Mesa Verde National Park near Mancos, Colorado has some of the largest and best preserved Ancestral Puebloan ruins in the United States.  One of these, Cliff Palace was discovered by Richard Wetherill his brother-in-law Charlie Mason and Acowitz, a Ute Tribal member in December of 1888.  The group had entered the valley system between Weber Mountain and what is now Mesa Verde National Park, following the North side of the Mancos River searching for missing cattle.  West of Sandal House they found a gentle sloping area that gave them access to the top of the Mesa Verde from the river valley floor.  The area was a dense Piñon Pine and Juniper forest which made searching for cattle difficult.  When they reached the edge of a cliff and exited  the forest they viewed a huge ruin that Richard later called Cliff Palace.  After entering the ruin that day Richard rode to another large ruin he called Spruce Tree House.  This episode was to begin a life long endeavor for Richard and his family.  Because of the families future activities it resulted in the formation of three National Parks, two National Monuments and the discovery of a new culture and collections of artifacts which were distributed to museums of world wide fame.  

 Other creative members of the family were Robert and Richard Wetherill of Chester, Pennsylvania who were two of the most influential industrialists in the Eastern United States in the late 19th century.  Robert Wetherill formed the Robert Wetherill and Company and was later joined by his brother, Richard Wetherill.   Within the Wetherill family you will find some of considerable wealth and prestige or those that were contributors to the development of this country.  Several of the allied families arrived with Juan de Onate in New Mexico in 1598.  Many descendants of these families still live in the same communities established during that time. 

 

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