Ancient Cliff Palace in Colorado | Diorama

#Diorama #MesaVerde #CliffPalace
Last week, I visited Mesa Verde National Park while on a road trip around the Rocky Mountains with my wife. The main attractions of the park are the cliff dwellings made by the indigenous people known as the Ancestral Puebloan. The largest of these structures is Cliff Palace. I was inspired by the landmark to recreate it in its prime as the subject of this week’s diorama build!
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[@olauiver]

i will never not adore this man's content. it's super relaxing, the combination of his voice, his music choice, the noises of making things. it's all perfectly crafted, just like his models.

[@truthoftheuniverse4179]

ALIENS HAD SOME AWESOME STONE TECHNOLOGY

[@oliverwatson8232]

I love putting on one of his videos in the background of doing something else. He is very relaxing

[@modelermark172]

Boylei, this belongs in a history museum at Mesa Verde. Wonderful job!

[@ZeFroz3n0ne907]

Yeah it does!!

[@bradcallahan3546]

A mediocre low budget project belongs in a museum? Lmfao.

[@kyleevans9077]

Exactly what I was thinking

[@Swagman12]

@@bradcallahan3546 you wish you could make anything anywhere close to the things boylei makes on terms of skill

[@seanobrien7169]

@@bradcallahan3546 What do you think are actually in museums? Not a commentary on this project, but have you ever been to a small specialized museum? Most of the models have many inaccuracies and are not really professionally done. Especially ship models. But back to this particular project, I have to agree that the end result is not as impressive as many of his projects, however, the skills that went into building this are. Who are you? I would like to see some of your projects.

[@marshallerickson493]

You inspired me to get into diorama building and I used what I learned from you to create my first diorama for a school project (got an A) which got me a commission at my local museum, and eventually a job there, so thank you

[@azvertic]

I've been to cliff palace two times, and it never gets old. The mastery that went into this piece is stunning!

[@MrJodrick]

On the contrary, it's always getting older

[@ginadelsasso288]

I went to this place 20 years ago and every time I see it on the internet I have to watch the associated clip. This was such a cool village. I just wish places like this were kept in use and maintained better.

[@fldsmdfrfromcloudywithacha7954]

I got to take a tour of it last summer, it sure was fun.

[@someguy2309]

I always wanted to visit the national park. I love anything that involves ruins since you get so much creativity from the ruins. Trying to visualize what it looked like before adds to the imagination.

[@picklepotpieofficial]

It's really amaing to see. To anyone that really IS going to visit, just know you need reservations for the different cliff palaces, can't just show up the the park and see them all day of.

[@ducatisti]

I liked Mesa Verde, but I love Hovenweep and Chaco Canyon. Both are a bit more difficult to get to, so there's fewer visitors, especially in the spring or late fall.

[@thetribunaloftheimaginatio5247]

Man... this sucker's bringin' back memories of the trip "Out West" I took with my maternal grandparents when I were a lad of nine going on ten...

[@Mr._bean316]

Gotta love this guy’s creativity

[@garymontagano510]

Your work is therapeutic. I can be having a bummer of a day, but when I sit down and watch these videos it's like my problems drift away. So thanks a bunch Boylei, keep up the good work!

[@elgatoman4666]

Pretty cool. I’ve always wanted something like this but with the Holy City of Petra.

[@rayanderson5797]

I wanna go there someday. Ever since I heard the Fall of Civilizations episode about it.

[@Ben-Carr]

This is really cool, I know it is not 100% accurate, but it is an excellent representation of how this may have looked in its prime.

[@matthewhosier5084]

One look at the thumbnail and i immediately recognized it. I remembered being on the trail walking towards it and seeing a tarantula. Great job!

[@nicksivert5431]

I don’t why, but I was expecting you to add a few LEDs in the structure to simulate the torch lit rooms. Overall, a fantastic build. 👍😎

[@bubbadoom1837]

Thanks for this. I think I've said it before, but it's nice to see how you depict the west. Even in the fantasy of your Old West. You always make me think of family trips and car rides. You really do nail the Great Basin. I'm waiting for you to put a giant pink dinosaur in one of your builds. Like the one in Vernal. (Or am I thinking of Roosevelt.)

[@Lizardman1997]

i like to think of this as part of the Wild Imaginary West, it would make sense that an ancient culture would still be thriving with how insane the world can be.

