Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

The history of Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument encompasses many areas of interest. It contains archaeology, anthropology, flora and fauna studies, and ethnography. The site holds administrative histories of the roles of New Mexico state agencies, as well as U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service histories. This history of the national monument focuses principally upon the role played by the National Park Service and its subordinate field unit, the Southwestern National Monuments, from 1933-57. This narrative highlights the plight of a national monument which was generally unfunded and unmanned because of its low standing as a national monument in contrast to higher profile national monuments in the Southwestern National Monuments and its relative isolation within the boundaries of the Primitive Area or Gila Wilderness encompassed by the Gila National Forest.