Historic Scott SP El Cuartelejo Pueblo
were no indications of doors or had been destroyed by fire. There found, all evidence that the pueblo quantities of the charred corn were coal, burned tools, adobe, and first excavated, abundant char- brush covered with mud. When roof was made of willow poles or inside and out with adobe, the pueblo. Walls were plastered was used to build El Cuartelejo Stone from the surrounding hills assAe,Tpk,K 61-37 06/11 S Kansas Ave., Topeka, KS 66612-1327. Secretary, of Kansas Department Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, 1020 Complaints of discrimination should be sent to Office the identity,gender political affiliation, or veteran status. and military race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, described herein is available to all individuals without regard to in and benefit from to participate programsEqual opportunity all that remained. wall and several post holes were hearths, two sections of the outer 1970, portions of the stone Society re-excavated the pueblo in the Kansas State Historical disintegration took place. When through openings in the roof. suggested entrance by ladders holes in the corners of most rooms windows, and small paired post After 1899 much erosion and N Floor Floor Plan Plan
EL CUARTELEJO Only Known Indian Pueblo in Kansas
El Cuartelejo pueblo as it may have appeared when occupied. EL CUARTELEJO
According to Spanish accounts, its way north to determine the loca- two groups of Pueblo Indians from tion and strength of the French to New Mexico fled into the Plains to the north and east. About 150 miles escape Spanish rule. The first were north, the Spanish were attacked the Taos Indians who settled with a and most of them killed by Pawnee band of Plains Apache about 1664 Indians said to be under French and remained for several years. direction. Following this, the Their village became known as El Spanish considered making El Cuartelejo and the local Apaches Cuartelejo a military outpost but as the Cuartelejo band. The second the plan was dropped. were Picuris who joined the Indians reported French traders Apache in 1696 and were returned at the settlement in 1727. A few to New Mexico 10 years later by years later, Comanche, Ute, and Ruins of the pueblo were re-constructed in 1971 by the Kansas State Juan de Ulibarri. Pawnee attacks forced the Historical Society at the El Cuartelejo site. A Spanish expedition of some Cuartelejo Apache southward out 100 men under Pedro de Villazur of the Plains and El Cuartelejo was In 1889, archeological excava- Parks and Tourism. camped at El Cuartelejo in 1720 on abandoned. tions located and exposed the The park is located approximate- lower portions of stone walls of a ly 12 miles north of Scott City, by pueblo in Scott County, Kansas. way of U.S. 83 and Kansas 95 The ruins together with the recov- highways. For additional informa- ered artifacts, stone and bone tools, tion, write Lake Scott State Park, ornaments and pottery shards char- 520 West Scott Lake Dr., Scott acteristic of Plains Apaches led to City, KS 67871; or phone (316) the identification of this site as that 872-2061. of the historic El Cuartelejo. In 1970, the Kansas State Historical Society undertook addi- tional archeological investigations and reconstruction of the ruins as they were found in 1899. Interpretive markers were placed at the site, and it is open to the public throughout the year. The Pueblo site is located within the boundary of Lake Scott State Pueblo ruins in Scott County, Kansas, investigated in 1899 by Prof. Park and is maintained by the Williston and recognized as El Cuartelejo. Kansas Department of Wildlife,