Jesse L. Nusbaum
1887–1975 (age 88)
Archaeologist, Preservationist
Biography
Jesse L. Nusbaum, born in 1887, was one of the Southwest's earliest professional archaeologists, dedicating decades to recording and preserving the cliff dwellings and pueblos of the region. As an official with the National Park Service and later as superintendent of Mesa Verde and other sites, he blended scholarly rigor with an artist's eye to keep ancient structures intact for future visitors.
He also promoted public appreciation of Southwest arts through photography and writing, mentoring language students and young historians while helping to shape the collections of the Museum of New Mexico, and his legacy remains at Santa Fe National Cemetery where he is remembered for his guardianship of cultural heritage.