Life in the Cliffs

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Anchors

Gaze through the windows of the past when you visit this unforgettable prehistoric example of housing ingenuity, hidden away in the stark and spellbinding Arizona desert.
About

Montezuma Castle Information

Located in Camp Verde, Arizona, Montezuma Castle National Monument protects the well-preserved living spaces of the Sinagua Indians.

Located in Camp Verde, Arizona, Montezuma Castle National Monument protects the well-preserved living spaces of the Sinagua Indians.

“If you spend enough time in the desert, you will hear it speak.”
— Nnedi Okorafor

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Park Information

Like an ancient five-story apartment building, Montezuma Castle towers above the desert below, a stone-and-mortar marvel of early architectural engineering. Experts have determined that the Castle was built over three centuries and provided shelter for the Sinagua Indians during flood seasons. However, contrary to the belief of the European-Americans who discovered the structure, there’s no historical connection to the Aztec emperor for whom it’s named—the structure was abandoned more than 40 years prior to his birth.  

Today, approximately 350,000 people per year visit the Castle, browse the museum, and stroll through the scenic sycamore grove. The towering trees offer welcome shade and a critical habitat for hundreds of native plants and animals.

Making an Impact

NPF's Impact in the Parks

Program

Restoration Efforts on the Castle for Sinagua Indians

This five-story, 20-room cliff dwelling nestled into a limestone recess high above Beaver Creek served as a "high-rise apartment building" for prehistoric Sinagua Indians over 600 years ago.

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Nearby Parks

Tuzigoot National Monument

Tuzigoot National Monument

Tuzigoot National Monument in the Verde Valley, is an ancient village, or pueblo, built by the Sinagua people, who were farmers and artists.

Walnut Canyon National Monument

Arizona's Walnut Canyon National Monument marks the former site of the Sinagua society and attracts hikers with its geology, ecosystem, and wildlife.
Image of Wupatki National Monument red, stone ruins in arid desert landscape

Wupatki National Monument

Wupatki National Monument is among the largest Pueblos on the Colorado Plateau. The dwelling was home to up to 100 people when Wupatki was as a cultural center.