National Register Listing

Bandelier CCC Historic District

a.k.a. Bandelier Buildings and Frijoles Canyon Lodge

Off NM 4, Bandelier National Monument, NM
The Bandelier CCC Historic District contains 31 buildings all of pueblo revival design executed with a solid architectural unity that romantically mimicked a small New Mexican village. Designed by National Park Service architects and landscape architects and
built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, this group of buildings provided a complete development for a national monument--from office space and residences for employees to lodging for guests.

Included within the Bandelier CCC Historic District are the thirty-one buildings, an entrance road, and minor structures such as stone water fountains and faucets in the former campground.
Twenty-nine of the buildings are in Frijoles Canyon--a green canyon cut into the Pajarito Plateau containing thirteenth through sixteenth century cliff dwellings, other archeological
features, and a permanent stream, Two of the buildings are on the mesa top along the entrance road that leads down into the canyon.

The building's were designed as the administrative, residential, and maintenance core of Bandelier. National Monument, and as a lodge for tourists who visited the monument. The lodge was
necessary because other accommodations were in Santa Fe, reached in the 1930s by eighteen miles of poor dirt road and seventeen miles of partially paved highway.
Local significance of the district:
Architecture; Social History

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
  A brief timeline of the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
  • March 31, 1933: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Emergency Conservation Work (ECW) Act into law, establishing the Civilian Conservation Corps as part of his New Deal program.
  • April 5, 1933: The CCC is officially launched, providing employment opportunities for unemployed young men between the ages of 18 and 25.
  • 1933-1942: The CCC enrolls over 2.5 million young men from economically disadvantaged families, providing them with jobs, vocational training, and relief during the Great Depression.

    Camp Life: CCC enrollees live in camps located in rural areas and work on various conservation projects across the United States. They receive food, shelter, clothing, and a small wage, with a portion of their earnings sent back home to support their families.

    Conservation Projects: The CCC undertakes a wide range of conservation projects, including reforestation, erosion control, trail construction, forest fire prevention, wildlife conservation, historic site restoration, and the development of public parks.

    Collaboration with Other Agencies: The CCC works in collaboration with various federal agencies, including the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Soil Conservation Service, to implement conservation programs and projects.

    Educational and Vocational Training: In addition to their work, CCC enrollees receive educational and vocational training, such as literacy classes, courses in conservation and forestry, and technical skills development.

    Military Training: During World War II, the CCC shifts its focus to providing military training for its enrollees, preparing them for military service.

  • July 1, 1942: As the United States transitions into wartime efforts and the economy improves, the CCC gradually loses its significance. The program officially ends with the termination of new enrollments.

The Civilian Conservation Corps played a significant role during the Great Depression, providing employment, relief, and skills training to young men while accomplishing vital conservation work across the country. The program's legacy can still be seen today in the numerous parks, forests, and other public lands that were developed or improved through the efforts of CCC enrollees.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.

Audiobooks about the history of New Mexico.
In 1945, the world's first atomic bomb was tested at the Trinity Site in New Mexico. The test was part of the Manhattan Project, a secret government program to develop nuclear weapons during World War II.
New Mexico random facts
Los Alamos County is located in the northern part of New Mexico and is known primarily for being the site of the Los Alamos National Laboratory. The history of Los Alamos County dates back thousands of years to the native Pueblo people who inhabited the area. The Pueblo people built settlements and farmed the land until the Spanish arrived in the 16th century. The Spanish established several missions, but these were abandoned by the late 17th century due to conflict with neighboring Native American tribes.

In the late 19th century, the region saw an influx of Anglo settlers and became a popular destination for ranching and mining. In 1917, the Los Alamos Ranch School was established as an educational institution for boys. The school brought prominence to the region and attracted families from across the country.

The turning point in the history of Los Alamos County came in 1942, during World War II, when the U.S. government selected the area to be the site of the top-secret Manhattan Project. The Los Alamos National Laboratory was built to develop the atomic bomb, and thousands of scientists, engineers, and other personnel were brought to the region. The development and testing of the atomic bomb had a profound impact on the community, forever shaping the legacy of Los Alamos County.

After the war, Los Alamos National Laboratory continued to be a major research and development center, attracting scientists from around the world. Today, Los Alamos County is known for its scientific research, high-tech industry, and natural beauty. It remains a tight-knit community with a unique and complex history that is deeply intertwined with the atomic age.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Los Alamos County, New Mexico.

  • 1942 - Los Alamos County is established as part of the Manhattan Project.
  • 1943 - Los Alamos Ranch School is taken over by the US Army to accommodate the Manhattan Project.
  • 1945 - The first atomic bomb, nicknamed "Little Boy," is tested at the Trinity Site near Los Alamos.
  • 1947 - Los Alamos County becomes an official county in the state of New Mexico.
  • 1956 - Los Alamos National Laboratory is officially designated as a government-owned, contractor-operated facility.
  • 1970 - The population of Los Alamos County reaches its peak with over 19,000 residents.
  • 2000 - Cerro Grande Fire devastates Los Alamos, destroying hundreds of homes and over 48,000 acres of land.
  • 2010 - Los Alamos County celebrates its 100th anniversary since its establishment.