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Big Bend Archaeology

A gallery of photos showing evidence of Man's presence in BIg Bend National Park, past and present (emphasis on the past, though), and in conditions from still fully-functional to almost back to nature.
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  • PERSIMMON GAP VISITOR CENTER
Originally built as one of four of Cooper's stores (a combination gas station/cafe/market) in the 1940s, this adobe building was refurbished and converted to a ranger station in the late 1950s. It was further refurbished and converted into a visitor center in 2003.

    PERSIMMON GAP VISITOR CENTER Originally built as one of four of Cooper's stores (a combination gas station/cafe/market) in the 1940s, this adobe building was refurbished and converted to a ranger station in the late 1950s. It was further refurbished and converted into a visitor center in 2003.

  • LUNA'S JACAL
This is what the site looks like from the parking area alongside the Old Maverick Road, just south of the Chimneys trailhead.

    LUNA'S JACAL This is what the site looks like from the parking area alongside the Old Maverick Road, just south of the Chimneys trailhead.

  • LUNA'S JACAL
Here's an overall view of the jacal. There was no mention of the use of cement in the construction methods on the exhibit, so I'm assuming this was done much later, possibly by the park as an early preventative method to keep the structure from deteriorating. You can see it starting to break down about midway along the spine.

    LUNA'S JACAL Here's an overall view of the jacal. There was no mention of the use of cement in the construction methods on the exhibit, so I'm assuming this was done much later, possibly by the park as an early preventative method to keep the structure from deteriorating. You can see it starting to break down about midway along the spine.

  • LUNA'S JACAL
The first shot I took of the interior, before the sun reached the hole in the roof.

    LUNA'S JACAL The first shot I took of the interior, before the sun reached the hole in the roof.

  • LUNA'S JACAL
Here's the last shot I took of the interior, with the sun streaming in through the hole in the roof, adding a little light into the place.

    LUNA'S JACAL Here's the last shot I took of the interior, with the sun streaming in through the hole in the roof, adding a little light into the place.

  • MCKINNEY SPRINGS RUIN
Oblique view

    MCKINNEY SPRINGS RUIN Oblique view

  • MCKINNEY SPRINGS RUIN
Interior view

    MCKINNEY SPRINGS RUIN Interior view

  • HOT SPRINGS AREA FROM OVERHEAD
From the bluff overlooking the Hot Springs area, we see the motel unit, the General Store/Post Office, and the parking area. Taking the draw you cross just before you get to the store will put you at the trailhead to the trail that leads up here, although you won't find any markings directing you, just a line of rocks.

    HOT SPRINGS AREA FROM OVERHEAD From the bluff overlooking the Hot Springs area, we see the motel unit, the General Store/Post Office, and the parking area. Taking the draw you cross just before you get to the store will put you at the trailhead to the trail that leads up here, although you won't find any markings directing you, just a line of rocks.

  • HOT SPRINGS
General Store/Post Office

    HOT SPRINGS General Store/Post Office

  • HOT SPRINGS 
Motel units

This place used to be a happening area back in the 40s and 50s. The artwork in the rooms was redone by the original artist only recently. (No examples to follow, due to lack of proper lighting.)

    HOT SPRINGS Motel units This place used to be a happening area back in the 40s and 50s. The artwork in the rooms was redone by the original artist only recently. (No examples to follow, due to lack of proper lighting.)

  • HOT SPRINGS MOTEL INTERIOR
After I got down off the trail, I decided to poke around the area some more, and found one of the doors to one of the units opened just enough to get my hand (with camera) inside. The cracked dirt you see is leftover silt from the October 2008 flood. This unit just hasn't gotten cleaned out yet.

    HOT SPRINGS MOTEL INTERIOR After I got down off the trail, I decided to poke around the area some more, and found one of the doors to one of the units opened just enough to get my hand (with camera) inside. The cracked dirt you see is leftover silt from the October 2008 flood. This unit just hasn't gotten cleaned out yet.

  • HOT SPRINGS POOL FROM OVERHEAD
Here's a shot of the Hot Springs pool taken from up above, with Mexico just on the other side of the Rio Grande.

    HOT SPRINGS POOL FROM OVERHEAD Here's a shot of the Hot Springs pool taken from up above, with Mexico just on the other side of the Rio Grande.

  • HOT SPRINGS
Hot Springs pool

This is the former foundation of a two-story bath house. The water is still 105º, providing the Rio Grande doesn't interfere and fill it with river water.

    HOT SPRINGS Hot Springs pool This is the former foundation of a two-story bath house. The water is still 105º, providing the Rio Grande doesn't interfere and fill it with river water.

  • HOT SPRINGS BLUFF HOUSE
I'd always heard there was an old house ruins up here, which is why I decided to find the trail at last, so I could photograph it for my collection. Not much left, as you can see, but I found it interesting it had a concrete floor. They sure had a nice view, though, didn't they?

    HOT SPRINGS BLUFF HOUSE I'd always heard there was an old house ruins up here, which is why I decided to find the trail at last, so I could photograph it for my collection. Not much left, as you can see, but I found it interesting it had a concrete floor. They sure had a nice view, though, didn't they?

  • HOT SPRINGS BLUFF HOUSE
Here we have a reverse-angle view, showing the Sierra del Carmen Mountains off in the distance. Boy, they had a nice view no matter where they looked.

    HOT SPRINGS BLUFF HOUSE Here we have a reverse-angle view, showing the Sierra del Carmen Mountains off in the distance. Boy, they had a nice view no matter where they looked.

