Virtual adventures await: Discover six BLM public lands you can tour from anywhere

Ready to explore breathtaking public lands? Discover the beauty and history of Bureau of Land Management sites from anywhere, at any time, through immersive virtual 3D tours! In collaboration with CyArk, the BLM developed photorealistic 3D models, known as Tapestry Tours, of culturally significant locations. These tours, enhanced with voiceovers, videos, historic photos, and more allow you to engage with powerful stories and spectacular sites.

Currently, you can explore six amazing BLM sites in New Mexico, Oregon, and Utah. Dive into these virtual tours and uncover the rich stories and stunning visuals they offer.

New Mexico: Crow Canyon Petroglyphs

Discover the Crow Canyon Petroglyphs, one of the largest collections of 16th to 18th-century Navajo rock imagery in the American Southwest. This site features hundreds of intricate carvings depicting animals, humans, and other culturally significant imagery on the cliff faces. To the Diné (Navajo) people, these petroglyph panels are linked to ceremonial practices, making them a vital piece of Navajo heritage.

Petroglyphs carved into red/brown rock, featuring a spiral, a figure with a headdress, and geometric shapes.
Crow Canyon Petroglyphs in New Mexico. Photo by BLM.

Oregon: Shirk Ranch 

Journey to the Historic Shirk Ranch, purchased in 1883 by cattleman David L. Shirk on the edge of what is now the Guano Creek Wilderness Study Area. This ranch tells the story of early settlers and their dependence on the land. The remnants of structures provide a glimpse into how these pioneers lived and worked before the age of automobiles and modern machinery. 

Abandoned wooden buildings and rusted structures scattered across a dry, grassy field under a partly cloudy blue sky.
Historic Shirk Ranch in Lakeview District, Oregon. Photo by Lisa McNee, BLM.

Utah: Bears Ears National Monument  

Home to sacred landscapes and rich cultural heritage, Bears Ears National Monument offers four notable cultural sites you can virtually explore: 

Butler Wash 

At Butler Wash, visitors can hear about living Hopi connections to Butler Wash and Bears Ears from the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office. Butler Wash is an ancient cliff dwelling constructed by the Ancestral Puebloans around A.D. 1200. While sections of the site have been stabilized and reconstructed for preservation, much of it remains as it was when first documented by archaeologists in the 1800s. Visitors can explore various structures, including dwellings, storage facilities, and ceremonial areas, with four kivas prominently featured within the site. 

House on Fire

Named for the striking bands of sandstone striped in tones of red, orange, and beige covering the top of the alcove, House on Fire is an Ancestral Pueblo granary that showcases how early inhabitants crafted storage spaces away from harsh elements, emphasizing foresight and community spirit. 

House on Fire, an archeological site within Bears Ears National Monument — a constructed stone structure, located in an alcove with distinct ribbons of sandstone creating a flame-like appearance.
House on Fire, an ancestral Puebloan granary located 1.1 miles up the South Fork of Mule Canyon. Photo by Bob Wick, BLM.

Mule Canyon Village 

Over a thousand years ago, Mule Canyon Village was a bustling community of farmers, artisans, and storytellers. They relied on their surroundings for building materials, tools, and clothing. Adaptation and resilience as well as the peoples’ connectedness to the land and their deities were essential for their survival. The site features several connected room blocks and at the heart of the village, you'll find a kiva (ceremonial structure that is usually round and partly underground) — a testament to their rich cultural and spiritual life.  

River House 

River House is located at the southern end of Comb Ridge, a prominent 80-mile-long landform that runs through the Bears Ears landscape. This village was part of a larger community that lived throughout Comb Ridge and is significant in the Zuni people's migration path and continues to connect Zuni to the Bears Ears Landscape. The structures here offer a glimpse into the daily lives of its inhabitants, who were skilled in utilizing the natural environment for their needs.  

 

More tours coming soon 

Stay tuned on our website and social media for more virtual tours of other fascinating public lands! Start your adventure today and immerse yourself in the rich history and natural beauty of your public lands. 

Story by:

Allison Miller, public affairs specialist

Blog Topic:
Cultural Heritage and Paleontology
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Visit with respect

If you visit these historic places in person, please treat them with care and follow the Leave No Trace and Visit With Respect principles. These sites have stood the test of time, and it is our responsibility to preserve them for future generations. 

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