National Geographic says that “for a trip into history, few parts of the American Southwest can top southern Colorado's San Luis Valley.” And now the federal government is considering bringing several sites in the Valley and central Sangre de Cristo Mountains under National Park Service protection. The Secretary of the Interior held a meeting in Alamosa this morning to get public input. The region is home to the state’s oldest town and oldest church as well as the Great Sand Dunes National Park. CPR’s Pat Mack spoke with Metro State history professor Vincent de Baca about the Hispanic heritage of the area.