Traveling to an Ancient Castle – Montezuma Castle National Monument
Posted in Historic, National Park, Scenery, Southwest, Travel | By Shelley Gillespie | Tags: Castles, Historic, Monuments, National Park, Scenery, Southwest, US Domestic Travel
Long before there were high rises in Manhattan, ancient people built tall buildings in the cliffs. At Montezuma Castle, a US National Parks Service National Monument, you can see, from a distance, the handiwork of “Sinagua” dwellers from the 12th century. The Park is north of Flagstaff, Arizona near Interstate 17 and is normally $5 per person for those 16 and older.
Montezuma Castle National Monument
ALERT:
This is the last weekend (August 15-16) that the US National Park Service is allowing free entry to over 100 national parks. Montezuma Castle is one of the free locations during this special promotion. See the following list to see what is available to visit for free.
http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparksbystate.htm
Living in a cliff dwelling
A five-story, 20-room building, Montezuma Castle is nestled high on a cliff. Since the building is not accessible to visitors, what it must have been like to live so high off the ground with all of your needs having to be hauled up the 100-foot cliff? Certainly, the native people were intrepid.
From visiting similar buildings in Arizona, I have learned that often the rooms were entered from an opening above. The people performed food preparation and other activities communally. What they never seem to show, however, is what people used as “rest facilities” – a puzzle to me!
It seems like they must have been extremely physically fit climbing up ladders and the rocks to reach their living space. With water so scarce, they used pots they created to transport the water.
A visitor center provides exhibits and background on this amazing construction, which has weathered time well, considering the wind and elements that have battered it. An “easy 1/3 mile” park-like loop allows visitors to see the cliff buildings from a distance. There are trees for shade.
The park information claims the Sinagua abandoned the cliff dwellings and the area in the 1400s. They speculate that the area was in a drought or the Sinagua were in conflict with neighboring people.
NOTE: This can be an enjoyable visit in conjunction with other nearby National Park sites like Montezuma Well and Tuzigoot. A joint pass can save a visitor admission fees if you want to see both Tuzigoot and Montezuma Castle. Seeing Montezuma Well is free.
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Tags: Castles, Historic, Monuments, National Park, Scenery, Southwest, US Domestic Travel