Cultural Value

View of Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado.

NPS Photo

Introduction

Human culture is connected to local geologic landscapes. These connections are clearly evident in patterns of development that take advantage of the geologic landscape and resources. Deep connections are also clear from our cultural stories, art, songs, poems, traditions, and ceremonies that feature or celebrate American landscapes. Significant geologic heritage sites add cultural value when they provide a scenic setting for celebrations, weddings, family reunions, vacations, spiritual reflection, and other shared experiences.

Cultural Value at a Glance

Geologic heritage sites conserve cultural value by:

• Helping people identify with their communities’ unique geologic places, as well as their connections to regional or even global landscapes and stories;
• Highlighting the human stories connected with geologic landscapes;
• Providing a communal reference for stories, music, and other arts and social practices; and
• Protecting natural places deemed sacred and inspirational, perhaps as destinations for personal exploration or pilgrimage or as monuments to previous cultures.

Featured Links

• NPS—Petroglyphs & Rock Art
• New Mexico: Petroglyph National Monument

Park Stories

Related Links

• NPS—Geoheritage Foundations: Selected Values Typologies

• NPS—Geology

America's Geoheritage