This book is based on a cultural landscape inventory of Mesa Verde National Park's early development. The landscapes described in this book are historic designed landscapes – a landscape that was consciously designed or laid out by a landscape architect, master gardener, architect, or horticulturist according to design principle. The headquarters loop at Mesa Verde is considered an historic designed cultural landscape because it is connected with an historically important person, Jesse Nusbaum; the activities of the Civilian Conservation Corps; and the 1930s movement of national park master planning.

This book is created out of a deep interest and respect for those who have endeavored to undertake the often difficult task of making national park resources available to the public while protecting the resources themselves. Contains 22 maps and more than 100 historic black and white photographs.