Overview

Where did the stone for the Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center come from? In Where Did This Stone Come From? The Story Behind Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center, author Glenda Hankins explores the journey of the building stone used to construct one of the most striking visitor centers in the American Southwest. From the rugged landscape of the Four Corners region to the carefully crafted walls of the visitor center, this book follows the stone from quarry to finished structure. Through photographs, behind-the-scenes stories, and explanations of the quarrying and masonry process, readers gain insight into how natural materials from the surrounding landscape were selected and shaped to create a building that belongs to the land itself. The book highlights the role of local craftsmen, the geology of the region, and the careful design choices that allow the architecture to blend with the environment of Mesa Verde. Drawing on the author's direct connection to the stone quarrying process through Hankins Stone Company, the book provides a rare look at how raw stone becomes architecture. Readers will discover how the materials were sourced, cut, and assembled, and why the stone chosen for the visitor center reflects the character of the Four Corners region. Perfect for visitors to Mesa Verde National Park, lovers of architecture and geology, and anyone curious about how buildings are shaped by the landscapes around them, this visual narrative reveals the story hidden within the stone itself.

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Glenda Hankins is a writer, artist, and independent publisher whose work documents the relationship between landscape, stone, and architecture in the American Southwest. She worked for more than twenty-four years in the stone industry, beginning in 1996 at H & H Stone alongside her parents before co-founding Hankins Stone Company with her husband in 2002. Through quarrying, fabrication, and manufacturing, she participated in supplying and producing stone used in projects at Mesa Verde National Park, Hovenweep National Monument, Chimney Rock National Monument, the Four Corners Monument, and Bluff Fort Historic Site in Utah.Following her retirement from the stone industry, Hankins turned to publishing, sculpture, and painting, preserving the stories behind craftsmanship, materials, and the people whose work connects natural resources to the built environment. Through Hankins House Publishing, she focuses on regional history, traditional skills, and the enduring connection between place and structure. Steve Hankins is a stone craftsman and photographer whose work documents quarrying, fabrication, and installation processes throughout the American Southwest. As co-founder of Hankins Stone Company, he worked extensively in the extraction and production of natural stone used in projects at Mesa Verde National Park, Hovenweep National Monument, Chimney Rock National Monument, and other regional sites. His photography captures the technical and human aspects of stonework, preserving a visual record of craftsmanship and landscape.

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