This is strictly an advertisement for a deserving place. When I was in this area last year, I did not stop at this center. It’s a bit off the beaten path and has to play second fiddle to Mesa Verde National Monument. So this year on my way to Durango, I took the route that goes past the Heritage Center.

In the past couple of years I have been to a lot of Visitor Centers. This one I would put at the top. The two videos they show are quite different from the videos you typically see in Visitor Centers. One is about visiting sites with respect for the stories and cultures in evidence, as well as the preservation of the physical space for the future. The other was about the history of archeology in the Southwest. Both outstanding. I sat through each twice.

This center is also quite a bit larger than most centers you come upon in State and National Parks, and National Monuments. That’s because it is also a very extensive museum and art gallery. I spent a lot of time here and could have spent more. The whole point is, if you are in this area, I believe you should not miss this stop.