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Mesa Verde has a unique distinction in that it is the only man-made National Park in the United States. It consists of hundreds of cliff dwellings --homes of the Pueblo Indians from around 1100 to 1300 A.D. These dwellings, rediscovered in the latter part of the nineteenth century, faced extinction because of relic-hunters. Virginia McClurg undertook the task of preserving these ruins. A twenty-four year struggle ensued during which time she and the Colorado Cliff Dwellings Association worked continuously for federal protection of this prehistoric site. Today, the ancient home of the Pueblo Indians is viewed annually by thousands of tourists because a small group of Colorado women worked vigorously to establish Mesa Verde National Park. This is their story.