montezuma castle

 The Best Preserved Pre-Historic Cliff Dwelling in North America

History and culture (plus my love of home design) come together at Montezuma Castle, the best preserved pre-historic cliff dwelling in North America.  Located in Camp Verde, Arizona, Montezuma Castle is a National Monument, run by the National Parks Services.  The historic site, built by the Sinagua people, consists of two castles or "high-rise apartment buildings" that date back to 1400 AD.  

Built into limestone cliffs, the castle is protected from the elements, which helps it to retain it's title of best preserved cliff dwelling.  The height of the dwelling most likely protected the inhabitants from enemy invasion as well as flooding and other natural disasters.  The castles are 5 stories tall and have expansive floor plans, proving that the Sinagua were skilled masons and engineers.  Prior to the 1950s, visitors were able to enter the dwellings but that luxury was taken from us when humans caused extensive wear and tear on the structure.  Despite not being able to walk the floors or climb the ladders, it is awe inspiring to see this magnificent housing complex, built hundreds of years ago.

Visit Montezuma Castle as a day trip from Phoenix, or combined with a trip Sedona.  There are other sites, surrounding the castles, that are included in the National Parks historic site.  Make a day of it and explore all the natural beauty and history.  

We are constantly surprised by what Arizona has to offer.  I often think about how we moved to Phoenix, after having visited only one weekend.  We had no idea how much we would enjoy this desert state, but it always came through with the gorgeous landscapes and rich history.  Phoenix, Flagstaff, Tombstone, Grand Canyon, Sedona, The Apache Trail....the hits just keep coming :)