III 109th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 190 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 1, 2005 Mr. Salazar (for himself and Mr. Allard) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Recognizing the 100th anniversary of Mesa Verde National Park.

Whereas Mesa Verde National Park was created 100 years ago by an Act of Congress and signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt on June 29, 1906, as the first National Park set aside to preserve the works of humankind; Whereas the more than 5,000 archeological sites, including over 600 cliff dwellings, protected within the 52,000-acre boundary of Mesa Verde National Park represent some of the most spectacular and best-preserved prehistoric architecture in the world; Whereas in 1928, Congress declared the natural resources of Mesa Verde National Park to be of such caliber as to be worthy of the same level of protection as the cultural resources therein; Whereas 8,500 acres within Mesa Verde National Park were designated as wilderness by Congress on October 20, 1976; Whereas on September 8, 1978, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared Mesa Verde National Park to be 1 of 8 original World Cultural Heritage Sites; Whereas Mesa Verde National Park is part of our American heritage that is universally recognized and shared with the world; Whereas Mesa Verde National Park is the primary driving force behind the economy of southwestern Colorado and the Four Corners Region; Whereas the communities of Cortez, Dolores, Mancos, and Durango, Colorado, have come together to plan a year-long celebration worthy of this magnificent icon of the National Park System; and Whereas 24 American Indian tribes recognize Mesa Verde as their ancestral home and contribute a rich cultural heritage to the experience of visitors to the region: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)recognizes the 100th anniversary of Mesa Verde National Park; and (2)urges all citizens of the United States to join in the Centennial Celebration of Mesa Verde National Park by participating in the many activities planned throughout the year in 2006.