Yucca House and Snider's Well, Presented by Fred Blackburn.

Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum has a lecture series which began in May and will end in October of this year. One lecture I attended with my husband Roy, and good friend Amy, was "Yucca House and Snider's Well: The Case of a Different Cradleboard", July 11th, and presented by famed historian, co-author ("Cowboys and Cave Dwellers") and guide, Fred Blackburn. Mr. Blackburn was the first BLM Ranger assigned to the Grand Gulch/Cedar Mesa region of southeastern Utah; a key figure in the development of Crow Canyon outside of Cortez, Colorado; and has done extensive exploration of the entire Mesa Verde region.  The opportunity to hear one of his lectures, practically in my own backyard (Blanding is only a half hour away from Monticello), could not be missed.  If he ever comes around to your area to give a lecture, take advantage!

Fred Blackburn

Yucca House National Monument (website: http://www.nps.gov/yuho/index.htm), historically was a major stop for travelers of the "Colorado Road" and within a stone's throw of "Aztec Springs" or what is now called Cortez.  In 1892, Henry Van Kleeck purchased the land where Yucca House was located; he contacted famed explorer, Richard Wetherill about ruins in found.  Besides the kiva (which the ruins turned out to be), six more kivas were found along the ridge line.  However, excavation was not done on these, instead, the owner of Snider's Farm began digging a well at an indentation site on the farm; he assumed it was due to water down below.  Surprise!  As he continued downward, a kiva's stone structure began to emerge; Wetherill was called over to view the site, and began an excavation lasting through 1893-1894.

Ellen, Wife of Henry Van Kleeck, Active Member of the Cliff Dwellers Association.



Yucca House Map



Yucca House Site

Snider's Well - 1890s



Snider's Farm - 1890s

 Snider's Farm and Well Site - 2014

This is one of two "bearing trees" still in existence marking off the corners of Yucca House.









Artifacts Found at Snider's Farm Site

The Snider's Well kiva was measured at a 21 foot diameter; inside two piles of skeletal remains (estimated 20-50 bodies) were found, but no artifacts.  Layers of colored plaster adorned the walls in seven colors, but there were no actual drawings or writings visible.  Three significant skulls types were found in the skeletal remains; valley dweller, cliff dweller (90% angle) and one at a 45 degree cranial angle deemed to be of MesoAmerican culture (Mexico).  However, in the 21st century, it was hypothesized that the shape of the skull could have been from a Navajo cradleboard, as they did travel with the Spanish who came through the region forging the "Spanish Trail" through Colorado and Utah.

The Skulls

The Excavation of Snider's Well

Skeletal Remains

Kiva Interior

Since the photos were taken in the 1890s, color photography was not available at that time, so the seven colors of the layered plaster cannot be seen.

Richard Wetherill had the kiva filled in, since only bones and skulls were found; he did not return to Yucca House either.  In 1906, the Antiquities Act came into law; Mesa Verde also became a National Park; 1918 Yucca House was given to the National Parks Service and became, itself, a National Monument.

Ownership Records

Map of Prehistoric Sites in the United States

View from Yucca House

In the distance, Chimney Rock (Southern Ute Reservation) is located on Route 491 in Colorado;  Shiprock (Navajo Reservation) is off Route 491 and Route 64 in New Mexico.

Many thanks to Fred Blackburn for this stunning look into the past; and to Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum for having the lecture series.

Mary Cokenour

Dinosaurs Roaming Through Blanding, Utah.

The Dinosaur Museum

754 South 200 West (off Route 191, across from Quality Inn & Suites) on 700 South)
Blanding Utah 84511

Phone: (435) 678-3454

E-mail: dinos@dinosaur-museum.org

Website: http://dinosaur-museum.org/

Museum Manager, Beverly Felstead

 In the entry way is a cast of a Giant Ammonite; found in Germany, the original specimen is housed at The Natural History Museum in Munster, Germany.

 

Anyone who is fan of the British sci-fi series "Doctor Who" will instantly understand this next phrase, "It's bigger on the inside!"  Don't let the exterior of the museum building fool you; it might look small, but there are five large rooms housing magnificent recreations, castings, and actual skeletons of dinosaurs; and many, many display cases.  One room in particular is the newest exhibit, The Feathered Dinosaurs; and you won't believe this, but...wait for it...wait for it...the Raptors (remember them from the film, Jurassic Park) were actually feathered dinosaurs!

 

Lets take a visual tour through photos, but they do NOT do the actual exhibits justice at all.

 

Permian Logs found in San Juan County, Utah



Herrerasaurus and Plateosaurus. Triassic Period



Allosaurus

 



Plesiosaurus

Styracosaurus; related to Triceratops

Suchomimus



Supersaurus

T-Rex Skull



Tarbosaurus



The Blanding Giant; 2 sections of a Brontosaurus leg are all that remain; they were decorations in the garden of Joseph Lyman.  Do more remain tucked away in other Blanding gardens?  If yes, are the residents willing to donate them to the Dinosaur Museum for safe keeping?













One room contains the story and evidence behind the "Feathered Dinosaurs - Correcting the Mistake"; proof that Raptors were part of this species of dinosaur.  This will lead to the Museum's newest exhibit, "The Feathered Dinosaurs" and you will be left speechless by the creatures you see in there.

Alright,here it comes...The Feathered Dinosaurs; don't be thinking that because I've posted photos that you do not need to come to the Museum....WRONG!!! The moment I laid my eyes on the Therizinosaurus, I was floored; it has to be one of the most absolutely, beautifully, awesome creatures from the prehistoric age.

I'm sorry, Beverly isn't available right now...she's lunch!

These Raptors are not doing the chicken dance; more likely the happy dance, since they see you as food.

The next room contains a dinosaur that has been my very favorite since childhood, the Edmontosaurus aka Duckbilled Dinosaur.  This specimen was mummified, so a good amount of skin is still attached giving paleontologists an incite to the texture and structure of its skin.

There are also tracks, fossils and story boards of how many of the exhibits were found, dug out and transported.

Pachycephalosaurus and Stegoceras

Throughout the entire facility are various display cases of fossils, bones, artwork and even how the dinosaur was used commercially to sell everyday products.

So, you think Hollywood has all the good stuff...not when it comes to dinosaurs.  How about the film setup for the original King Kong; including the model for the Brontosaurus.  They even have King Kong himself from the remake done by Peter Jackson.

See that poster for "Gorgo", that was one of my very favorite movies when I was a child.  In fact, I've probably seen almost every movie that is on the posters at the Museum.  Big dinosaur movie watcher am I.

At the end of the tour, you'll exit out via the gift shop and they are loaded with books, posters, t-shirts, toys, jewelry, replicas, and more stuff I can't even remember.  There is something there for everyone; even the little kid inside each of us that wants that toy of our very favorite dino.

All the exhibits have professionally done up descriptions of the items you are seeing.  If you can manage to get a group together, call ahead and book a group tour...it is worth every moment!

Coming through Southeastern Utah, stop in at the Dinosaur Museum in Blanding.  You will be crying later on if you don't.

Mary Cokenour