Wupatki National Monument Centennial

Park Ranger flat hats on the ground in the shape of number 100.
Park Ranger Flat hats for 100 years.

NPS/M. Ullmann

On December 9th, 2024 Wupatki National Monument will turn 100! Join us throughout the year as we highlight the significance of the people, cultures, plants, animals, rocks, fossils, and historic buildings within Wupatki. Explore the sections below to see what we have planned. More content will be added to this page throughout the year including information for specific events.

Though the land and resources now known as Wupatki National Monument became a National Park site in 1924, Native peoples have been here protecting and caring for these lands for time immemorial. We gratefully acknowledge those on whose ancestral homelands we gather, as well as the diverse and vibrant Native communities who continue to make their home here today. Please visit the Associated Tribes page to learn more.
 
 
Wupatki Pueblo after the removal of the most of the reconstructed walls.
Wupatki Pueblo after the removal of most of the reconstructed walls. Date and photographer unknown.

NPS/WUPA13428

The Establishment of a Monument

Using the Antiquities Act, Wupatki National Monument was established by President Calvin Coolidge on December 9, 1924, to preserve the Citadel and Wupatki Pueblo. Monument boundaries have been adjusted several times since then, and now include additional pueblos and other archeological resources on a total of 35,422 acres.

A lot has changed over the last 100 years. Philosophies of preservation and archeology have evolved to be less destructive to sites and artifacts and more inclusive of the people whose ancestors built these magnificent homes. There's still a lot to learn and more progress to be made.

We invite you to read the original Presidential Proclamation that created Wupatki National Monument as well as the most recent Presidential Proclamation creating Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument and take some time to reflect on the differences in ideas and goals between the two. If you were to write your own proclamation creating Wupatki National Monument today, how would you include the things that you find special about this place?
 
Diné silversmith Rosabelle Teesyatoh Shepherd works on a piece of jewelry at Walnut Canyon during a cultural demonstration event.
Diné silversmith Rosabelle Teesyatoh Shepherd works on a piece of jewelry during a cultural demonstration event.

NPS

Events and Programs

The following is a list of events and publications completed or planned in celebration of Wupatki's centennial. Some dates and times are yet to be finalized and this list is subject to change. Please check back for updates!

  • Recent artist-in-residence and writer Erika Watson shares written reflections of her childhood growing up in the Rock House at Wupatki when her father was a ranger there. Erica Watson – Strange Wests – About Place Journal

  • Fall 2024 through April 30th 2025: Recent artist-in-residence Steve Bridgehouse will be hanging a Wupatki-themed photo exhibit at Edge of the Cedars Museum in Blanding, UT
    "Singagua" a collection of photographs celebrating natural and built environments of Wupatki National Monument.
    Opening Reception Saturday September 21, at 12 noon
    at Edge of Cedars State Park Museum.
    The collection will be available to view through the end of April 2025.
    For more information call 435-678-2238 Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum | Utah State Parks

  • Sunday Nov 3, 12:00-4:30pm at The Museum of Northern Arizona: The National Park Service will commemorate the 100-year anniversary of Wupatki National Monument with a symposium at the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff on Sunday November 3. Speakers from the NPS, associated tribes, and research partners will discuss the significance and history of the monument and the lands protected within it. The event will feature a panel discussion by Indigenous representatives on the importance of Wupatki National Monument and the effect of the creation of the monument on Indigenous people. Research posters, works by Indigenous artists, and works by Artists-in-Resident will be on display and Indigenous artists will be working during the event.

    Speakers and Topics will include:
    WUPA significance/importance – Lyle Bahlenquah, Hopi Tribal member & former NPS
    WUPA history – Gwenn Gallenstein, NPS
    Navajos of Wupatki – Richard Begay, NNHPD
    WUPA/MNA connection – David Purcell, MNA
    Significance of WUPA's natural resources – Mark Szydlo, NPS
    Wupatki Pueblo – Frank Matero, UPenn

    For more information about this event please visit the MNA website.

