Crow Canyon is a center for archaeological research, education, and preservation of the history of the Ancient Pueblo peoples, who lived on and in the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde more than seven centuries ago.

Crow Canyon is the result of work in experiential and hands-on education started in 1967 by Edward F. Berger, a history teacher with the Cherry Creek Schools near Denver, Colorado.

[1] Berger brought students to SW Colorado and involved them in building community and programs that increased motivation and accelerated learning.

Because of the rich prehistoric cultural base in the area, archaeology was added to the curricula and Berger, with the help of Dr. Art Rohn (then of Wichita State University) supported Rohn's graduate students to teach and supervise high school students doing original research excavating ancient pueblo sites.

The development of this arrangement with academic scholars and the involvement and teaching of high school age students is believed to be first of its kind.

In 1974, Berger purchased 80 acres of land west of Cortez, Colorado on Crow Canyon and began designing a year-round campus.

The challenge was taking a student from zero knowledge about SW history and archaeology to working alongside of an academic scholar – and being effective – in two days.

Survey work in the areas west of the campus resulted in the identification and naming of sites (Smithsonian Numbers).

2010 Society for American Archaeology 7.5 Film Fest award for the film Visit With Respect (collaborative project by Crow Canyon, the Anasazi Heritage Center, and the San Juan Mountains Association) 2008 National Trust for Historic Preservation's National Preservation Honor Award 2008 Colorado Historical Society's Caroline Bancroft History Award for the film Visit with Respect (awarded to the Anasazi Heritage Center for a collaborative project with Crow Canyon and the San Juan Mountains Association) 2006 Colorado Historical Society's Caroline Bancroft History Award for project titled "Making History: Engaging the Public in Reconstructing the Past" 2006 Colorado Preservation, Inc., State Honor Award for project titled "Ancient Images, Pueblo Perspectives" (co-recipient with the Anasazi Heritage Center) 2003 Colorado Historical Society's Stephen H. Hart Award for Leadership in Educational Programming in Colorado Archaeology 2003 Princeton Review: The Best 109 Internships 2002 Awesome Library Editor's Choice for Castle Rock Pueblo: A Trip Through Time 1999 Society for American Archaeology's Award for Excellence in Public Education 1992 President's Historic Preservation Award 1991 El Pomar Foundation's Henry McAllister Award for Excellence in Special Projects There are several excavation sites at the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.