Our Dynamic Landscape: Geology, Culture, History
From atop Clayton's Overlook, learn about the geological, cultural and historical landscape of the area from the highest point on the property. 

Opened in 2009, this exhibit focuses on the geology of the Davis Mountains and tells a story of construction and destruction, of how mountains are built and torn down, and about how the culture and history of the region are linked to the geology.

NEW:  A companion piece to this exhibit is now part of our permanent collection inside the Powell Visitor Center. 

​It's a Long Story​  
The Powell Visitor Center has a NEW exhibit inside the lobby called "It's a Long Story."

This 4' x 4' wall exhibit delineates the Geologic Timeline to put the passage of time since the Hadean Period to the present in a concise and easy to grasp visual display. 

To understand the abundant emergence of life on Earth during the Phanerozoic Eon, we've expanded that section so you can see the developments during each Period. 

The "Rock Out" feature on the timeline ties in the rocks that are featured in our wrap-around Geological Timeline exhibit in front of the Powell Visitor Center. 
Chihuahuan Desert Mining Heritage Exhibit
 Explore the mining heritage of the Northern Chihuahuan Desert and visit a replica of a 19th Century mine including artifacts from the late 19th Century and early 20th Century, along with samples of minerals and ores from the Chihuahuan Desert region.

This exhibit tells the story of mining in the Chihuahuan Desert region through displays of artifacts and the ores mined in the region including lead, zinc, barite, copper, manganese, sulfur, oil, gas, fluorite, talc, potash, water, quarry stone, gypsum, mercury, bentonite, salt, silver, gold, sand, and gravel. The exhibit includes the replica of a late-19th century head frame, a horse-whim, and a display of fluorescent minerals. 
Bird Blind & Viewing 
In April 2017, we added a beautiful bird blind and bird viewing area. It's set against a backdrop of large volcanic rock outcroppings, and framed on either side from the front by oak trees along with a view of Blue Mountain.

A 30-foot long water feature provides ample water to attract birds to the site, as well as providing a soothing background sound.

The structure, with its indoor viewing area, is flanked on either side by wood panel screens with cut-outs large enough for a camera lens. 

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Geological Timeline
​Walk through over 2 billion years of rock samples from the Trans-Pecos region of Texas.

The timeline illustrates a story of oceans and volcanoes, of pressures so intense that simple limestone is squeezed and heated until it forms marble. Wormholes are evidence of the very beginning of life and pieces of petrified wood speak of a time when the Chihuahuan Desert region was forested and swampy. The rocks also tell the story of the world's greatest transitions—from the Precambrian Super Eon to the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic Eras of the Phanerozoic Eon
Powell Visitor Center
The Powell Visitor Center features a geology exhibit  of the Davis Mountains. The formation of each peak which can be viewed from Clayton's Overlook is vivdly described in both text and a graphic illustration. 

Another exhibit in the Powell Visitor Center is a 40" x 54" framed map created by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) which weaves together the land surface topography with a geologically aged tapestry of the subsurface rock, creating “A Tapestry of Time and Terrain.”

After viewing the exhibit, mosey outside of the Powell Visitor Center to our nearly 80 linear foot Geological Timeline with rock samples gathered from throughout the Chihuahuan Desert Region.