Lowry Pueblo - 13 Things to Know Before Visiting
About Lowry Pueblo
Lowry Pueblo is a Mesa Verde Anasazi site located in Montezuma County, Colorado. The site was inhabited ca. 1200-1300 CE and consists of a small pueblo with around 30 rooms. The pueblo is located on a bluff overlooking the Rio Grande River and was likely used as a hunting and gathering campsite. The site was first excavated in the early 1900s and has since been reconstructed.Things to Do at Lowry Pueblo
Today, the site is open to the public for hiking, picnicking, and bird watching. There are also a number of educational programs offered at Lowry Pueblo, including guided tours of the ruins and hands-on workshops about traditional puebloan life. Visitors can also learn about the pueblo's history at the on-site museum, which houses a collection of artifacts from the site.
Top Activities Near Lowry Pueblo
History of Lowry Pueblo
Lowry Pueblo is a pre-Columbian archaeological site located in Montezuma County, Colorado. The site was occupied by the Anasazi people from around AD 1050 to 1300. Lowry Pueblo was originally built on the Mesa Verde, but was later relocated to its current location due to a change in climate. The pueblo itself is made up of over 150 rooms, and was likely home to around 100 people. It is believed that the Anasazi people abandoned Lowry Pueblo around 1300, likely due to a drought. Today, the site is open to the public and is a popular destination for tourists and archaeologists alike.
Best Time to Visit Lowry Pueblo
The best time to visit Lowry Pueblo, Montezuma County, Colorado is in the summer. The weather is warm and dry, and the days are long, providing plenty of time to enjoy all the pueblo has to offer. The views are especially stunning during the summer months, when the sun sets later and the skies are clear.
Tips for Visiting Lowry Pueblo
- Allow plenty of time to explore the site. There's a lot to see, and you'll want to take your time to soak it all in.
- Be respectful of the site and its inhabitants. This is an important piece of history, and it should be treated with respect.
- Take advantage of the ranger-led tours. The rangers are incredibly knowledgeable about the site and its history, and they're more than happy to share their insights with visitors.
- Be sure to dress for the weather. The pueblo is located at an elevation of 7,000 feet, and snow is not uncommon even in summer months.
Interesting Facts and Trivias About Lowry Pueblo
- The pueblo was constructed around 1060 AD atop abandoned pithouses from an earlier period of occupation. It was occupied by 40 to 100 people at a time for 165 years.
- The site is one of the northernmost to be associated with the Puebloan cultures.
- The site was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1964.
- Lowry Pueblo was first excavated during summer field seasons from 1930 to 1936 by Paul Sidney Martin of the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.
- The pueblo was named for the early area homesteader George Lowry.
How Much Time Did Visitors Spend at Lowry Pueblo
The maximum time required to explore Lowry Pueblo is 2-3 hours.
How to Reach Lowry Pueblo
The best way to reach it is by taking Highway 285 from Denver. After about 2 hours, you will see a sign for the pueblo on the left side of the road. turn onto the dirt road and follow it for about 1/2 mile until you reach the pueblo.
Entrance Fee of Lowry Pueblo
The entrance fee to Lowry Pueblo is $3 per person.
Opening Hours of Lowry Pueblo
The pueblo is open to the public from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM daily.