Located near Great Sand Dunes National Park, The Trujillo Homestead and The Medano Zapata Ranch have a history dating back to Paleo-Indians, with early Spanish explorers and New Mexican sheep herders and cattle ranchers settling the area in the 1800s. Today, these National Historic Landmarks provide a window to the past and a sanctuary for many wetland birds, rare plants and insects, and of course cattle and bison.