Bandelier National Monument, established in 1916, was named after anthropologist Adolph Bandeleir. This area is known for its several thousand dwellings found in and around Frijoles Canyon. Before the existance of a park, groups of archaeologists, cattleman, Native Americans, businessmen, and homesteaders all issued claims for the land. This large group of privateers worked together and fought every park initiative. A 1900s' Sante Fe newspaper also mounted a drive to to keep the land out of Federal control. Meanwhile, pot hunting, vandalism and looting continued to destroy many of the valuable archeological sites.
Today, the monument and surounding wilderness area includes over 32,000 acres. Many of the park's access roads and building were constructed by the depression era's CCC. These improvements were erected from indigenous materials, and were proclaimed a National Historic Treasure in 1987.