[@celeste3309]

I visited Mesa Verde in April for a trip remembering my Grandmother, who passed in August 2022. We went out there as it was one of her favorite places. That place is so incredibly cool.

[@jakespeaks6095]

Oh man I LOVE mesa verde. Cliff dwellings are some of the coolest archeological sites I've been to.

[@markmars8660]

I watched the video till the end, and I called it good. 👍

[@avonleariotto535]

This is cool! I loved Mesa Verde! Unfortunately the cliff palace was closed when I went so we didn’t get to see it up close.

[@Endermineyt295]

This guy NEEDS to do an ASMR video with his hot wires on foam. So. Dang. Relaxing.

[@spartansheep459]

The main inspiration for me wanting to get into dioramas does it again

[@T04ST-LUV3R_83]

This Dude is awesome, his creativity is endless. Keep it up Boylei 👍

[@Filippa1.1.]

Your videos got me a new hobby thanks 😅

[@SuperGalfrieg12]

I went to mesa verde last year. I live in Denver, and it was so cool! Awesome to see what ancient Pueblo people built

[@CrowLawyer]

I still cant believe how talented you are

[@zarev0k]

Its been 2 days now that i do a marathon on your videos .. not even one dissapoints.. AMAZING work.!

[@mumbo4134]

Your vids make me want to try dioramas so badly

[@samanthadean1083]

This is so cool!!! They have a similar castle in Slovenia called Predjama Castle, which was also featured in season 3 of The Witcher!!!

[@2CraftySeniors]

What a beautiful build this one was. Very interesting and educational as well.

[@garybuettner7920]

Man, this is gorgeous. No monsters (sadly), but a really beautiful piece of art. The videos remind me of songs, like I can just watch them over and over again and not get bored.

[@svcbadasswaytocrash2369]

Dude, you surprise me every single time. When I saw the picture on video posted, I thought for a moment it was part of the Wild Imaginary West world. Like it was once a peaceful homeland before monsters invaded and forced them to relocate.

[@tomtruesdale6901]

Very well done. I went to Mesa Verde and a youngster back in 1968 and at that time did not fully understand the grandeur and history of the place. Your diorama shows that well.

[@fredtedstedman]

Very beautiful , it would be lovelt to see how the people lived from day to day in their cosy cliff homes !

[@MattGallagherComposer]

Pro tip, you can use a spritz of something like Speed Clean (a bike chain degreaser) to get that mold release agent off with a lot less effort. Just be sure to rinse with isopropyl afterwards. I work in a bike shop and you'd be ASTONISHED at the number of things for which I've found a use for chain degreaser.

[@tonysquires8207]

Stunning, if only my dioramas were half as good, and you have a soothing voice which doesn't distract from the build.

[@jonathanrenfro7126]

Ive been to a few of the ruins here in my home state of Arizona. This one would fit in perfectly in a cliffside somewhere up north. 😁

[@TealCheetah]

You were down in my neck of the desert! Glad you enjoyed your visit!

[@jaked.6386]

I used to live near there...Thank You for making a wonderful replica from my old state.

[@duncanurquhart5278]

mesa verde really is incredible in person, highly recommend going there to anyone who gets the chance

[@michaelponcheri3717]

I just came back from my uncle's funeral and watched this really Settled my thoughts. thank you

[@MGB-learning]

Outstanding video and presentation.

[@rayanderson5797]

I remember visiting Mesa Verde when I was pretty young. I would love to go back there, I remember it all so dimly now.

[@CrazyRoundMan]

When I was moving cross country (west to east) my father and I took the leisurely route that included Mesa Verde. It really was something else in the best way possible. If anybody is ever near it, there's an amazing site called Aztec, New Mexico, which is actually a really neat Pueblo site that has a robber trench through the middle of it. They adapted the robber trench for the tour path and it's amazing to get to go 'inside' one of these structures.

[@johnnydoe66]

We visited Mesa Verde back in 2016 while on a family vacation. Definitely an amazing place to see.

[@mustangjustin7654]

Great work! I watched a video this weekend where A guy made a mine diorama & used an 'infinity mirror' box to make it look like the mine shafts went deep into the diorama & thought of you!

[@annbrookens945]

Are you talking about Jazza and his Mines of Moria?

