Square Tower House in Mesa Verde National Park Apr 18, 2022

Square Tower House in Mesa Verde National Park

We continue our celebration of National Park Week (through April 24)–and the UNESCO International Day for Monuments and Sites–with a visit to the impressive Square Tower House in Mesa Verde National Park. Square Tower House is one of many cliff dwellings constructed by the Ancestral Puebloans in what is now the American Southwest. At 27 feet, it"s the tallest structure in the park. Square Tower House is also notable for its kiva, a round, sunken room used for ceremonies. Unlike most of the ancient kivas found in the region, the kiva at Square Tower House has an intact original clay roof supported by wooden beams.

© lightphoto/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Apr 18, 2018A crested partridge
Apr 18, 2019Stop and see the flowers
Apr 18, 2020National Park Week begins
Apr 18, 2021In Sicily, history is everywhere
Apr 18, 2023International Day for Monuments and Sites
Apr 18, 2024International Day for Monuments and Sites
Apr 18, 2025International Day for Monuments and Sites
Apr 18, 2026World Heritage Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jan 29, 2025Chinese New Year
Aug 14, 2023World Lizard Day
Feb 19, 2021Colorful cows of the reef
Jun 12, 2022Big Bend National Park turns 78
Apr 23, 2024World Book Day
Sep 21, 2025Sea Otter Awareness Week
Aug 22, 2021A wild, craggy corner of the United States
Jun 9, 2026Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy
Sep 2, 2025Camel thorn trees, Namib-Naukluft Park, Namibia
May 18, 2020Desert rose of Qatar
Aug 29, 2025Aerial view of Plaza Mayor, Madrid, Spain
Oct 1, 2025Clark Range, Yosemite National Park, California
Oct 12, 2024World Migratory Bird Day
May 26, 2024Methow Valley, North Cascades, Washington
Dec 1, 2021Antarctica Day
Apr 4, 2026Black grouse males, Estonia
Jun 11, 2020A midsummer twilight s dream
Jun 5, 2021Bird s-eye view on World Environment Day
Jun 16, 2018Drop in on International Surfing Day
Oct 30, 2025Camels at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India
Feb 4, 2023Rosa Parks Day
Apr 3, 2019Dark skies over New Mexico
Sep 28, 2020Explorer of the sea
Apr 19, 2019Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park shines
Jun 21, 2020Grab onto the handlebars, kid
Sep 5, 2020Beaver achievers
Apr 29, 2024Fujian Tulou, China
Jun 20, 2019In celebration of America’s national bird
May 8, 2018Raise your hand for Teacher Appreciation Day
Jan 2, 2019Tesla, the visionary