Existing comment:
Remnants:
During the 1890s, Walnut Canyon became a popular destination for Sunday picnickers, some armed with shovels. Serious pothunters dynamited the walls to let in more light. Destruction of the cliff dwellings happened quickly as the number of visitors increased.
Most of the prehistoric rooms were gutted before the turn of the century. But concerned citizens took action before all traces of the ancient ruins were lost.
They lobbied for federal protection, and in 1915 Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Walnut Canyon a national monument. It is now one of over 350 areas in the National Park System. |