Thursday, April 16, 2009

Montezuma Castle

It is not a Castle although there is a great magnificence to this prehostoric American Indian structure. The Aztec emperor Moctezuma II was never here, the Castle was abandonded at least a century before he was born.

Rising 100 feet above the Beaver Creek floodplain, Montezuma Castle is a testimony to the resilience and innovations of a people called Sinagua" named after the Spanish term for the San Francisco Peaks, the "Sierra Sin Agua", "the mountain without water"

The 19 rooms could have housed 34 to 50 people, conserving precious farmland near the creek. Entrance to most areas was usually from a hole in the roof, a ladder made access easier

There is not too much left of the Castle, but the drive from Flagstaff to it is worth it. The country side has a lot of mountains and beautiful valleys.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures I took of the Castle.

On our way back to Williams, AZ we ran into a snow storm and it snowed all the way back. Even after we got back to Williams the snow continued till early evening

Tomorrow we're heading to Winslow, AZ to see the Meteor Crater. Pictures to follow.

1 comment:

LakeConroePenny,TX said...

Boondocking takes on a new meaning when one thinks about how they lived up there with no running water, propane cook stoves, or toilets.
Happy Trails, Penny, TX