AMAZING ANCIENT ARIZONA
MONTEZUMA'S CASTLE & TUZIGOOT
If you are interested in the history and culture of Arizona’s native peoples, you should pay a visit to Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments. The remnants of two ancient dwellings built by the Sinagua people, who lived in the Verde Valley from around 1100 to 1425 AD, are preserved in these monuments.
WHAT IS MONTEZUMA'S CASTLE?
Montezuma Castle is a five-story, twenty-room building carved into a limestone rock about 100 feet above the valley floor. It has around 4,000 square feet of living area and previously housed approximately 50 people. The walls and floors of the castle were built with local resources such as limestone, clay, and wood by the Sinagua people. They also used ladders to get to the various levels and chambers.
The castle overlooks Beaver Creek, which supplied the Sinagua farmers with water and fertile land. They traded with other surrounding cultures and grew crops such as corn, beans, squash, and cotton. The castle also provided protection from floods, attackers, and the elements.
Montezuma Castle was named by European-Americans who mistakenly thought it was built by the Aztec emperor Montezuma. In fact, the castle was abandoned long before Montezuma was born. The original name of the castle is unknown.
WHAT IS TUZIGOOT?
Tuzigoot is a hilltop pueblo that consists of 110 rooms on two or three stories. It covers about 2.5 acres, and was home to about 250 people. The Sinagua people built the pueblo using stones and mud mortar, and shaped the rooms to fit the contours of the hill. They also used wooden beams to support the roofs and floors.
Tuzigoot overlooks the Verde River, which provided water and supplies to the Sinagua people. They grew crops along the riverbanks and on hillside terraces. Additionally, they hunted, fished, foraged, and traded with other communities. Tuzigoot has been a thriving village for almost a century.
The name Tuzigoot, which was used by a later set of inhabitants who spoke Apache, is translated as “crooked water” in the native language. The original name of the pueblo is unknown.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE
Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot are about 20 miles apart, near Camp Verde. They are both open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas. The entrance price for each monument is $10 per person (age 16 and up), or $15 for a combination pass that is valid for both monuments for seven days, free for military and veterans.
You can walk along a paved trail near Montezuma Castle that leads to many viewpoints of the castle and the creek. Visitors may also head into the museum where you can see artifacts and exhibits about Sinagua culture and history. You are not permitted to enter the castle because it is closed to preserve its fragile condition. Look at the map below to get a general idea of how to go from the I-17 to Montezuma’s castle.
You may explore Tuzigoot’s pueblo and go inside a few of the rooms. You can also ascend to the pueblo’s highest point for a panoramic view of the valley. Additionally, you can go to a museum that showcases items and exhibits related to Sinagua history and culture. The map below should help you get an idea of how to get to this national treasure.
Visit the official websites of Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot for further details. Alternatively, you can contact them at (928) 567-3322 for Montezuma Castle or (928) 634-5564 for Tuzigoot.
