Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

Hands on History Day

Step back in time and discover how the Mogollon people lived, worked, and created at this special hands-on history event! Join us for a day of interactive activities that bring the past to life. You’ll have the chance to:

  • Scrape yucca leaves to make string and cordage—just like the ancestors did.
  • Try your hand at whirling a lightning stick (also known as a bullroarer).
  • Grind corn on a metate with a mano (a modern replica, not a real artifact).
  • Piece together Mimbres pottery puzzles.
  • Sketch Mimbres potsherds and read about the stories behind them.