Lowry Pueblo

Lowry Pueblo is an ancestral Puebloan settlement with thirty-seven residential rooms, eight regular kivas, and one great kiva spanning about 50 feet (15 m) across. The structures are carefully arranged around the central kivas, displaying the construction skill of the ancient builders.

The settlement was founded around 1060 and was occupied for roughly 165 years. Groups of 40 to 100 people lived here before the site was eventually abandoned.

The great kiva served as a gathering space where the community came together for ceremonies and important decisions. White painted geometric patterns decorated the interior walls, showing the artistic skill of the people who lived there.

The site is reached by car and sits about 18 miles (29 km) north of Cortez after turning west on Road CC. Visitors should expect unpaved paths and check the weather before visiting.

The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago conducted the first excavations between 1930 and 1934, helping establish dating patterns for other sites in the region. This early work made the place a key piece for understanding ancestral Puebloan culture across the wider area.

Location: Montezuma County

GPS coordinates: 37.58453,-108.91965

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:04