  • Spring 2025: Cultural demonstrators from different Indigenous communities will exhibit their artwork, share their creative process and the cultural importance of what they create. These demonstrations will take place at the Wupatki Visitor Center. Events may also include traditional dances and speaking engagements. Dates TBD but will be added to the park calendar when finalized.
    Wupatki Calendar

    The purpose of the Cultural Demonstration Program is to elevate the voices of members from the 13 Traditionally Associated Tribes. Demonstrations allow visitors to the parks an opportunity to meet Indigenous Artists while they practice traditional and modern crafts and share their stories. This program is possible with funding from NPS valued partner Western National Parks Association.
  • December 9th: The actual centennial date of Wupatki turning 100 as a National Monument! Join rangers and the Friends of the Flagstaff Monuments for cake with candles at the Visitor Center and a special ranger-led hike.

 
An assortment of park unigrid brochures scattered across a table.
NPS Park standard brochures in the standard Unigrid style.

NPS

More Cool Things Happening in 2024

New Wupatki Unigrid

The park brochure, the glossy, the trifold, that thing with the black bar on it. The standard national park site brochures are affectionately known by many names. The official name for them is the Unigrid which refers to the standard design and layout created in 1977. Many visitors collect these as mementos of their trip.

The management of a park unit can request a Unigrid be redone to update interpretive information, park roads and trails, changes to park boundaries etc. The skilled staff at the NPS Harper's Ferry Center then work with the park, usually over a two year period, to create a new design that will be both a better tool for visitors during their time at the park and a thought provoking educational product.

If you have visited Sunset Crater Volcano Recently you have already seen the new SUCR Unigrid which is now separated from Wupatki's. This year it's WUPA's turn. By the end of the summer, Wupatki will have its very own larger, more colorful, more informative Unigrid which better represents Indigenous perspectives through tribal consultation. We can't wait to show it to you!
 
Sunset Crater Volcano Unigrid
New Sunset Crater Volcano Brochure (Unigrid)

NPS

P.S. You may have noticed the use of park alpha codes above. It's a nifty trick once you know it. Most national park sites have an alpha code made with the first two letters of the first two words of the name of the site. Or it can be the first four letters of the name if there's only one word. Some sites had to get a little creative so they didn't have an alpha code that made the public giggle. For example Carlsbad Caverns is CAVE, instead of, well, another word for scat. Yellowstone just got lucky and they get to YELL about their park all the time. Next time you're on nps.gov try adding a backslash and a four letter alpha code for a park. If you got it right you should be taken to that park's homepage. For example Wupatki's page is nps.gov/wupa.
 
The front image of the 2024 America the Beautiful Annual Pass with a red color scheme and the photo of a green and yellow striped lizard sitting on a rock.
This photo of an Eastern Collared lizard in Wupatki was taken by visitor Paulette Donnellon.

Who's That Lizard?

If you have purchased, or have seen, this year's America the Beautiful Annual passes you may have noticed that the Eastern Collared Lizard pictured on the front started its short but prestigious modeling career at Wupatki National Monument.

 
 
2024 Wupatki centennial cancellation stamp and regional stamp series.
The 2024 Regional Passport Stamp Series

America’s National Parks™

Gotta Get Those Passport Stamps!

We see you, with that little blue book (or that big black spiral book - go you!), and we know what you want. You don't have to wait until December to get your official Wupatki Centennial Cancellation stamp. It's at the visitor center, right, now. Plus, finally, after years and years of waiting, Wupatki National Monument has been featured on the 2024 Regional Stamp Series set for the western region. We know, we think they should have made it the National Stamp too. Sigh, it's cool, it's cool, there's an Eastern Collared Lizard from Wupatki on the America the Beautiful pass. Heck yeah!
 
A round orange scale color graphic with the outline of Wupatki Pueblo and text encircling it reading Wupatki National Monument Centennial 1924-2024.
WNPA designed Wupatki Centennial Logo

WNPA

Gotta Get That Merch!

This summer our non-profit partner Western National Parks Association will unveil merchandise for the Wupatki Centennial. These items will be available in the Wupatki visitor center as well as online.
 
 

Last updated: October 15, 2024

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Mailing Address:

6400 U.S. 89
Flagstaff, AZ 86004

Phone:

928-679-2365

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