Manitou Cliff Dwellings Museum

It wasn’t particularly clear to us that the Cliff Dwellings were not quite authentic. As you read some of the descriptions near the dwellings you are led to believe that they are legit and that people actually lived in these dwellings in this location. However, once you make your way thru the museum, there is some information that is contradictory. It wasn’t until we looked it up online that we discovered that they were taken from another location and re-​created in this spot. Even so, we found it to be a good experience and it was fun checking out the dwellings. They certainly seemed real to me. I just wish they were a little more upfront about it.

This is not that interesting. It’s a very small area. Very overpriced for what it is. It should be free. Only need like 20 minutes to see this.

I was here as a kid, and thought it was really neat! Brought my kids here today, and I wasn’t that impressed this time around. Maybe because I’ve been here before? There is 50 – 60 ft of dwellings to walk thru, & interesting little museum. Huge gift shop. Hopefully my kids will remember this for a long time like I did.

I have passed this place a few times from Hwy 24 and it captured my curiosity. I finally visited. It is, quite-​frankly, a waste of time. Manitou Springs has a lot to offer and unless you’ve done it all I would put this on the bottom of your list. It’s small, expensive, and the knowledge you gain could be gleaned from a book or website. The structures are cool, but they’re not that cool.

Do it once and look at pictures online later. Mostly a large store to sell stuff. The cliffs are neat and cool to look at. They charge by the person at the gate so be ready. The restrooms are at the LOWEST level of the store so be prepared to make a run down a LOT of stairs with people in the way if you have to go.

This is an actual cliff dwelling that was moved from the Four Corners area of Colorado to Manitou Springs and was not originally constructed in Manitou Springs. With that being said, keep in mind this is a great educational opportunity to see how the Pueblo Indians lived. No, it does not compare to Mesa Verde but it isn’t meant to so put that comparison away. The dwellings are small and it won’t take much time to go through them. Do not miss the gift shop; not to buy quintessential Colorado tourist (crap), but because the museum can be accessed easily from here. Yes, you can go direct to the museum but I always enjoy a good stroll through any gift shop.
There is some interesting information in the museum and is a must to be included. In summary, I would not make this a Colorado Springs destination specifically but it’s a great inclusion before or after another activity.

Tourist trap. Some of the history and artifacts they have are cool, hence the 2 stars. Otherwise it is overpriced and they have their gift shop as the centerpiece of the center.

Really rude staff. I called 2 hours before closing and they seem extremely agitated that I would even want to come. When I asked for some details about what they offered she acted like I was a complete idiot and said «yeah you mean the price?» Laughing. Seriously wanted to see something cool while I was out of state with my family and chanced the whole days plans because of how rude these people were.

One star because: $ 9.50 per adult to see… and you can see the same thing from the road! And it’s small. And it’s not handicap/​wheelchair friendly, only a ramp to the gift shop! 15 minutes to see the cliff dwellings, 5 minutes to take pictures, 15 minutes to see museum and as much money or time to spend in the «pricey» gift shop which had same items as all the other «Native American «gift shops I have visited across the southwest! Had a picnic lunch at the closed café and thought how I have been duped! Beware tourists!

I was a little disappointed in this place, but only slightly. I should have done my research. I didn’t realize the dwellings were moved, etc etc, and I expected them to be larger. The museum site was extremely hard to navigate for strollers (it definitely isn’t handicapped friendly). I really love history and historical sites, but I wasn’t that into this… I kind of hate audio tours, I’d much rather just read plaques. There were some identifying plaques near certain parts of the dwellings, but they advertized an audio tour you could take from your phone and I wasn’t into it. The gift shop, though some viewed as a downside, was actually a plus for me. Lots of great items, jewelry, clothing, educational resources… just be careful if you are looking for Native American made items — most are clearly marked if they are authentic.
I had 5 kids with me (none of them mine) and they all didn’t really seem to enjoy it. They ran through the site in about minutes flat and were ready for a snow cone. It was also noon (not the recommended time) and was blisteringly hot.

It took longer to pay and park than go through the dwellings. First the dwellings are a replica of what the area Native Americans used. They are interactive meaning you can climb and walk through them. Spoiler alert: the museum is only two rooms and the gift shop is twice as large as the dwellings. I would say if you have a few other things on your to do list skip this place!

A scam, a sham and a film-​flam! The cliff dwellings are a hoax. My guess is the original builders hired a bunch of indians to construct a replica of cliff dwellings only because indian labor was incredibly cheap around 1900. I’ve been to plenty of authentic pueblos and cliff dwellings in New Mexico and Mesa Verde and these stand out as fake. Indians didn’t use cement back in the day, sorry!
They do have some authentic artifacts in the museum. About that museum! It includes two gift shops which you have to walk through in order to see the museum. I don’t think it is any stretch of the imagination to proclaim that the museum walk has more linear feet of gift shop than museum. So, not much there either.
Save your money and have an extra beer or two in town. You’ll feel better!

