Recently mom and I returned home from a trip to Arizona! We flew out West to visit the Grand Canyon but along the way we visited five National Monuments in the area.
Our first National Park Service stop on our western journey was a visit to Tuzigoot National Monument in Clarkdale. At this monument we experienced the incredible legacy of people who lived in the Verde Valley thousands of years ago. We toured this fascinating ruin on September 30th in hot temps that reached 91 degrees. I will say when you visit Tuzigoot during the Summer or on a scorching day, wear a hat and lots of sunscreen, for there is no shade on the walking path around the ruin!
It’s difficult to see exactly what the monument looks like from the pictures. Tuzigoot is comprised of a cluster of buildings, on top of a small sandstone ridge close to the Verde River Valley. There is a small visitor center and museum containing a fantastic display of Indian artifacts, most of which have been found on-site. Tuzigoot is an ancient village developed by a culture known as the Sinagua. The pueblo consisted of 110 rooms including second and third storey structures. The monument itself is mostly crumbly stone walls but the largest dwelling at the top of the summit is complete! At one point the citadel was home to around 250 people and families. The two storey rooms and had several small windows and outlets. We were able to walk around the various levels of Tuzigoot and see inside the numerous rooms.
The prime view of Tuzigoot and the surrounding area is from standing on the summit which is extensive, looking out over layered cliffs and ridges in all directions.
Our visit was brief because it was so hot but we highly enjoyed peeking into the different rooms and imaging what life would have been like in the Verde River Valley!
Michelle's House of Miniatures 