One of my favorite places to visit in the US is anywhere in the National Park System! There are 58 National Parks, 10 Seashores, 4 Parkways, 78 Monuments, 78 Historic Sites, 25 Battlefields, and 49 Historical Parks. In case you’re curious like I was, a national historical park differs from the rest because it is an area of historic and natural features with more than a single property or building. I’ve been to two such parks and highly recommend both of them!
Chaco Culture
After attending the amazing Balloon Fiesta, we took a day trip out to Chaco Culture National Historical Park. It’s about a 3 hour drive from Albuquerque and is quite remote. Once you turn off the main highway, there is a 13 mile stretch of unpaved road that you drive on before arriving at the entrance to the park. We first learned about Chaco Culture from a family member who visited during a business trip to New Mexico, and we were amazed by his pictures. While researching more about the history of Chaco Culture, I kept finding it on lists of important ruins with the likes of Tikal, Petra, Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat, and more! Done! We’re going there!
About the history…Chaco Canyon was home to Pueblo people from 850 to 1250 and was the center of Chacoan culture in the San Juan Basin. They constructed great stone houses using masonry with hundreds of rooms. It is an amazing site to see because of its architecture, planned construction, and community organization. It is thought that the canyon held a relatively small permanent population with most of its infrastructure in existence for people who came for special events (ceremonial, commerce, trading). Today many Southwest Native American people consider Chaco to be a sacred place.
During the drive to the site, we passed cattle grazing, old windmills, and abandoned structures. In certain times of the year there can be flooding, so it’s important to check weather conditions. We stopped by the Visitor’s Center to pay our entrance fee and get a park map. The nine-mile Canyon Loop drive takes you by the six major sites. The first one we stopped at was the unexcavated Hungo Pavi, followed by Pueblo Bonito, and last, Casa Rinconada. Each stop has self-guided trail brochures which contain a ton of great information so you understand the history of the sites. Some of the common architectural features include the circular kivas which were rooms used for religious ceremonies. Pueblo Bonito is absolutely not to be missed because it was the center of the complex, the largest great house, has been excavated, and is the most researched. The masonry of the site is so impressive! The Great Kiva at Casa Rinconada is much larger and deeper than the regular kivas and is pretty amazing to see.
The park is one of only 4 sites in the NPS with the Dark Sky distinction and I would love to go back to camp and stargaze!
Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau
If you’re planning a trip to the Big Island, on the way to or from Kona and Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, consider a stop at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park. Another name for this historical park is City of Refuge because until 1819 defeated warriors during war times or Hawaiians who broke a taboo could flee death by coming to this place of refuge. Once inside the great walls of the refuge, no harm would come their way, and a priest would absolve the person in a purification ceremony. It was also the royal grounds of the chief of Kona. The complex contains archeological sites including temples and well preserved carved wooden images. The main site of Hale o Keawe, contains the bones of the chiefs that help make the site sacred and is surrounded by the largest concentration of wooden carvings in the site. You can also play a traditional game that’s like checkers/chess and watch various cultural demonstrations! One of the many reasons I love Hawaii is for its history and culture which come alive while visiting sites like this one. The area is also known for excellent diving and snorkeling if you’re looking for places to enjoy those activities. Fun fact: this site makes up the background in the Where in the World is Carmen San Diego game when in Hawaii.
Have you been to any national historical parks? Tell us about it in the comments below! Let us know about any other parks you’ve been to as well.
We’ve linked up with Weekend Wanderlust,
The Weekly Postcard, and Weekend Travel Inspiration!
I stopped at the Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park when I was in Hawaii and have visited the Klondike Gold Rush Museum in Seattle which is part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and I’ve also been to the Pig War National Historic Park on San Juan Island, Washington. These parks fill such an interesting little niche in the National Park System. I’ve enjoyed all of the ones I’ve experienced. I would love to visit the Chaco Culture National Historical Park – it looks fascinating.
That’s wonderful! I bet they were all fascinating- so true about the niche they fill. I highly recommend Chaco Culture if you get the chance. Thanks for commenting!
My husband is American and we will one day live in America (for now we are in Japan) but I am yet to live there and have only visited a handful of times, I am SO excited for the National Parks, thanks for sharing this, I will definitely be pinning for later 🙂
That’s so exciting! We also love Japan though (my co-author Meagan studied abroad there). The National Parks are truly a gem in the US. Thanks for commenting & let me know if you need more inspiration as you plan!
I have never heard of Chaco Culture National Historical Park, but it looks to be fascinating
It was! Highly recommend it. & I also had never heard of Chaco before this year.
I visited the Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park many times. It is next to a great diving a snorkeling spot we love to go to when we travel to Hawaii. I am not acquainted with the other national parks, but they seem very interesting. Thank you for joining us for #TheWeeklyPostcard.
It’s such a great spot! I adore Hawaii. I didn’t know much about these type of parks until researching! If you’re ever in New Mexico Chaco Culture is fascinating. Thanks for having us in #TheWeeklyPostcard!
I’ve never heard about this national historic park,but it sounds a great place to visit.Beautiful photos and thanks for all the information.Loved reading this post…
Our national parks are such treasures! I agree with you, they are my favorite things to visit!
Yes they are amazing! Which are your favorites? I’m always looking for suggestions as I have many more to visit. Thanks for the comment!
Your article inspired me to take a look and see which parks I’ve been to. I found a handy list on wikipedia.
I used to live in Philly so have visited Independence National Historical Park and Valley Forge. I also lived in the San Francisco Bay Area and visited Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park
Looks like I have a lot more to see! Thanks for the #wkendtravelinspiration
That’s so great! Thanks for sharing! I also have a lot more to see…which I’m ok with.
I don’t think I’ve been to a National Historic Park. Didn’t think about the difference until you pointed it out. Now it’s on my radar to go find one!
I didn’t know either until I started looking into it. Let me know where you go! What National Parks do you love?
We went to Yellowstone last year and loved it!
Awesome! Yellowstone is incredible!
Great photos! We went to Chaco Culture last year and were amazed by the complexity of the construction there! We have also been to Lewis and Clark NHP, Colonial NHP, and Harpers Ferry NHP. They have all been fascinating!
Thanks so much! That’s awesome you’ve also been to Chaco- it’s such an amazing site to see. Wow you’ve been to a lot! Thanks for commenting!
You are welcome! My husband and I love the National Parks -we would like to get to all of them someday. Here’s our progress so far: https://wineandhistory.wordpress.com/national-parks/
We love visiting the National Parks. Have you purchased the National Parks passport? We have one; it’s fun to collect passport stamps at each park. Every visitor center has a rubber stamp with the current date. I think it makes a great souvenir.
I haven’t yet but that does sound like a fantastic souvenir, Linda! Thanks for the idea!
I’ve been to that one in Hawaii but haven’t even heard of Chaco. Looks like an interesting place. We have a National Parks Pass this year, so I’m hoping to visit lots of places with it.
I hadn’t heard of Chaco either until this year! We also have a pass so hope to hit a few more parks soon. What’s on your list?