While Arizona is known for the Grand Canyon National Park, it is also home to numerous National Monuments relating to Native American history.
Montezuma Castle
The Sinagua inhabited the caves from 1100 to 1425 AD. ‘Sinagua’ is Spanish for ‘without water,’ reflecting their adaptation to the arid environment through farming and trading.
Montezuma’s Castle is the equivalent of a five-story building with 20 rooms. It is 90′ above the canyon floor. The walls are stone and mortar construction. It is believed that access was via a series of ladders.
While the location protected against enemies, the Park Service believes the Sinagua built on the cliff to be above Beaver Creek’s monsoon flooding.
Montezuma is the most accessible of the cliff dwellings. A short paved walkway leads from the visitor center to the castle.
Tuzigoot
The Sinagua built Tuzigoot between 1125 and 1400 CE. It is named Tuzigoot, an Apache term for “crooked waters.”
The Pueblo consists of 110 rooms built along a limestone ridge. The rooms did not include doors; access was via the roof and ladder through trap doors. Fifty people inhabited Tuzogoot. The central buildings were likely community centers surrounded by smaller dwellings.
Louis Caywood and Edward Spicer from the University of Arizona excavated Tuzigot between 1933 and 1935. The CCC constructed a museum that contains local artifacts.
Tuzigoot is off the radar of many travelers. We almost had the park to ourselves. The park service had an interpretive guide giving ongoing talks at the pueblo.
Wupatki
Wupatki is Hopi for “long cut house.” Built in 1182, the Pueblo housed 85-100 people. The site was abandoned by 1225. Wupatki National Monument consists of multiple pueblos to visit.
Wupatki includes multiple locations of pueblos so isn’t crowded. Sadly, my sister and I missed the main pueblo and ball court. Oh well, that give me an excuse to visit again!
james nolan says
thank you for the narrative on each site, I have been to all three sites a couple of times
Tami says
Welcome, and I would happily go back to all sites. We missed the biggest site at Wupatki.
Jocelyn Kunkle says
We’ve been to the sites many times, including Montezuma’s Well not far from the Castle. Beautiful area, love learning the history. Can’t wait to go back. Thanks so much.
Tami says
I visited the well a few years ago with the family but not this trip. There is so much to explore in that area! I have made 3 trips and still have more to see.
Richard Mcgrew says
You’re right, so much to see in that area.love it. Have been to all three ,plus Montezumas well. I spent my summers as a teenager on my grandfather’s outside of Prescott. Really like all that area of Arizona.
Tami says
Such a fun area, I bet you have wonderful memories of staying at your grandfather’s.
We visited the well on a previous trip. Plus a few cliff dewllings outside of Sedona.
Richard Mcgrew says
You’re right, so much to see in that area. Have been to all three ,plus Montezumas well. I spent my summers as a teenager on my grandfather’s ranch outside Prescott. Love that whole area. So much to see.
Tami says
I have taken 3 trips to the area and still not seen it all!