Montezuma Castle National Monument in de buurt van Camp Verde, Arizona in het westen van de Verenigde Staten bestaat uit klifwoningen. Deze zijn rond het jaar 1400 gebouwd door de Sinagua-cultuur. Al in 1694 wordt in Spaanse geschriften gesproken over de "Casas de Montezuma". Toen Europese Amerikanen de klifwoningen in de jaren 1850 ontdekten, beschreven ze dat de woningen waren gebouwd door de mythologische held Montezuma, niet te verwarren met de Azteekse heerser van Mexico.
In de kalkstenen rotswand is een gebouw van steen en mortel van vijf verdiepingen hoog gebouwd. Er zijn 20 kamers waar 50 mensen konden wonen. De overhangende rotswand beschermt het gebouw tegen de regen. In een ander deel van de rotswand zijn de resten van een nog grotere woning gevonden.
De klifwoningen en het terrein eromheen zijn op 8 december 1906 uitgeroepen tot nationaal monument in de Verenigde Staten. Op 15 oktober 1966 werd het toegevoegd aan het National Register of Historic Places.
Per jaar bezoeken 350.000 mensen Montezuma Castle. Vanaf het bezoekerscentrum loopt een pad langs de voet van de rotswand. Vanwege de kwetsbaarheid van de kalksteen zijn de kamers zelf sinds 1951 niet meer toegankelijk voor publiek.
Small but spectacular park. The ruins here will stretch the limits of your imagination. Photos can't do them justice. To see the spectacular ruins placed so high up in the cliff hollow and then to imagine what it took to construct that with no modern tools is mind boggling. Add to that, daily life that included scaling that cliff face for water, food, trade....what a tenacious people! Local Yavapai-Apache tribes share their traditional skills on occasion. Don't miss the detached unit, Montezuma's Well, just a few miles away. It is also very interesting. Camp Verde has good lodging choices and good eateries.
Super cool pitstop to see this home carved into the side of a mountain built over a thousand years ago 👀 Amazing how people survived here way back when. The museum does a great job of detailing the history - ancient and modern - of this special place
Wow, such an experience! A castle in the side of a mountain! The history is very cool. The technology then was nothing like now, so seeing this in person was really a cool sight to see! Really makes you wonder how hard people worked then as compared to now! Highly recommend the stop here! It’s quite incredible!
So beautiful and historical!!! A must See it is $10.00 cover charge. You would believe what the Pueblo Indians created!
I am a total geek when it comes to Our National Parks! I have been visiting the parks for many years and try to make a stop whenever I am close to one. This Park didn't disappoint! Absolutely beautiful views and amazing sites! I am always amazed by how the people that lived so long ago were able to build amazing structures, small villages and farm the land where they lived. This park is a short hike but you will see amazing sites and get some beautiful pictures! I highly recommend this park!
So important to visit our National treasures from monuments to parks. The castle doesn't disappoint. With numerous informational points to self guide you at your pace through a paved, easy walk for all levels. Know the past or it'll be your future.
This is a very cool piece of native american history! The park rangers as I call them, do a very good job of explaining the history of the castle. And they also answer any and all questions, to the best of their knowledge, which they are very knowledgeable about the tribe and different clans that built it and lived there. Now the real question is, is it worth the price? For a family of 4 it cost 40 dollars, if you do not have a national park pass. I would say that if you have a season pass for the national parks already, then yes it is worth it. If you do not have a pass, and are not interested in this type of history, then no it is not worth the money. Since me and my family are interested in this stuff, to us it was worth every penny.
If you're into history or looking for a place to sightsee in AZ with your family and don't want to break the bank, stop here. A self guided tour along the trail took us about 20 minutes (there are signs along the way with facts and details about the site and the people who lived there.) Afterwards, you can check out souvenirs in the gift shop. Highly recommend.