McKittrick Canyon, Guadalupe Mountains, Part 3

(Here are McKittrick Canyon, Guadalupe Mountains posts Part 1 and Part 2.)

Sometimes on a nature hike you run across some interesting cultural/history stuff. Well, this time, we got to see something very cool - the homestead of Wallace Pratt - a geologist who worked in the area and obviously fell in love with the canyon. In 1957 he GAVE the house and nearly 6,000 acres to the U.S. Government (i.e. - all of us) and this was the beginning of Guadalupe Mountains National Park. What a guy!!!  Here's some pics:

Look at that stonework:

Even the ROOF is stone (don't think I've ever seen such a thing):

Nice porch complete with Adirondack style chairs:

View ain't none to shabby:

Cute little bedroom:

Cute little bathroom:

Great timbers:

I could cook in that kitchen!:

Look at those shutters! I think this guy liked all sorts of architecture. Seems like Federal and/or Colonial stuff?:

Well, that was our rest stop before we turned around and headed back down the canyon. Maybe there will be some wildflowers/insects to report on in Parts 4 and 5?