The Alamo Ranch which translates into Poplar in Spanish was established in 1881 by Benjamin Kite Wetherill his 5 sons and daughter. It was to become a very
successful cattle ranch and the center of
discovery for the Wetherill brothers'. Many of the buildings
built by the Wetherills remain. It was
from here that Al Wetherill left the ranch in 1887 and viewed Cliff Palace
but did not enter the ruin. One year later Richard Wetherill and his brother
in-law Charles Mason, were searching for
cattle on the Mesa Verde and saw Cliff Palace from across the canyon. They
entered the ruin after great difficulty as the canyon was deep and the route
treacherous. When they entered the ruin it was obvious they were the first
humans to enter as they left footprints in the accumulated dust of
centuries. Richard and Charles were credited with it's discovery because of
their entrance into the ruin.
Directions to the Alamo Ranch
Going East
on Highway 160 from Cortez, Colorado turn right at the Welcome to
Mancos Valley sign. This is county Road H, continue on H through the
intersection of Rd 39 approximately 1/2 mile to the Alamo Ranch
large pole entry gate on your right. You are at the entrance to the
Alamo Ranch. Remember that this is private property. If you drive on
about half a mile past the last ranch on the right this is where the
Wetherills found their first archeological site and the place where
the Fredrick Chapin picture below was taken about 1888. He
was an American business man, mountaineer, photographer, amateur
archaeologist and author. He arrived at the
Alamo
Ranch using the Wetherills as guides to the ruins of Mesa Verde.
One of his photo albums is part of the Wetherill Archive at the Anasazi
Heritage Center in
Dolores, Colorado.
