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| The SHUMLA office in Comstock, Texas, now has a sign marking its location. This was designed by Jack McDonald who also created the sign mounted on the fireplace in the Pavilion at the campus. |
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| The Research Building is the second structure being used to house SHUMLA headquarter operations in Comstock. |
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| The latest addition to the SHUMLA Campus is the Dormitory building, located to the west of the Pavilion. (construction photos) |
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| The SHUMLA campus: (left to right) the Restroom/Shower building, the "Bookhouse," and the Pavilion. This picture was taken before the Dormitory was constructed. |
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| The "Bookhouse" has been a significant addition to the SHUMLA campus. View the construction process here. |
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| Sleeping accommodations in one of the
tents provided for guests. |
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| The Pavilion building on the SHUMLA
campus. |
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| Board President Elton Prewitt examines one of three wikiups that have been constructed at SHUMLA School. These allow visitors to study one of the types of shelters built in the region by prehistoric Native Americans. |
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| Jack McDonald hanging the metal sign he created for SHUMLA School. This fireplace is located in the Pavilion at the School campus. |
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| Tents set up for one of the overnight programs. |
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| View from inside the Pavilion. |
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| The Dormitory building (far right) provides additional housing options to the campus complex. |
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SHUMLA has created a living museum 50 miles west of Del Rio in
Val Verde County that offers people of all ages and backgrounds an
experience of enrichment and discovery in one of the most spectacular
landscapes in Texas. This experiential educational center is situated along
the Pecos River on 1600 acres of land provided by a local ranching family.
Programs conducted at the campus focus upon the cultural and ecological
resources present in this archaeological heartland of Texas.
In the region surrounding the SHUMLA campus there are more than two
hundred rock shelter sites, most of which contain archeological deposits and
many of which contain elaborately painted murals that date back to over four
thousand years ago. No other region in the Americas is known to contain so
many well-preserved hunter-gatherer sites in such a small area. The broad
expanse of undeveloped land surrounding the school makes this site well
suited for instruction and innovative studies in archeology, ecology,
natural history, prehistoric lifeways, and expressive culture.
Campus; Buildings and Accommodations
SHUMLA campus facilities include a 1600-square foot Pavilion surrounded
by a 1200-square foot covered porch, a laboratory, kitchen, and offices. A separate 950-square foot Restroom/Shower House sits to one side. Currently people attending multiple-day programs are provided
spacious 10' x 10' canvas tents that comfortably accommodate 2 people. Each
tent is equipped with cots, a table, and two chairs. We are currently
seeking funds to begin construction of
bungalow accommodations to sleep 28 people.
A dormitory building has been constructed to the west of the Pavilion. Two large rooms provide space for groups to sleep using cots or placing their bedrolls on the floor. This building has been used by students during week-long programs and by teachers during teachers' training activities. It is also used during a three-week field school held each May.
Click here for accommodation suggestions for events that do not include housing as part of the program.
Office and Research Building
SHUMLA's headquarters is currently housed in two buildings in Comstock, Texas. One serves as the main office building, the other, the Research Building, is home to the research branch of the SHUMLA organization. This structure, built in the early twentieth century, was renovated in 2008 by Walker Boyd, father of Executive Director Dr. Carolyn Boyd, and now houses offices and laboratory space. |
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