[@mustangjustin7654]

@@annbrookens945 no, but I have also seen that one! 🤣

[@Frozenkoldfury]

That is an absolutely gorgeous diorama

[@FoxofMaysville]

I understand you were going for a recreation of the Mesa, but this also looks like it could fix in you Wild Imaginary West as well. I mean if I was a family man, the first thing I would think of is keeping my family safe. No animals are going to get you in side the mesa.

[@Ben-Carr]

It is in the right part of the world too for the wild imaginary west. I would think in a post apocalyptic world, Mesa Verde would be an excellent site to have a base in.

[@marshawargo7238]

Exactly what I thought too! Kinda like a suburb of town OR along side the train as a stop on route!❤ I'm thinking Boylei might need to buy or build another house😮... Kinda like a MIL house but in this case a I don't have enough room for all my stuff house!😂

[@JeffDeWitt]

@@Ben-Carr You'd have the same problem that drove the ancestral Pueblo Indians to abandon the place, lack of water.

[@markzambelli]

I wonder what an inhabitant of the place would think if they could see your diorama... it would blow their mind, Bravo

[@wallabaatar]

So excellent, so compelling, and it makes me want to find out more about these people and their culture. Really great build Boylei!

[@ThatGuyWithTheRedDakota]

As expected. An absolute masterpiece.

[@saint.venant]

OH BOYLEI! IT'S HOBBY TIME!

[@nathanielrobite3573]

This can be used as a museum display piece...I'd say...very good job! Always happy to see the stuff you make...always interesting content.

[@martesdeo]

I look forward to these videos every sun

[@walkstheman98]

I love the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings, we live just a short drive away from them so I have visited them multiple times. Even since I was a kid they have found multiple more sites in the area, its well worth a visit!

[@Coloradorivr]

Dude, I'd love to see you do more natural landmark miniatures. This stuff looks so good!

[@charlesscottbuchanan4188]

Beautiful, well planned, well presented and museum quality. Best of your work. Well done Sir!

[@curtk8715]

Stayed at the park lodge one night- That night they had major winds- and sounded like the roof was pulling up . no insulation between the rooms, could watch the glass on the window flex from the wind., Another cool place is Hovenweep national monument that would make a cool diorama were you look from the top down into it. I think it was a place that would be considered today's bugout camp during times of conflict.

[@NotRoland]

I legit look forward to your weekly uploads! Wonderful content. Keep up the great work!

[@bpblitz]

Mesa Verde is one of my favorite places in the world

[@brianahawkins8124]

Glorious!

[@marklindsey4112]

Stunning piece. Absolutely love all your work.

[@cliffwoodbury5319]

This is so cool... I have never seen a diorama like this and I have always wanted to visit one of these Native American sights

[@mrwoodandmrtin]

The rock texture looks good. Funny how just having protruding floor/roof beams instantly puts it in south America.

[@fredericapanon207]

@mrwoodandmrtin, um, If you click on the Mesa Verde link in the description, you'll find that Mesa Verde is in southern Colorado.

[@mrwoodandmrtin]

@@fredericapanon207 Correct. Current thinking is that peoples of that area migrated over time to South America and took their cultural conventions with them. And picked up a few more on the way too. But what an amazing state Colorado is. So much variation.

[@debbralehrman5957]

Thanks Boylei wonderful work you've done here. I have been fortunate enough myself to have been there too. Given the true size I think you did an amazing job.👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🍁🍂🍁🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍁🍂🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂

[@benparadis3841]

Some Ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian stuff would be cool!

[@echodelta2426]

great job as always. glad to see you were inspired to create a historical diorama from your trip to mesa verde.

[@mcfahk]

Awesome, as always. I thoroughly enjoyed that. Thanks!

[@prenticeclark1454]

I like the music choice at the end - not sure if it’s entirely accurate to the subject but it feels right and adds to the overall experience. Excellent video as always!

[@jonpru82]

A tiny skinwalker stalking the cliffs would have been dope.

[@matthewweeks113]

Only thing I wish about these videos was that thay were longer, idk just something about them is so comforting.

[@mrtoto9749]

Such an amazing model, you can almost imagine yourself sitting on one of the palace roofs gazing at the sunset! Do you think you’d be interested in making a studio Ghibli Nausicaa Valley of the Wind model?? (Potentially the old castles, the huge airships or even the natural aspect of the movie.) great video as always!