  • RIO GRANDE VILLAGE
Daniels Ranch adobe ruins

    RIO GRANDE VILLAGE Daniels Ranch adobe ruins

  • RIO GRANDE VILLAGE
Daniels Ranch adobe ruins

    RIO GRANDE VILLAGE Daniels Ranch adobe ruins

  • RIO GRANDE VILLAGE
Daniels Ranch adobe ruins

    RIO GRANDE VILLAGE Daniels Ranch adobe ruins

  • CASTOLON HISTORIC DISTRICT
Ranger Station wall study

    CASTOLON HISTORIC DISTRICT Ranger Station wall study

  • CASTOLON HISTORIC DISTRICT
Castolon Store (La Harmonia Store)

This building was originally a US Army barracks, which was completed but never occupied. In an effort to keep their business from floating dowriver during floods, the La Harmonia Company moved their operations from a building on the Rio Grande floodplain into this building in 1922. The store has changed hands a number of times over the years, and today park concessionaire Forever Resorts, Inc. manages it as the Castolon Store. The gas pump is purely for decoration these days.

    CASTOLON HISTORIC DISTRICT Castolon Store (La Harmonia Store) This building was originally a US Army barracks, which was completed but never occupied. In an effort to keep their business from floating dowriver during floods, the La Harmonia Company moved their operations from a building on the Rio Grande floodplain into this building in 1922. The store has changed hands a number of times over the years, and today park concessionaire Forever Resorts, Inc. manages it as the Castolon Store. The gas pump is purely for decoration these days.

  • SAM NAIL RANCH
Adobe wall

Sadly, this is all that's left of the Sam Nail Ranch house. What a shame. Well, at least it's more than what's left of Homer Wilson's house -- nothing.

    SAM NAIL RANCH Adobe wall Sadly, this is all that's left of the Sam Nail Ranch house. What a shame. Well, at least it's more than what's left of Homer Wilson's house -- nothing.

  • SAM NAIL RANCH
Adobe wall

I've always loved the texture of old adobe, worn through the ages by wind and water.

    SAM NAIL RANCH Adobe wall I've always loved the texture of old adobe, worn through the ages by wind and water.

  • SAM NAIL RANCH
Adobe wall

    SAM NAIL RANCH Adobe wall

  • SAM NAIL RANCH
Old shed

I've been here before, but never took the whole 1/2-mile walk all through the area like I was doing this time. If I had, I would've seen this shed before.

    SAM NAIL RANCH Old shed I've been here before, but never took the whole 1/2-mile walk all through the area like I was doing this time. If I had, I would've seen this shed before.

  • SAM NAIL RANCH
Windmill

This is Sam's original windmill, very typical of all windmills from that era, with the structure made of wood. There are several remnants of these old windmills scattered thorughout the Big Bend area, both in the park and out.

    SAM NAIL RANCH Windmill This is Sam's original windmill, very typical of all windmills from that era, with the structure made of wood. There are several remnants of these old windmills scattered thorughout the Big Bend area, both in the park and out.

  • RICE TANK
Corral

    RICE TANK Corral

  • RICE TANK
View from above

    RICE TANK View from above

  • RICE TANK
Loading chute

    RICE TANK Loading chute

  • GLENN SPRINGS
Ellis House wall foundation

    GLENN SPRINGS Ellis House wall foundation

  • GLENN SPRINGS
Ellis House flagstone walkway

    GLENN SPRINGS Ellis House flagstone walkway

  • GLENN SPRINGS
Ellis House hearth(?)

    GLENN SPRINGS Ellis House hearth(?)

  • GLENN SPRINGS
Ellis House exposed water pipe

    GLENN SPRINGS Ellis House exposed water pipe

  • GLENN SPRINGS
Another building foundation, possibly the General Store/Post Office

    GLENN SPRINGS Another building foundation, possibly the General Store/Post Office

  • GLENN SPRINGS
Unknown

    GLENN SPRINGS Unknown

  • GLENN SPRINGS
This is the dipping pit for cattle.

    GLENN SPRINGS This is the dipping pit for cattle.

  • GLENN SPRING
Dip chute entrance

    GLENN SPRING Dip chute entrance

  • GLENN SPRINGS
The dip pit

    GLENN SPRINGS The dip pit

  • GLENN SPRINGS
The dip pit exit

    GLENN SPRINGS The dip pit exit

  • GLENN SPRINGS
Drainage area

    GLENN SPRINGS Drainage area

  • GLENN SPRINGS
Oblique view

    GLENN SPRINGS Oblique view

  • APACHE CANYON
Stone corral

    APACHE CANYON Stone corral

  • APACHE CANYON
Stonework detail

    APACHE CANYON Stonework detail

  • APACHE CANYON
Inside wall detail

    APACHE CANYON Inside wall detail

  • APACHE CANYON
Main gate?

    APACHE CANYON Main gate?

  • APACHE CANYON
Hillside view

    APACHE CANYON Hillside view

  • APACHE CANYON
Stone line shack

    APACHE CANYON Stone line shack

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    MCKINNEY SPRINGS RUIN
Interior view
    HOT SPRINGS AREA FROM OVERHEAD
From the bluff overlooking the Hot Springs area, we see the motel unit, the General Store/Post Office, and the parking area. Taking the draw you cross just before you get to the store will put you at the trailhead to the trail that leads up here, although you won't find any markings directing you, just a line of rocks.
    HOT SPRINGS
General Store/Post Office