The National Park Service and cooperators work in parks of the American Southwest and across the nation to preserve, protect, and share the history of the land and its people. This history includes archeological sites, significant structures (e.g., buildings, roads, kivas), and objects in park museum collections. The need to protect and understand the importance of these resources affects how the parks are managed today.
The Southwest is a place without boundaries – a land that ultimately defies a single definition.
Historic Settlement
The Southwestern U.S. has undergone multiple waves of settlement since Europeans began arriving in North America in 1492.
Mysteries of prehistoric peoples!
Prehistoric Cultures
The American Southwest has been home to a diversity of cultures for as long as 13,000 years.
Museums & Collections
National Park Service museum collections celebrate and exhibit America’s diversity.
Last updated: November 3, 2016