Montezuma Castle National Monument, Arizona

Montezuma Castle National Monument is an ancient archaeological site of the Pre-Columbian Sinagua people in Arizona. Despite its name, it is unrelated to the Aztec emperor Montezuma II. The site was so named due to a mistaken belief that Montezuma II was involved in the construction.

Montezuma Castle National Monument is located near Camp Verde. The pre-historic dwellings are believed to have been built around AD 700 by ancestors of the Hopi clans of Native Americans who continued to make pilgrimage trips to the site for religious ceremonies.

Montezuma Castle National Monument, Arizona
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Montezuma_Castle_NM-27527-3.jpg
Author: Ken Thomas


Montezuma Castle is one of the best preserved cliff dwellings in North America. According to scientific records, the Sinagua people is believed to have inhabited it until around AD 1425. There is no clear explanation as to why they abandoned the site, but warfare and drought were possible reasons. A natural rocky overhang provide the dwelling with shade and shelter from the rain.

The prehistoric dwellings of Montezuma Castle was made a national monument on 8 December, 1906. It is one of the four original sites which made the list of National Monuments following the passage of the Antiquities Act by President Theodore Roosevelt.

Visiting Montezuma Castle National Monument, Arizona

Montezuma Castle is easily reached from Interstate 17 Highway. It is located north of Phoenix, beyond Camp Verde. Follow the I-17 out of Phoenix to Exit 289 then south on W. Middle Verde Rd. Continue south until junction with Montezuma Castle Rd on your left. Turn left on Montezuma Castle Rd. Now drive east passing two traffic circles to arrive at the national monument.

Entrance to the national monument is via its visitor center (Phone 929 567 3322), opened daily 8:00 am to 6:00 pm June to August and 8:00 am to 5:00 pm September to May. Closed on Christmas Day. Entrance fee is $5 per adult aged 16 and over, valid for 7 days.

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