Chimney Rock Monument, a New Jewel in Chaco Crown

Some people know it as a prickly hogback in southern Colorado where the moon stands still. But for those of us who are devoted to the study of the pre-Puebloan era, Chimney Rock is a jewel in the crooked crown of Chaco-era sites that surrounds the Four Corners.

While it's far less famous than the larger settlements of Chaco Canyon and Aztec Ruins, Chimney Rock is about to get a lot more attention since it was made a national monument by President Obama by executive order last week.

Chimney Rock National Monument (USFS)

The new designation will amount to more federal funds to help with conservation and interpretation of the site, which in turn is expected to double the amount of jobs and tourism income that Chimney Rock currently supports.

Which is fine. There's a part of all of us that wants places like this to remain alone and unvisited, to let them hold their memories of the people who struggled there and moved on, to sit in dignity without the traffic and the footfalls of tourists and the cigarette butts and gum wrappers. More people means more of that. But more people also means more attention, more curiosity, and eventually more understanding. The best way to preserve a place, I was once told, is to keep using it. So let's.