Yucca House National Monument Expanded in Colorado

November 7, 2024

National Park Trust and National Park Service Safeguard a Cultural Legacy Resulting in Significant Expansion of Park

Washington, D.C. (November 7, 2024) /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – The National Park Trust, in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), announces the expansion of Yucca House National Monument in Montezuma Valley, Colorado. Thanks to the acquisition of a 160-acre parcel of land, a significant milestone has been achieved in preserving the park’s cultural significance and archeological integrity.

The National Park Trust helped facilitate a complex, decade-long process that enabled generous local neighbors Benard and Nancy Karwick to donate the parcel. The expertise of the National Park Trust assisted with the acquisition and completion of the project that brings this land under the monument’s protection, increasing the size of the monument sixfold.  “National Park Trust’s dedication has played a crucial role in successfully expanding Yucca House National Monument. Their swift action and partnership in securing this 160-acre parcel have ensured the preservation of one of Colorado’s most significant archaeological sites,” said Kayci Cook Collins, National Park Service Superintendent of Mesa Verde National Park and Yucca House National Monument.

“The National Park Service appreciates the assistance of the National Park Trust in acquiring this 160-acre parcel,” said Kayci Cook Collins, superintendent of Mesa Verde National Park and Yucca House National Monument. “The land expands the boundary of Yucca House National Monument and helps ensure the ongoing preservation of one of Colorado’s significant archeological sites.”

Once home to the Ancestral Puebloan people between 1150 and 1300 A.D., the Yucca House Pueblo encompasses an ancient community of around 600 rooms surrounding a life-giving spring that supported the area’s agriculture and daily life. This expansion further strengthens the preservation of this site. It builds upon a legacy that dates to Yucca House’s original designation of 9 acres by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919 and Hallie Ismay’s mid-1990s donation of 24 acres. Now the southern extent of the Yucca House Pueblo is within the monument, opportunities to improve visitor access to monument can be considered, and fragile animal habitats that depend on the same ancient spring that sustained the pueblo will be protected.

“Nancy and I are honored to contribute to the expansion of Yucca House National Monument, a place of cultural and historical significance. Seeing this vision come to fruition with the support of the National Park Service and National Park Trust is deeply gratifying,” said Bernard Karwick. “The expansion protects an essential part of our history and ensures that future generations can appreciate and learn from this significant archaeological treasure. National Park Trust’s expertise and dedication in collaboration with the National Park Service to overcome the boundary challenges ensured that this important site is now protected for future generations.”

“We are grateful that when the National Park Service contacted us, we could quickly assist in resolving the challenges that arose during the acquisition of this important archaeological acreage,” said Grace Lee, executive director of National Park Trust. “Furthermore, the very generous and meaningful donation by Bernard and Nancy Karwick was instrumental in expanding the park from 33 acres to nearly 200 acres. Thanks to this collaboration, the cultural legacy of the Ancestral Puebloan people is further safeguarded, and the critical wildlife habitat is also being improved.”

To learn more about this project, please visit: https://parktrust.org/yucca-house-national-monument-co/.

ABOUT NATIONAL PARK TRUST

National Park Trust’s mission is to preserve parks today and create park stewards for tomorrow. Since 1983, the Park Trust has acquired many of the missing pieces of our national parks, benefiting 56 national park sites across the country. Our national youth education and family initiatives, including our Buddy Bison, College Ambassador and Military Family Programs, and National Kids to Parks Day, serve tens of thousands of children annually and cultivate future park stewards. We believe our public parks, lands, and waters should be cared for, enjoyed, and preserved by all for current and future generations. Find out more at parktrust.org.

Media Contact: Ivan Levin at 540.818.5818 or ivan@parktrust.org.

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