Saturday, March 25, 2006

Tuzigoot National Monument


In addition to the cliff dwellings at Montezuma's Castle and Montezuma's Well, the Sinagua people also built the huge, 110 room pueblo that is called Tuzigoot (too-zi-goot). Like the cliff dwellings, archaeologists date the pueblo to 1000 A.D. and believe the Sinagua abandoned the area in the 1400s. The Sinagua tribes existed by growing crops and trading with other tribes as far as several hundred miles away.

The pueblo itself is three stories tall at the highest point and you are allowed to walk through the rooms. There is a small museum/visitor center and guided tours are offered throughout the day during prime tourist season. There is a walking loop that is handicap accessible, but it would be difficult for wheeled vehicles to use the Ruins Trail.

As with all National Parks, owners of the Golden Age passport get in free. A visit will only take about 45 minutes, leaving you free to continue up the road to visit Jerome.

Directions: From Interstate 17 take exit 287 and head west on Hwy. 260 into Cottonwood. Once in Cottonwood, take Main St. north to Clarkdale and follow the signs.

No comments:

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...