ELIZABETH EXLINE 2022-08-30 11:26:30
Arizona may be among the fastest growing states in the country, but it maintains a healthy respect for its past. Look no further than these five destinations to see why. STEP BACK IN TIME Located on First Mesa (there are three mesas) in northwest Arizona, Walpi is considered to be one of the oldest Hopi villages. It was established in the 13th century and moved to its current location some 300 feet above the valley in 1680. Today, many of the homes are used for public ceremonies; visitors can see firsthand the sandstone buildings whose walls are still hand-plastered by local women. Some modern materials have been introduced to the structures, but running water and electricity remain conspicuously absent. GREAT HEIGHTS As one of the first four National Monuments to be established, Montezuma Castle in Verde Valley continues to captivate visitors more than 100 years after its designation. Guests haven’t been permitted to scale the 5-story cliffside structure since 1951, but they can walk the easy, 0.3-mile trail to get a good view of what the Sinagua people once called home. If the castle leaves you wanting more, zip over to Montezuma’s Well just 11 miles away to explore trails, historic buildings and the eponymous, pond-like body of water. Tonto National Monument in Roosevelt features two Salado-style cliff dwellings dating back 700 years ago. This site tells the story of the Salado people who resided in this part of Arizona. Learn more about this archaeological treasure at VisitArizona.com/ places/parks-monuments/ tonto-national-monument. PEOPLE OF THE PUEBLO Like Montezuma castle, Tuzigoot is a National Monument in Verde Valley whose architecture transports visitors back in time. (In Tuzigoot’s case, that’s the year 1,000.) Unlike Montezuma Castle, however, Tuzigoot is a 110-room village built on top of a hill. Traverse the 0.5-mile trail to explore the pueblo and the 96-acre Tavasci Marsh before dropping in at the Tuzigoot museum located inside the visitor center. The center houses a 3,000-strong collection of artifacts, but the building is worth observing, too: It was built in the 1930s as an homage to traditional Tuzigoot architecture with stone walls, plaster and a viga-and-latilla ceiling. For more information on tribes in the area, visit the Verde Valley Archaeology Center in Camp Verde, which celebrated its grand opening in March 2022. A PETROGLYPH IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS Before Instagram, before photography, before the old masters, there were…petroglyphs. Okay, so that chronology may be a little spotty, but the carved images of Painted Rock Petroglyph Site still strike a chord with visitors. The site, which resides some 90 miles southwest of Phoenix, showcases approximately 800 images that were etched into basalt boulders by indigenous people centuries ago. The adjacent campground includes 59 campsites and panoramic views of the Painted Rock Mountains, Oatman Mountain and, after sunset, those starry desert skies.
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