Tanya's Daily Scoop
CURRENTLY TRAVELING IN: SEDONA, AZ
Cliff Dwellings and more
Good Day Everyone & GREETINGS from the beautiful Red Rock Country of Sedona, Arizona!
Me and my girlie arrived here yesterday after just under a 7 hour desert drive from Southern California and across the Arizona border - where we also lost an hour being that most of Arizona is in the Mountain Time Zone and does not observe daylight saving time (except for the Navajo Nation).
So with the exception of a couple of pit-stops along the way, I just kept on driving on until we reached Montezuma's Castle which is located in Camp Verde, and only 25 minutes from where I am right now.
Montezuma's Castle
So with the exception of a couple of pit-stops along the way, I just kept on driving on until we reached Montezuma's Castle which is located in Camp Verde, and only 25 minutes from where I am right now.
Montezuma's Castle
WHAT'S WITH THE NAME?:
The name "Montezuma Castle" was coined by early white settlers in the mistaken belief that the ruins were associated with Montezuma. (Montezuma was the ruler of the Aztec empire from 1502 to 1520, the beginning of the Spanish conquest of Mexico.)
The name "Montezuma Castle" was coined by early white settlers in the mistaken belief that the ruins were associated with Montezuma. (Montezuma was the ruler of the Aztec empire from 1502 to 1520, the beginning of the Spanish conquest of Mexico.)
DID YOU KNOW: Montezuma Castle was constructed and occupied during the period 1200 to 1450.
WILL YOUR HOUSE LOOK THIS GOOD IN 600 YEARS?
Inhabited by the Sinagua for approximately three hundred years. Abandoned between 1400 and 1450 AD, a period that marks the collapse of all the major civilizations in the southwest, including the Sinagua, Hohokam, Salado, Mogollon, and Anasazi.
WILL YOUR HOUSE LOOK THIS GOOD IN 600 YEARS?
Inhabited by the Sinagua for approximately three hundred years. Abandoned between 1400 and 1450 AD, a period that marks the collapse of all the major civilizations in the southwest, including the Sinagua, Hohokam, Salado, Mogollon, and Anasazi.
Cosette and I strolled the grounds and took in the well preserved ruins, the amazing blue sky and the view, before heading into the visitors center to explore some more.
Taken from the nps.com site:
On December 8, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt celebrated the passage of the Antiquities Act by declaring four sites of historic and cultural significance as our nation's first National Monuments. Among these was Montezuma Castle, which the President identified as a place "of the greatest ethnological value and scientific interest." Although very few original artifacts remained in the structure due to intensive looting of the site, Roosevelt's decision assured the continued protection of one of the best preserved prehistoric cliff dwellings in North America.
Montezuma Castle National Monument quickly became a destination for America's first car-bound tourists. In 1933, "Castle A", a 45-50 room, pueblo ruin was excavated, uncovering a wealth of artifacts and greatly enhanced our understanding of the Sinagua people who inhabited this riparian "oasis" along Beaver Creek for over 400 years.
Early visitors to the monument were allowed access to the structure by climbing a series of ladders up the side of the limestone cliffs. However, due to extensive damage to this valuable cultural landmark, public access of the ruins was discontinued in 1951.
I kinda wish that those ladders were still up and that we could've toured rooms.
But since not, we continued our journey and headed into Sedona at the most beautiful time of day when the light was hitting the red rocks just perfectly.
On December 8, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt celebrated the passage of the Antiquities Act by declaring four sites of historic and cultural significance as our nation's first National Monuments. Among these was Montezuma Castle, which the President identified as a place "of the greatest ethnological value and scientific interest." Although very few original artifacts remained in the structure due to intensive looting of the site, Roosevelt's decision assured the continued protection of one of the best preserved prehistoric cliff dwellings in North America.
Montezuma Castle National Monument quickly became a destination for America's first car-bound tourists. In 1933, "Castle A", a 45-50 room, pueblo ruin was excavated, uncovering a wealth of artifacts and greatly enhanced our understanding of the Sinagua people who inhabited this riparian "oasis" along Beaver Creek for over 400 years.
Early visitors to the monument were allowed access to the structure by climbing a series of ladders up the side of the limestone cliffs. However, due to extensive damage to this valuable cultural landmark, public access of the ruins was discontinued in 1951.
I kinda wish that those ladders were still up and that we could've toured rooms.
But since not, we continued our journey and headed into Sedona at the most beautiful time of day when the light was hitting the red rocks just perfectly.
We didn't get to do any hiking, and so I switched a few things around and after the sun had set we headed into "downtown" to do some shopping.
Strolling in and out of store after store, Cosette was on a roll with finding gifts left and right, but she also got tired and asked that we head back to the car and call it a day.
And so we did, and found our way to our resort, enjoyed a lovey dinner and relaxed the rest of the night before falling into slumber.
Today is definitely a hiking day and now it's about time that we put our boots on and head out.
Come back tomorrow and experience all that we do today in the Daily SCOOP. I'll be looking for ya!
I'm outta here,
-T
And so we did, and found our way to our resort, enjoyed a lovey dinner and relaxed the rest of the night before falling into slumber.
Today is definitely a hiking day and now it's about time that we put our boots on and head out.
Come back tomorrow and experience all that we do today in the Daily SCOOP. I'll be looking for ya!
I'm outta here,
-T
