Much depends on your interests. The Great Houses are spectacular in their own right but unless you have some understanding of the 'normal' way that the people lived it is difficult to really appreciate them. The National... More
Much depends on your interests. The Great Houses are spectacular in their own right but unless you have some understanding of the 'normal' way that the people lived it is difficult to really appreciate them. The National Parks and monuments, such as Chaco and Aztec, do a great job but understandably highlight the most visually spectacular buildings and accomplishments, however, give only cursory understanding of how 'average' people lived. It would be like visiting the 10 most spectacular monuments in Washington D.C. but never visiting a farm of factory in Virginia. There are many opportunities to more deeply explore the fascinating history of the Ancestral Puebloan peoples; digitally and in person. Their descendants also maintain many of the cultural traditions and these may be accessed through venues such as the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and/or avisit to a Pueblo community during one of the many 'open' days. It is even possible to become directly involved in active archaeological research at the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center. I also recommend a visit to the Canyon of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum near Dolores, Colorado
