included some petroglyphs<\/div><div class=\"rbsIcons\"><i class=\"fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon \" ><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img  category6852 \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-thumbs\"  data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/to-visit-Balcony-House-you-have-to-crawl-through-very-small-tunnel-just-as-the-ancient-Puebloans-did-199x300.jpg\"  title=\"to visit Balcony House you have to crawl through very small tunnel just as the ancient Puebloans did\"  data-width=\"199\"  data-height=\"300\" ><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img-data-popup\"  data-popup=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/to-visit-Balcony-House-you-have-to-crawl-through-very-small-tunnel-just-as-the-ancient-Puebloans-did.jpg\"  title=\"to visit Balcony House you have to crawl through very small tunnel just as the ancient Puebloans did\" ><\/div><div class=\"thumbnail-overlay\"><div class=\"rbsTitle \">to visit Balcony House you have to crawl through very small tunnel just as the ancient Puebloans did<\/div><div class=\"rbsIcons\"><i class=\"fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon \" ><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img  category6852 \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-thumbs\"  data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/view-of-Balcony-House-from-the-access-trail-300x199.jpg\"  title=\"view of Balcony House from the access trail\"  data-width=\"300\"  data-height=\"199\" ><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img-data-popup\"  data-popup=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/view-of-Balcony-House-from-the-access-trail.jpg\"  title=\"view of Balcony House from the access trail\" ><\/div><div class=\"thumbnail-overlay\"><div class=\"rbsTitle \">view of Balcony House from the access trail<\/div><div class=\"rbsIcons\"><i class=\"fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon \" ><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img  category6852 \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-thumbs\"  data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/to-visit-Cliff-Palace-you-must-climb-several-ladders-199x300.jpg\"  title=\"to visit Cliff Palace you must climb several ladders\"  data-width=\"199\"  data-height=\"300\" ><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img-data-popup\"  data-popup=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/to-visit-Cliff-Palace-you-must-climb-several-ladders.jpg\"  title=\"to visit Cliff Palace you must climb several ladders\" ><\/div><div class=\"thumbnail-overlay\"><div class=\"rbsTitle \">to visit Cliff Palace you must climb several ladders<\/div><div class=\"rbsIcons\"><i class=\"fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon \" ><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img  category6852 \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-thumbs\"  data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Step-House-is-like-other-cliff-dwellings-protected-by-overhang-199x300.jpg\"  title=\"Step House is like other cliff dwellings - protected by overhang\"  data-width=\"199\"  data-height=\"300\" ><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img-data-popup\"  data-popup=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Step-House-is-like-other-cliff-dwellings-protected-by-overhang.jpg\"  title=\"Step House is like other cliff dwellings - protected by overhang\" ><\/div><div class=\"thumbnail-overlay\"><div class=\"rbsTitle \">Step House is like other cliff dwellings &#8211; protected by overhang<\/div><div class=\"rbsIcons\"><i class=\"fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon \" ><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img  category6852 \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-thumbs\"  data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/view-of-the-mesas-300x199.jpg\"  title=\"view of the mesas\"  data-width=\"300\"  data-height=\"199\" ><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img-data-popup\"  data-popup=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/view-of-the-mesas.jpg\"  title=\"view of the mesas\" ><\/div><div class=\"thumbnail-overlay\"><div class=\"rbsTitle \">view of the mesas<\/div><div class=\"rbsIcons\"><i class=\"fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon \" ><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img  category6852 \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-thumbs\"  data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/view-of-Balcony-House-showing-walls-built-right-against-large-stones-300x199.jpg\"  title=\"view of Balcony House showing walls built right against large stones\"  data-width=\"300\"  data-height=\"199\" ><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img-data-popup\"  data-popup=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/view-of-Balcony-House-showing-walls-built-right-against-large-stones.jpg\"  title=\"view of Balcony House showing walls built right against large stones\" ><\/div><div class=\"thumbnail-overlay\"><div class=\"rbsTitle \">view of Balcony House showing walls built right against large stones<\/div><div class=\"rbsIcons\"><i class=\"fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon \" ><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img  category6852 \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-thumbs\"  data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/a-view-of-an-inaccessable-alcover-house-Mesa-Verde-has-over-600-of-them-300x199.jpg\"  title=\"a view of an inaccessable alcover house - Mesa Verde has over 600 of them\"  data-width=\"300\"  data-height=\"199\" ><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img-data-popup\"  data-popup=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/a-view-of-an-inaccessable-alcover-house-Mesa-Verde-has-over-600-of-them.jpg\"  title=\"a view of an inaccessable alcover house - Mesa Verde has over 600 of them\" ><\/div><div class=\"thumbnail-overlay\"><div class=\"rbsTitle \">a view of an inaccessable alcover house &#8211; Mesa Verde has over 600 of them<\/div><div class=\"rbsIcons\"><i class=\"fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon \" ><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img  category6852 \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-thumbs\"  data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/view-of-Step-House-from-access-trail-199x300.jpg\"  title=\"view of Step House from access trail\"  data-width=\"199\"  data-height=\"300\" ><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img-data-popup\"  data-popup=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/view-of-Step-House-from-access-trail.jpg\"  title=\"view of Step House from access trail\" ><\/div><div class=\"thumbnail-overlay\"><div class=\"rbsTitle \">view of Step House from access trail<\/div><div class=\"rbsIcons\"><i class=\"fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon \" ><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img  category6852 \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-thumbs\"  data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/the-alcove-where-Step-House-is-located-is-also-home-to-more-ancient-pit-house-about-500-years-earlier-300x199.jpg\"  title=\"the alcove where Step House is located is also home to more