Manitou Cliff Dwellings

Most attractions with artifacts and structures that are more than 700 years old would never allow visitors to look, explore and touch — but the Manitou Cliff Dwellings (located west of Colorado Springs) has bucked such restrictions from day one. At this popular locale, you’re not only allowed to touch the structures, you’re strongly encouraged to!

Step into a piece of history as you wander through painstakingly preserved Pueblo Indian structures relocated from McElmo Canyon in southern Colorado in the early 1900s. While they were relocated just over 100 years ago, the structures themselves date back centuries before Colorado was even a state. As you walk through 40 unique rooms, you’ll get a picture of what life was like for the indigenous peoples of the region — how they lived, what they ate, where they slept and what they did for fun.

When you’ve explored to your heart’s content, you can head over to the Pueblo Indian museum, which shares even more about the peoples of the Four Corners region, including informative videos, and authentic pottery, weapons and other artifacts.

The Manitou Cliff Dwellings gift shop is filled with beautiful handmade jewelry, Native American art, pottery and crafts, as well as informative books, videos and other items you can use to commemorate your visit or keep learning about the amazing people and cultures of the southwest.

Outside the museum and beyond the dwellings, you’ll find a scenic nature walk complete with well-labeled native flowers, herbs, trees and other plants. Every month the Cliff Dwellings also host fun, free events, like visits with real-live wolves where you can take your photo with the majestic creatures in exchange for a donation to their preserve.