Manitou Cliff DwellingsThe Manitou Cliff Dwellings are located at the foot of Pikes Peak in the town of Manitou, Colorado. The second point of criticism is the price. Thirty minutes is enough time for most adults to experience the dwellings. Children depending on their age, mood and interest might be entertained a good bit longer. Visitors are free to not only touch the dwellings, but climb inside them and stay awhile. For adults (without the senior discount) the prices is $9. We have visited the Manitou Cliff Dwellings and enjoyed it. Reconstructed or not, climbing into the living chambers gives one an idea of how these people lived hundreds of years ago. For those like me who don't like to rush through museum exhibits without knowing what I'm looking at, informational signs explain what is known about the Anasazi. Since these dwellings were reconstructed over one hundred years ago they are are a piece of history themselves, apart from that of the Anasazi. Photos inside the museum show vintage cars and tourists in period dress. Several hundred years from now, our history will be intermeshed with that of the Anasazi, and we will just be another piece of the chain.  Inside the museum, dioramas depict how the Anasazi lived their daily lives. Authentic artifacts are on display - everything from tools to weapons. The gift shop intermingles with the museum. You will see a display of authentic artifacts, and next to it will be modern-made replicas. This is disconcerting to some, but since it is a commercial establishment it doesn't bother me. Had it not been for the commercialism of this museum and the dwellings, many of the artifacts would have been lost to time by now. In those days, historical preservation wasn't a priority. In fact, archaeologists often destroyed important sites as they were excavating them. I believe most people who are interested enough to pay the admission price and check out the Manitou Cliff Dwellings will find the gift ship and museum educational. If you visit during the summer, Native Americans entertain in designated areas.
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The cliff dwellings aren't authentic, but the red sandstone used in their construction are authentic remnants of original dwellings. They were taken from a collapsed Anasazi site in the Four Corners area of the state, several hundred miles southwest of Colorado Springs. The dwellings were reconstructed on this site in the early 1900's, and they were opened to the public in 1906. A respected anthropologist of the era, Dr. Edgar Lee Hewett, was involved in the construction.