ancient pit house - about 500 years earlier\"  data-width=\"300\"  data-height=\"199\" ><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img-data-popup\"  data-popup=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/the-alcove-where-Step-House-is-located-is-also-home-to-more-ancient-pit-house-about-500-years-earlier.jpg\"  title=\"the alcove where Step House is located is also home to more ancient pit house - about 500 years earlier\" ><\/div><div class=\"thumbnail-overlay\"><div class=\"rbsTitle \">the alcove where Step House is located is also home to more ancient pit house &#8211; about 500 years earlier<\/div><div class=\"rbsIcons\"><i class=\"fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon \" ><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img  category6852 \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-thumbs\"  data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/at-Balcony-House-storage-rooms-were-built-in-an-overhead-crevice-300x199.jpg\"  title=\"at Balcony House storage rooms were built in an overhead crevice\"  data-width=\"300\"  data-height=\"199\" ><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img-data-popup\"  data-popup=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/at-Balcony-House-storage-rooms-were-built-in-an-overhead-crevice.jpg\"  title=\"at Balcony House storage rooms were built in an overhead crevice\" ><\/div><div class=\"thumbnail-overlay\"><div class=\"rbsTitle \">at Balcony House storage rooms were built in an overhead crevice<\/div><div class=\"rbsIcons\"><i class=\"fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon \" ><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img  category6852 \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-thumbs\"  data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/first-view-of-Cliff-Palace-from-an-overlook-300x199.jpg\"  title=\"first view of Cliff Palace from an overlook\"  data-width=\"300\"  data-height=\"199\" ><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img-data-popup\"  data-popup=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/first-view-of-Cliff-Palace-from-an-overlook.jpg\"  title=\"first view of Cliff Palace from an overlook\" ><\/div><div class=\"thumbnail-overlay\"><div class=\"rbsTitle \">first view of Cliff Palace from an overlook<\/div><div class=\"rbsIcons\"><i class=\"fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon \" ><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img  category6852 \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-thumbs\"  data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/view-of-inner-rooms-of-Cliff-Palace-199x300.jpg\"  title=\"view of inner rooms of Cliff Palace\"  data-width=\"199\"  data-height=\"300\" ><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img-data-popup\"  data-popup=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/view-of-inner-rooms-of-Cliff-Palace.jpg\"  title=\"view of inner rooms of Cliff Palace\" ><\/div><div class=\"thumbnail-overlay\"><div class=\"rbsTitle \">view of inner rooms of Cliff Palace<\/div><div class=\"rbsIcons\"><i class=\"fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon \" ><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img  category6852 \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-thumbs\"  data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Mesa-Verde-is-very-large-and-quite-green-300x199.jpg\"  title=\"Mesa Verde is very large and quite green\"  data-width=\"300\"  data-height=\"199\" ><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img-data-popup\"  data-popup=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Mesa-Verde-is-very-large-and-quite-green.jpg\"  title=\"Mesa Verde is very large and quite green\" ><\/div><div class=\"thumbnail-overlay\"><div class=\"rbsTitle \">Mesa Verde is very large and quite green<\/div><div class=\"rbsIcons\"><i class=\"fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon \" ><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img  category6852 \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox \" ><div class=\"rbs-img-thumbs\"  data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/good-view-of-Cliff-Palace-from-overlook-300x199.jpg\"  title=\"good view of Cliff Palace from overlook\"  data-width=\"300\"  data-height=\"199\" ><\/div><div class=\"rbs-img-data-popup\"  data-popup=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/good-view-of-Cliff-Palace-from-overlook.jpg\"  title=\"good view of Cliff Palace from overlook\" ><\/div><div class=\"thumbnail-overlay\"><div class=\"rbsTitle \">good view of Cliff Palace from overlook<\/div><div class=\"rbsIcons\"><i class=\"fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon \" ><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><script>var rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121 = {\"version\":\"5.1.4\",\"id\":6852,\"class\":\"id6852\",\"roboGalleryDelay\":1000,\"mainContainer\":\"#robo_gallery_main_block_rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121\",\"loadingContainer\":\"#rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121-block-loader\",\"loadingContainerObj\":\"rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121-block-loader\",\"columnWidth\":\"auto\",\"columns\":3,\"resolutions\":[{\"columnWidth\":\"auto\",\"columns\":3,\"maxWidth\":960},{\"columnWidth\":\"auto\",\"columns\":2,\"maxWidth\":650},{\"columnWidth\":\"auto\",\"columns\":1,\"maxWidth\":450}],\"lightboxOptions\":{\"gallery\":{\"enabled\":true,\"tCounter\":\"%curr% of %total%\"}},\"overlayEffect\":\"direction-aware-fade\",\"boxesToLoadStart\":12,\"boxesToLoad\":8,\"waitUntilThumbLoads\":1,\"LoadingWord\":\"Loading...\",\"loadMoreWord\":\"Load More\",\"noMoreEntriesWord\":\"No More Entries\",\"horizontalSpaceBetweenBoxes\":15,\"verticalSpaceBetweenBoxes\":15,\"lazyLoad\":1,\"wrapContainer\":\"#robo-gallery-wrap-rbs_gallery_69e5b0d7ed121\"};<\/script>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Probably the most famous of the ancient Puebloan sites is Mesa Verde in southwest Colorado. There are over 1,000 archeological sites on the Mesa Verde plateaus, about 600 of them are cliff houses. Most are unexcavated and not accessible to visitors, and most that are accessible are only through a guided tour. We visited one &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/?p=4340\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Mesa Verde &#8211; the most popular ancient cliff dwelling sites<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4345,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[160],"tags":[162,161],"class_list":["post-4340","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-102-cortez-co","tag-historic-site","tag-national-parkmonument"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4340","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4340"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4340\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6853,"href":"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4340\/revisions\/6853"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4345"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4340"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4340"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.retired-openroad.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4340"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}