Wetherill

A History of Discovery

Mesa Verde

On December 18th, 1888, Richard Wetherill and his brother-in-law Charles Mason along with Acowitz, a Ute tribe member were riding across the mesa top looking for stray cattle.  At the edge of the pinyon and juniper forest surrounding them lay a vast canyon and across it was a ancient city below a rock overhang.  Many accounts describe a blinding snow storm but nowhere in the Wetherill family is there mentioned a blinding snow storm through which they saw the ancient city.  This story was promoted in the book by Willa Cather "The Professor's House".  Richard and Charlie made their way across the canyon, made a cursory inspection of the Cliff Palace Mesa Verde, Coloradocliff dwelling and left with a few artifacts. These ranchers from the Mancos Valley were the first white men to enter what they called "Cliff Palace".  Three years before in 1885, Richard Wetherill's brother, Al Wetherill saw Cliff Palace but did not enter it.  Gustaf Nordenskiold arrived at the Alamo Ranch near Mancos, Colorado July 2, 1891 to begin explorations led by the Wetherill's.  He was instrumental in teaching the Wetherill's Stratigraphy.  These lessons led to the discovery of the Basketmakers by Richard and John Wetherill in Grand Gulch, Utah during the 1893 Hyde Exploring expedition. Richard correctly determined that the Basketmakers were an earlier race of people.

 

Spruce Tree House

Spruce Tree House Mesa Verde, Colorado 

Wetherill - Mason Descendants Gathering Spruce Tree House May 10, 2006

Wetherill-Mason Descendants Spruce Tree House May 10, 2006 

Standing L-R, Delbert Lilley and Betty Lilley, Richard Lilley and Beulah Lilley, Ken Swinehart, Harvey Leake, James (Jim) Wetherill Shaffner, Shannon Marie Brady, Mary Katherine Brady Wood, Sue Swinehart, Gretchen Mahan Brady, Kneeling L-R Marie Garcia Shaffner, Wren Wetherill, Fanny Wetherill, Chris Fine, Terry Watson