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Montezuma CastleAt first it was believed that the twenty room castle was the work of the aztecs but it has been proven that this masterpiece is the creation of the Sinagua indian farmers who moved in after the Hohokam who had occupied the area since 600AD, moved away some time after the turn of the century. No exact date can be given as to the start of construction of the castle but it would be some time after 1125AD as history indicates this is when the Sinagua started to build homes above the ground. To reach the ancient castle drive south on Interstate 17 if you are coming from Flagstaff or Sedona but if you are in Camp Verde you are just about there anyway. There is a small trail below that can be walked to get good views looking up some good photographs can be had.
A second dwelling crumbled and collapsed many years ago and so great were the fears for the castle that guided tours inside were finally stopped in 1951, so you cannot go into the ruins but interior pictures are available in the visitor centre and museum. Interesting plant life can be seen on a walk below the castle like the Englemann Prickly Pear that the Navajo use to make a rose coloured dye from its fruit, and the Banana Yucca that the Hopi use the juice from this plant as a varnish for their Kachina Dolls. Seven miles north east of the ruin is Montezuma Well a sink hole made from limestone from a collapsed underground cavern which is over fifty feet deep, the well is still used to this day. About 1400AD the Sinagua moved away from the area never to return but their incredible creation still stands proudly today. Theodore Roosevelt declared Montezuma Castle a National Monument in 1906. Return from Montezuma Castle to Painted Desert
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