Palatki Archaeological Site Wins U.S. Forest Service Award

Memo from the U.S. Forest Service's Southwestern Region Headquarters
October 19, 1998
We are pleased to announce that the interpretive site of Palatki, on the Sedona Ranger District, Coconino NF, is Region 3's 1998 "Windows on the Past" Award winner. This is a national award given annually to a project or program in each region selected by the Region for its significant contributions to the interpretation and preservation of heritage resources.

Palatki was selected for the "Windows on the Past" Award this year in recognition of its quality interpretation, its pioneering innovation and accomplishments as the nation's first heritage fee demo site, and its success in bringing together community, tribal, and avocational partners to help preserve a remarkable heritage resource.

Palatki is a Sinagua cliff dwelling and rock art site tucked into several large alcoves in the red rock cliffs near Sedona. For many years, Palatki has been a popular point of interest, frequently suffering the impacts of vandalism and unintentional damage due to visitor use. In the early 1990s, the District sought input from the local community and tribes about future management of Palatki. In 1995-1996, the Forest implemented a capital investment project to stabilize and interpret Palatki, including improved trails and parking and new interpretive signs. Meanwhile, through many partners, including volunteer site stewards, the local chapter of the Arizona Archaeological Society, Passport in Time volunteers, and the Friends of the Forest programs were undertaken to monitor site condition and to document and conserve the rock art.

In FY 1997, Palatki became the nation's first heritage fee demonstration site under the Forest's "Verde Valley Heritage Sites" fee demo project. Today, an on-site host provides a watchful presence over Palatki. Interpreters greet visitors when they arrive and offer a general orientation to the ruins and rock art. A historic ranch house has been converted into a visitor information station and sales outlet, staffed by the Arizona Natural History Association. The Friends of the Forest continue to play a significant role in site protection and activities. New interpretive materials and a Palatki web page make information on the site more readily available to the public, while activities like "Palatkifest" bring local people together to celebrate the progress being made.

Thanks to all of these efforts, vandalism at Palatki has all but disappeared. Both the local community and neighboring tribes are supportive of the fee demonstration project and the improvements being made. Palatki is thus an outstanding example of both resource stewardship and customer service. Congratulations to the Sedona Ranger District and the Coconino National Forest on the growing success of Palatki and on receiving the "Windows on the Past" Award!


Note: The Coconino National Forest is the only Forest in Region 3 (Southwestern Region) to win this award twice; the previous award was for the work at Elden Pueblo, near Flagstaff, Arizona.

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