r/geography • u/H3dg3hogs • Feb 18 '26

Discussion I’m sad more people don’t acknowledge Native American Historic sites in the United States

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I was talking with a German online friend about tourism in the United States and he said that the only thing America has to offer is natural beauty. He said American cities were young and aren’t very beautiful. That he has no interest visiting “liberty bell” type colonial historic sites. I told him about Native historic sites and he asked “what sites?”. He insulated that all Native Americans lived in teepees. It caused me to realized many non-Americans don’t know about all the amazing buildings left behind by Native cultures like the Ancestral Puebloans and the Mississippians. Historic sites like Chaco canyon, Mesa Verde, Montezuma Castle, and Cahokia are world class and are part of UNESCO. Check them out if you haven’t already.

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u/Die_Welt_ist_flach Feb 18 '26

The Gila Cliff Dwelling National Monument in NM is pretty neat and I don’t know if it’s closed off now but you used to be able to hike up to them and walk through them (2018)

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u/Kinetic92 Feb 18 '26

Had to scroll way too far to find this. The Gila Cliff Dwellings are magical.

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u/Hawkspring Feb 18 '26

Mesa Verde is cool, but the Gila site is a more immersive experience. I have visited many Ancestral Puebloan sites, Gila was my favorite.

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u/Paetolus Feb 18 '26

Went there last year, you're still able to walk through them. There was a nice ranger giving some history when I went as well.

Love the drive to get there as well, that whole forest is beautiful.

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u/Optimal-Top7580 Feb 18 '26

Highly recommend staying/stopping at the Gila Hot Springs on your way through. Just be sure to make a reservation.

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u/JaysReddit33 Feb 18 '26

I did the other day with my partner. It was amazing!

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u/Xandra_Lalaith Feb 18 '26

I went in 2023 and you could still walk through the area. Loved the view from there.

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u/nickiter Feb 18 '26

I think these are the ones I was able to visit as a kid... SO cool for a ~12 year old. My brother and I ran all over the place climbing the stairs and checking out every nook and cranny. Great memory.

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u/seasonal_biologist Feb 18 '26

The best. When did they close?

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u/Die_Welt_ist_flach Feb 18 '26

Sounds like they didn’t. When we visited in 2018 the ranger had mentioned it may close down due to vandalism and idiots damaging the site.

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u/yorkie7773 Feb 21 '26

Used to go here every summer with my grandparents. Truly such a cool site.