From 1916 until 1932, the monument was administered by the Forest Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. In 1952, the area was transferred to the National Park Service of the United States Department of the Interior, with a small adjustment of boundaries. The total area is now slightly over 27,000 acres. Since 1932, a National Park Service superintendent has been resident at monument headquarters in Frijoles Canyon. The monument has a small complement of rangers and fire guards for protection of the ruins, the wildlife, and the forests; in the summer, several temporary rangers are employed to aid in archeological interpretation.
Requests for further information should be addressed to the Superintendent, Bandelier National Monument, Santa Fe, N. Mex.
A number of other southwestern areas in the National Park System have been established for the protection of prehistoric structures. These include Mesa Verde National Park, in southwestern Colorado, and the following national monuments: Aztec Ruins, Chaco Canyon, and Gila Cliff Dwellings, in New Mexico; Canyon de Chelly, Casa Grande, Montezuma Castle, Navajo, Tonto, Tuzigoot, Walnut Canyon, and Wupatki, in Arizona.
Caldera (cahl-DEHR-ah) Spanish Caldron—a volcano that has collapsed upon itself Canada (cahn-YAH-dah) Spanish Wide shallow canyon Chaco (CHAH-coh) Unknown A canyon in northwestern New Mexico Cochiti (COH-chee-tee) Indian A pueblo south of Bandelier Frijoles (free-HOH-less) Spanish Beans Hopi (HOH-pee) Indian A pueblo Indian tribe Jemez (HAY-mess) Indian A mountain range west of Bandelier and an Indian pueblo Kiva (KEE-vah) Indian Ceremonial chamber or room Mano (MAH-noh) Spanish Hand Mesa (MAY-sah) Spanish Table; hence, a tableland Metate (Meh-TAH-teh) Spanish A large grinding stone from Aztec Otowi (OH-toh-wee) Indian A ruin in Bandelier Pajarito (PAH-hah-REE-toh) Spanish Little bird. The plateau between Jemez Mountains and the Rio Grande Pueblo (Pooh-EB-loh) Spanish Village or people Rio, Rito (REE-oh) Spanish River, creek (REE-toh) San (San Spanish A pueblo near Bandelier Ildefonso ILL-de-FON-soh) San Juan (san WHAHN) Spanish A river and a pueblo Tyuonyi (tchew-OWN-yee) Indian A ruin in Frijoles Canyon Valle (VAH-yeh Spanish Great Valley Grande GRAHN-deh) Viga (VEE-gah) Spanish Roofbeam