Montezuma Castle National Monument

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This five-level, 20 room cliff dwelling nestled into a limestone recess high above Beaver Creek served as a "high-rise apartment building" for prehistoric Sinagua Indians over 600 years ago. It is one of the best preserved cliff dwellings in North America.

Erroneously named for the 16th century Aztec ruler, the site is a classic example of the last phase of southern Sinagua occupation of the Verde Valley.

Centennial Logo

A milestone in the administrative history and stewardship of Montezuma Castle will be observed on December 8, 2006: one hundred years ago, President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed the site one of the United State’s first National Monuments. The legislation that granted the president sole authority to designate such areas of significant historic and scientific interest is the Antiquities Act of 1906. Signed into law on June 8, 1906, the Antiquities Act has been praised as the most significant piece of legislation to help preserve the rapidly disappearing cultural and natural resources on public lands.

		Montezuma Castle Visitor Center The entrance to the visitor center and trail to the Castle

		Historic Castle Picture Up until the 1950's visitors climbed up the wooden ladders to walk through the prehistoric site.

Write to

Montezuma Castle National Monument
P. O. Box 219
Camp Verde, Arizona 86322

E-mail Us

Phone

Visitor Center
(928) 567-3322

Park Headquarters
(928) 567-5276

Fax

(928) 567-3597

Climate

Summers generally hot and dry, with mild winters.

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Montezuma Castle National Monument Information