Montezuma Castle National Monument

  • Ken Lund / flickr - - https://flic.kr/p/pP53Ac

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About

Montezuma Castle Information

Last used by prehistoric Sinagua Indians over 600 years ago, Montezuma Castle has been called one of the best preserved cliff dwellings in North America.

Montezuma Castle is a five-story, 20 room cliff dwelling nestled in a limestone recess high above Beaver Creek. It is a prehistoric "high-rise apartment building" used over six centuries ago.

With heightened concern over vandalism of fragile southwestern prehistoric sites, Montezuma Castle became a major factor in the nation's historic preservation movement with its proclamation as a national monument. The Castle was described in the December 1906 establishment proclamation as "of the greatest ethnological and scientific interest.

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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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