Arizona: Montezuma Castle

South of Sedona is the Montezuma Castle National Monument. The Southern Sinagua farmers built a twenty room dwelling here sometime between 1100 and 1300. (Restored.)

Early American settlers were amazed at the structure and assumed it was Aztec in origin, naming it Montezuma Castle.

There were also a number of less impressive dwellings in the nearby cliffs.

The Southern Sinagua had migrated away from the area by the early 1400s, for reasons unknown.

The nearby Wet Beaver Creek provided the water for their farming.

This tarantula was by its nest close to the paved trail.

There were a few lizards sunning themselves too.

There is a very informative visitor's center and the stop was enjoyable.