Every year when I come to Phoenix for Christmas to visit my adorable nephews and my wonderful parents, brother and sister in law, my mom always makes sure to take me on a road trip. We’ve gone to the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, Painted Desert, Sedona, and some places in town last year when the government shutdown meant the national parks were closed. This year, two of my nephews joined my parents and I on a 1.5 hour drive north to see Montezuma’s Castle, Montezuma’s Well and Tuzigoot National Monuments.
Located 80 feet above the ground in the side of a limestone cliff sits Montezuma’s castle. This 5 story, 20 room building was built by the prehistoric Sinagua people, believed to be Aztec refugees from Mexico. It was built around 1100 but abandoned around 1425. This was not just a place to sleep, it was the community center, where they worked, where they stored crops, and even where they buried the dead.
Montezuma castle is still standing, but the actual buildings can’t be visited (much to the chagrin of my youngest nephew Jax), visitors instead need to admire it from below. It was in danger of falling in the late 1800s, by which time it had been completed looted. Instead, it was repaired in 1897 and in 1906 president Roosevelt declared it a national monument.
There is a short walking path around the grounds where you can admire the lovely white Arizona Sycamore trees, used to make the beams of Montezuma’s Castle, as well as the mountain sides which furthur along have more sites of where former dwellings were located.
No one know why the Sinagua people left the area, though perhaps it was because of the water that they used in the nearby Montezumas well has high levels of arsenic! Located 6 miles from Montezumas castle, this massive limestone sinkhole is 55 feet deep and 368 feet wide. The water is a constant 74 degrees, thanks to the underground natural springs that pump over 1.5 million gallons of water into the well every day. Surrounding the well are ancient dwellings, as well as an ancient irrigation ditch, dating around 1000 years old.
After taking a path down to the waters edge, we came across cave’s that were used as dwellings, and also some advertising that was painted on the mountains in the 1800s.
We walked along the path, only a half mile long, back towards the parking lot, but along the way admired the nature, and then found a path down to the river and the irigation system that the Sinagua had built. This part reminded me a lot of the hills and forests back home, and even on this dreary winter day (it was warmer in Ohio than in Phoenix!), the colors were just lovely.
The name Tuzigoot means “crooked water” in Apache, named after the river that used to loop around Tuzigoot. Excavated in 1933, during which time 429 sets of human remains were found buried in the hillside, along with personal possessions.
If you are in Phoenix, make the short trip to Montezuma’s, it was lovely to see, and an awesome bit of history not far off the beaten path.
I also choose to take a road trip when going to Phoenix instead of an airplane. There would be a feeling of excitement and fulfillment, most especially if you passed through some of the popular landmarks. It seems like all of the stress and tiredness are instantly gone. You can also make a stop over to take some selfies. You will see the colorful history of the place by simply taking a look at these landmarks. Tuzigoot is my favorite place, how about you?
I absolutely love a road trip! Tuzigoot was really great, but the petrified forest I really loved too! Sonoma, the Grand Canyon. There are so many great places. I’m looking forward to being there in a month and checking out some new places. Thanks!