Montezuma's Castle

This is the view of Montezuma Castle from the pathway below near Verde Valley, Arizona. Despite the name, it’s not a castle, and Montezuma never lived here (19th-century explorers mistakenly thought it was built by the Aztecs!). This 20-room high-rise was actually engineered by the Sinagua tribe around 900 years ago. They were master builders and I found it interesting that they positioned the home under a natural cliff overhang that perfectly shades the structure from the harsh summer sun, but allows the lower winter sun to shine in and warm the rooms…very early daylight study.

My wife, our dog (Honey), and I got to explore the grounds for free using our America the Beautiful pass. An unforgettable stop to see one of North America’s best-preserved cliff dwellings and check off yet another National Monument.