EL MORRO NATIONAL MONUMENT

WHEN WE VISITED OUR FRIENDS IN ZUNI WE USUALLY STOPPED AT EL MORRO, A SANDSTONE BLUFF. IT WAS HOME TO ANCESTRAL PUBLOANS,, SPANISH AND AMERICANS CARVED OVER 2000 SIGNATURES, DATES, MESSAGES, AND PETROGLYPHS FOR HUNDREDS OF OF YEARS. IT WAS A RELIABLE WATERHOLE FOR THE INDIGENOUS POPULATION. THERE IS A MESA TOP PUEBLO WITH 870 ROOMS THAT DATES TO ABOUT 1400 AD.

BECAUSE THE PETROGLYPHS AND SIGNATURES ARE IN SOFT SANDSTONE THEY ARE ERODING. APPARENTLY IT'S BEEN OCCUPIED FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS. THE FIRST SPANISH INSCRIPTION WAS BY DON JUAN DE ONATE IN 1605, 15 YEARS BEFORE THE PILGRAMS LANDED AT PLYMOUTH'S ROCK. IN SPANISH EL MORRO MEANS "THE BLUFF"'. ABOUT 35,000 VISITORS VISITORS COME TO EL MORRO. EARLY AMERICAN TRAVELERS, REFERRED TO THE ROCK AS INSCRIPTION ROCK. IT BECAME A NATIONAL MONUMENT IN 1906. YOU CAN CLIMB TO THE TOP OF THE BLUFF 200 FEET ABOVE. THEY NOW HAVE A VISITOR CENTER. IT WAS VERY PRIMITIVE WHEN WE WERE THERE IN THE 70'S.

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