Arizona

My introduction to Montezuma Castle National Monument was through the pictures and stories of a former girlfriend’s visit. At that time, I wasn’t sure when I would have the means to visit or even be in the state, but I knew I wanted it on my list of places to see.

My first trip to explore the state of Arizona was in February of 2018. My list had grown to include five additional national monuments to visit. Montezuma Castle, Sunset Crater, Tonto, Tuzigoot, Walnut Canyon, and Wupatki National Monument were all on my list of places to visit during that trip.

I arrived to explore the National Monument as soon as it opened. In fact, I had arrived and was waiting for the gate to open. I found this to be a great time to see the place. The sun wasn’t directly overhead, in a position where it cast hard shadows or washed out the color of the rocks.

If you have the opportunity to visit in the morning, I would recommend it as a great time. There were also fewer people at this time. Other visits to this location included large crowds and difficulty finding a parking spot.

Brief History of the Location

Montezuma Castle National Monument, situated in Clarkdale, Arizona, is an ancient cliff dwelling constructed around 1050 CE by a group of people referred to as the Sinagua. Archaeologists have categorized the Sinagua into two groups, namely the Northern Sinagua residing in the Flagstaff region and the Southern Sinagua inhabiting the Verde Valley area. The Southern Sinagua’s dwellings at Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monument are preserved.

The Sinagua constructed permanent living structures, which are the dwellings currently present at the monument, around 1050 CE. They utilized natural caves in the cliffs and utilized local materials like wood, stone, and mud mortar to construct homes. Cliff dwellings had several levels, and individuals had to use wooden ladders to access them.

The Castle at Montezuma Castle National Monument comprises 20 rooms that belonged to various families, similar to an apartment building in modern times, despite being referred to as a castle. Other apartment-style buildings such as the pueblos at Tuzigoot and Montezuma Well also had several rooms and were constructed using local materials.

It remains uncertain why the Sinagua left Montezuma Castle around 1400 CE, but potential reasons include environmental changes, overpopulation, social conflict, or religious factors. The Sinagua did not vanish but migrated to other areas over time. Presently, the monument has links with numerous tribes, such as the Yavapai, Apache, Hopi, and Zuni, as well as the Four Southern Tribes of Arizona.

More Information for Your Montezuma Castle National Monument Visit

If you found this article interesting, explore more of my visits to other state and national parks, or read additional articles about Arizona. You can also discover more about the Indigenous People of the Southwest or Indigenous Peoples of North America.

For more information about Montezuma Castle National Monument, its days and hours of operation, as well as fees, visit nps.gov. Also visitarizona.com for other information that might improve your visit.

Location

Montezuma Castle National Monument Visitor Center
2800 Montezuma Castle Rd,
Camp Verde, AZ 86322