Wetherill Reunion June 14-19, 2017
Mesa Verde National Park near Mancos, Colorado has some of the largest and best preserved Ancestral Puebloan ruins in the United States. One of these, Cliff Palace was discovered by Richard Wetherill his brother-in-law Charlie Mason and Acowitz, a Ute Tribal member in December of 1888.
It was Richard Wetherill and his brothers John and Al in 1893 that first discovered the “Baskemakers” and recognized them as a predecessor to the Cliff Dwellers. Their discovery of a burial and massacre in cave 7 in Southern Utah and the use of stratigraphy in analysis of the excavation led to the discovery of an earlier culture.
It was John Wetherill in 1909 that led the discovery expedition to Rainbow Bridge, the world's largest natural stone span. John led an expedition of two parties, University of Utah archaeologists Byron Cummings and U. S. government surveyor William Boone Douglass. There is substantial evidence that John and Louisa Wetherill actually saw the bridge several months before the expedition.
Because of the families future activities it resulted in the formation of three National Parks, two National Monuments and the discovery of a new culture and collections of artifacts which were distributed to museums of world wide fame.
Other creative members of the family were Robert and Richard Wetherill of Chester, Pennsylvania who were two of the most influential industrialists in the Eastern United States in the late 19th century.
Rulon Wetherill
Collection
1866 - 1944
Entered by Richard Wetherill in 1895 while on an expedition in the Northern area of Monument Valley. Fourteen years later Richard's brother, John Wetherill and Byron Cummings entered Betatakin an immense cave with a large ruin. Both Betatakin and Keet Seel were in same general area.
Wetherill Coreless Engine, Manufactured by the Robert Wetherill and Company