[@skidkid594]

Some of your top work my guy! You are an inspiration for modeling!

[@jacobhorne1112]

Enjoying the variety in format, but truth to theme in the videos. As always, loving your amazing work~

[@Milxfanta]

I love it, can you make a one of a truck off reading on the side of side cliff? Keep up the good work. 👍

[@daskalosBCE]

As an archaeologist, I approve! Come on down to Aztec Ruins sometime, I’d love to see what you could do with that layout

[@awldune]

Love it! I went to Mesa Verde as a teen and was very inspired by it.

[@DarkraiDiety]

It reminds me kind of like the Cliff Dwellings in Colorado. It's astounding just how cool history can be. Good job with this diorama as well!

[@davestinyworkshopotherprojects]

A beautiful and inspiring diorama, well done!

[@laurafall7846]

I love your builds!!! I'm a fellow Coloradoan! We live in Jefferson, near South Park! I so admire your work! So fun to watch and imagine the things that go on! ❤❤❤keep up the awesome job you do!

[@jamesnixon1875]

Awesome build. Loved it. Makes me want to see the real thing.

[@JeffDeWitt]

I've been there, amazing place. Nicely done diorama, and I appreciate that you called the builders the ancestral Pueblo Indians, not the Anasazi, as they are often called. I was speaking to a historian who was doing the tour the same time I was and he told me that "Anasazi" was a Navhao term that meant "ancient enemy".

[@jul1440]

Yes, I appreciate that too. Calling my ancestors "enemies" is...less than flattering.

[@MaggieKeizai]

Mesa Verde is the COOLEST. What a neat thing to take inspiration from!

[@picklepotpieofficial]

Cool to see a version "in it's prime" all adobe-d up. I had a chuckle at the beginning where you mentionted your trip because it seemed like you were saying Mesa Verde is semi-near to Yellowstone/Teton. Great build!

[@howshafern420]

short story, driving though desert valleys in new mex and az. come around a cliff and stumbled upon a old cave dwelling system, what a great job you did on this project, thanks for the entertainment!

[@garzilla7123]

Absolutely beautiful and amazing.

[@MrOmega-cz9yo]

Heh, I was waiting for Boylei to add some LEDs to represent cooking fires. 😁 Nice video!

[@pigeoncamera2840]

awesome. I lucked out with a couple ranger led up close tours of Mesa Verde back in the 90's and it is a highlight of my life.

[@magsainsley7490]

Mesa Verde my beloved!! ❤❤❤ I highly recommend the Navajo/Diné tribal park in that area as well, it’s on reservation land, and when I went out tour guide was a tribe member so the visit was super informative and there were way fewer tourists than you see at the national park

[@kaihumml1872]

Amazing work.. again! Looks absolutely beautiful.

[@derricknewby1692]

Good job. If you ever revisit this one, maybe some cooking fires and torches.

[@mcochran3527]

Same art project hair drier! Nice project man, as always man! Super inspiring.

[@TrentenService88]

You should make some Harry Potter themed dyoramas! Love your videos btw! Keep them up! It's always a highlight of my families week to watch your new videos together.

[@stuchly1]

Really enjoying the variety of projects you take on, this was A M A Z I N G !

[@melvinshew5127]

That is awesome as always , I think I'd be a cool addition to your western themed planet of monster hunters . Great as always keep up the great work

[@Aigismetis]

this is just beautiful, what a great video thank you!

[@ronferguson9695]

I’ve been a big fan of Boyli Hobby Time for years. Everything he creates is seriously amazing and I am so grateful he shares his passion for his craft with as all…. Thank you so much!!!

[@shiness6229]

Hey! That is so cool! I have always been such a fan of your work and it inspires me to try my hand at dioramas. This one is so cool because this area in Colorado is where my clan the Lenwungwa (Flute clan) came from and lived once. My family tries to visit every now and then to pray and respect our ancestors. So this is automatically one of my favorites.

[@tatts4life838]

This reminds me of the cliff dwelling from the book Thunderhead that takes place in New Mexico

[@michaela3274]

You brought an ancient site back to life. Well done

[@jasonjohnson3164]

If you were to continue at any point with these more historical dioramas, might I suggest looking into the life and story of Tecumseh, the legendary Shawnee chief?

[@janetdeloach8522]

Beautiful and mysterious build...❤