Again, I cringe at some of the reviews that Unilocalers left.
Are these humble abodes at their original location? No. They were moved here at the beginning of the centuries from the four corners area to preserve them.
Is this place as huge as Mesa Verde? No. It’s a smaller exhibit but still worth your while.
Why do people not RESEARCH before they go to visit places??? I have NOT A CLUE. Anyhow. I did know the history behind this park and I knew that (although not ancient history, this place does hold historical significance for the town of Colorado Springs and speaks volumes about the turn of the century when Americans were beginning to mimic the ‘grand tour’ that Europeans nobility had been accustomed to for centuries). I find this place very charming.
I think that if one has visitors more often than not it will be nearly impossible to take them to all the sights around the state. This park gives a small taste of what Mesa Verde could be. Think of it as a short hand of Mesa. :-))
Also they offer discounts ALL YEAR ROUND, just look for the coupon on the Colorado Springs tourist magazine, that can be found in any tourist location around town. :-)

If you are in the area and a lover of history on ancient civilizations then this stop is worthwhile for you. Small dwellings and small museum to browse and explore.

Disappointing. Must agree with others that the price doesn’t fit the experience. The gift shop is huge and the museum tiny in comparison. Many of the displays are dated. We knew in advance the dwellings are replications but were still disappointed. If you have children, they would be in and out of the structures within 10 minutes. I do remember visiting 10+ years ago during the summer, and the outdoor activities (tribal dancing) were fun for the children. We went today because we had company, and the weather was inclement. We love museums but can’t recommend this one.

The cliff dwellings are informative, better tailored for young children, otherwise I would not put it as one of my «must see» priorities. There is the opportunity to use your phones QR reader to interact more with the dwellings/​exhibits. By the time we got to the museum/​dwellings after parking, we forgot that it was an option and did not do it. If I was to go again I think I would try it – for the hope of it adding to the experience and full understanding of the dwellings. For the overall experience, I found it difficult to be engaged with the exhibit and spend time on the artifacts in the museum.

We decided to stop by this location to fill our afternoon after visiting the Garden of the Gods. This was one of the most disappointing things I have visited especially because we paid $ 9.50 a person to get in. It’s very small, and the «museum» is just an excuse to get you to walk through the gift shops. I feel like I paid to browse the gift shop. The dwellings were ok, but for someone with out kids it was not worth the money. Keep driving past when you see this sign!!!

We are full-​time travelers, living out of our RV, and this was the first thing we did that wasn’t at all worth our money. If you’ve been to Mesa Verde or even Chimney Rock, the Manitou Cliff Dwellings are pennies in comparison. It wasn’t worth the price at all. Plus it was packed with people and we had to wait just to get into each room. It’s marketed as so big thing with lots of rooms but, honestly, is better viewed from the road. The park fee for Mesa Verde was cheaper than the entrance for the Manitou Cliff Dwellings and the drive alone through Mesa Verde was worth it, let alone the many dwellings among the park.
If you’re from around town and haven’t been to Mesa Verde, the other end of Colorado, then you might get a kick out of this and are fine with people. Otherwise it just felt like another way to make a buck, shuffled around to something not worth it.

Sis and I enjoyed our visit here. After reading other reviews, and having been in the cliff dwellings that are no longer really open to the public, I did a little research. It seems the Anasazi did not live in the Manitou Springs area, but lived and built their cliff dwellings in the Four Corners area, several hundred miles southwest of Manitou Springs. The Manitou Cliff Dwellings were relocated to their present location in the early 1900s, as a museum, preserve, and tourist attraction. The stones were taken from a collapsed Anasazi site near Cortez in southwest Colorado, shipped by railroad to Manitou Springs, and assembled in their present form as Anasazi-​style buildings closely resembling those found in the Four Corners. The project was done with the approval and participation of well-​known anthropologist Dr. Edgar Lee Hewett, and Virginia McClurg, founder of the Colorado Cliff Dwelling Association.
That fact that they have been in Manitou Springs since 1907, and have hosted many Native American festivals there, I still think they are very worthwhile seeing.

I was extremely excited to go here. I love historical places. I love learning about different cultures and I especially love showing my country to my foreign husband. I mean, how cool is it to walk through what was the homes of indians many many years ago! I psyched it up. Told my husband how cool it would be. We paid our $ 9.50 admission. And then my heart broke a little.
The actual dwellings are very small and it’s not the actual location where the indians lived! You could be done with this in about ten minutes. I didn’t know this. The Manitou Cliff Dwellings are the preserved authentic Anasazi cliff dwellings from more than 800 years old. The Anasazi lived and roamed the Four Corners area of the United States Southwest from 1200 B.C. to A.D. 1300. The museum was established in 1904 (the dwellings were actually relocated to this spot) and opened to the public in 1907.
For the price it just wasn’t that cool for two adults, maybe if we had kids and we were trying to teach them something. They did have a museum full of artifacts (but NOT just from the Anasazi, from all over) and I believe the gift shop was bigger than the actual dwellings. The views were beautiful and we can check this off of our Colorado Springs bucket list, but I won’t be returning anytime soon. And I’m usually a generous reviewer. Fortunately the Garden of the Gods is very very close and it’s free, which made up for this little hiccup on our adventure. I’d recommend this only for people taking children.