Listed on the National Historic Places Register Tuzigoot is a National Monument near Clarkdale, Arizona. It is a pueblo of 110 rooms built on an outcrop above the Verde river floodplain. The stone masonry rooms do not have doors instead they used ladders to enter the rooms from the opening in the roofs. Tuzigoot in Apache means "crooked water"- named after a small meandering river nearby.
Located on the way to Clarkdale Heritage Railroad depot, the monument is worth a visit if you have an hour to spend on Sinagua Indian history. The 3-storey pueblo is believed to be built during 11th century AD on a hilltop and those people abandoned it by 1400. Half the site has just crumbling walls.
Visitor center built in the similar style as the ruins, houses a museum and a book store. The museum displays artifacts found during excavations in the site and also information about the Sinagua Indian lifestyle.
Nearby (4-miles) is Dead Horse Ranch State Park if interested in camping near Clarkdale or Cottonwood. I haven't been there but seems interesting.
Though it is not one of the very interesting and exciting National Monuments maintained by the NPS, surrounding marsh is important for the migratory birds. Common birds are in abundance. However, I was amazed to learn how the ancient people looked for water sources and built life around it. But, it is a mystery why did they abandon the beautiful dwellings and where did they go?
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If you want pictures please ask me :)
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Scrapbook- A Travel Blog by Kusum Sanu is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Isn't it amazing in the Southwest how you can just stumble over stuff like this -- not much publicity... there is just so much of this kind of thing. I'd love to go back to that whole area now that I have a digital camera with me all the time and also just to go birding...wasn't real interested in birds yet back when we spent more time in that area.
ReplyDeleteYeah! Southwest is full of surprises. Spotting birds and small mammals and reptiles is interesting but difficult in that harsh hot weather!
DeleteHi! I looked your many posts and enjoyed very much. I wanted to go to National park tour in USA. But I can not find a chance. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks Minoru!
DeleteIt is sometimes interesting to visit those not so popular places. Nice one.
ReplyDeleteThanks Niranjan! Yes, it is interesting to know there are places unknown yet interesting!
Deleteinteresting monument,just abandoned like that.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is!
DeleteInteresting .... think it´s a lovely place to visit too!
ReplyDeleteIf you are nearby it is worth a visit.
DeleteHow very pretty!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ladyfi.
DeleteThe pictures you have shared here are truly amazing. Kusum, you seem to be a great traveller. The national monument of Arizona is surely a great location for passionate travellers. Hope I get an opportunity to visit it soon. Thanks for sharing the creative blog and lovely pictures.
ReplyDelete