|| | in forcing the cliff dwellers from the Mesa || || | Verde. || || | || || 1776 | Expedition of Padre Silvestre Velez de Escalante || || | to southwestern Colorado. Party camped on the || || | Mancos River near the base of the Mesa Verde. || || | || || 1859 | Ascent of the north escarpment of Mesa Verde by || || | Capt. J. N. Macomb, of the United States Army, || || | and members of his party of geologists. || || | || || 1874 | Discovery of the ruins in the Mancos Canyon by || || | W. H. Jackson, United States Geological Survey. || || | Party harrassed by Ute Indians. || || | || || 1888 | Discovery of Cliff Palace and other major ruins || || | by Richard Wetherill and Charlie Mason. || || | || || 1891 | First organized archeological expedition to Mesa || || | Verde, under direction of Baron G. Nordenskioeld.|| || | || || 1906 | Mesa Verde National Park created June 29. || || | || || | || || 1907 | Excavation of Spruce Tree House by Dr. J. Walter || || | Fewkes, of Smithsonian Institution. || || | || || 1909 | Excavation of Cliff Palace. || || | || || 1911 | Excavation and repair of Balcony House by Jesse || || | L. Nusbaum. || || | || || 1913 | First entrance road completed. First automobile in|| || | Spruce Tree Camp. Extension of park boundaries || || | to include notable ruins and archeological || || | remains. || || | || || 1914 | Construction of first wagon road from Spruce Tree || || | Camp to principal cliff dwellings. || || | ||