A thousand years ago this valley was the political and economic center of the Anasazi, a people's whose legacy is forever shrouded in mystery by their disappearance some 700 years ago. Much of what is known about the Anasazi has been learned from the approximately 1,200 ruins found in the park. The complex system of homes and roads, abundance of turquoise jewelry, and cryptic petroglyphs reveal precious few secrets of this puzzling culture.

Exactly 1,000 years ago Chaco Canyon flourished under the able hands of Anasazi artisans, builders, and farmers. Though the high desert environment of Chaco seems an improbable place for any culture to take root, the Anasazi's seemed able to adapt to the elements. It is estimated that as many as 5,000 people lived in Chaco Canyon at one point. The people farmed the lowlands, built multistory stone and mud buildings, and traded as far south as Mexico.

The ruins are an inextricable part of this beautiful landscape. The mind's eye fills in holes and rebuilds the fallen walls of the pre-Columbian structures. Take the time to see them and respect them as the historical and environmental treasures they are.