Tuzigoot National Monument

You wander around the desert outside Sedona and you're constantly amazed by all the natural formations poking up and undulating out of the landscape. Then you come upon Tuzigoot, and your eyes fly cartoon-like out of your head.

Because there, on the top of a hill sits a nine-hundred year old chunk of stone put entirely there by people. The structure contains the remnants of some 110 rooms and spans an area large enough so that a lot of the tourists pop their heads around and say "I'm good," and just head back to the visitor's center.

It's not a fair comparison, but while Europe was suffering a long, dark period of its civilization, here in the Americas, populations were thriving, and new technology of all kinds was being employed to accommodate them.

Here in the Verde River Valley, a group of people later named Sinaguan (without water), put together workable communities in some of the harshest conditions on the planet. They were all to be abandoned later -- by some accounts because of extended droughts -- but what they did here is nothing short of miraculous.

I have plenty more to show from this site, but for now, take a gander at this spreading honeycomb of brick and clay, still standing (though patched and repaired by modern caretakers) nearly a thousand years after its construction.

And renew your appreciation for the native peoples of this continent. They did not simply survive. They built and fortified and settled and grew. You may look for a culture gap between the new world and the old if you so choose.

But come to this place and you will have a hard time finding it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuzigoot_National_Monument

Pretty cool to walk around for a short visit.

No doubt as fascinating for us today as it was for the people who first lived here, the structure at Tuzigoot almost defies credibility. It sits in the middle of what you could arguably call "nowhere" and stretches for acres in all directions.

This turret on top is its crowning glory. Archeologists theorize that the chamber inside was probably used for religious services and community gatherings, though there is hardly any evidence to support it. It's not difficult to expand on that and posit that it must also have been used as a place from which to survey the valley, whether to check on the progress of the current crop or to keep an eye out for invaders. Let me say that this latter hypothesis is strictly my own, though it can hardly be original.

As I mentioned before, this is probably one of the most important historical sites of pre-Columbian North America. The Sinaguans are a mysterious people, who came and went with hardly a trace -- though several modern tribes claim them as their ancestors.

What they built in that short time is a marvel (if not a miracle), and anyone who lives here should avail themselves of the opportunity to see what was accomplished in the harsh and unforgiving desert so many centuries ago.

Bezoek Tuzigoot National Monument

Reisgids voor Clarkdale

Browse tours and tickets to explore Tuzigoot National Monument

Tours & daguitstapjes

Alle 34 activiteiten bekijken

Paardrijtochten in Sedona op Dead Horse Ranch met rivieroversteek

Privé- & gepersonaliseerde tours

Alle 17 activiteiten bekijken

Paardrijtochten in Sedona op Dead Horse Ranch met rivieroversteek

Verkozen tot beste in Sedona - inclusief proeverijen! EXPRESS PRIVÉWIJNTOUR

Gratis annulering mogelijk

Privé luxe wijntour $ 489 per groep, tot 5, $ 749 tot 10

Gratis annulering mogelijk

Wateractiviteiten

Alle 5 activiteiten bekijken

Privé EXCLUSIEVE River Kayaking tours, 4x4 UTV Ride naar de rivier

Gratis annulering mogelijk

Kajakvissen op de Verde River Cottonwood, AZ 20min van Sedona

Gratis annulering mogelijk

Populaire plekken om te bezoeken

Verde Canyon Railroad

Op vakantie in Clarkdale kun je de tentoonstellingen in Verde Canyon Railroad, een museum met een opvallend verleden, bestuderen. Tijdens je verblijf hier kun je lekker genieten van de gezellige koffiehuizen.

Pine Shadows Golf Course

Je kunt op vakantie in Cottonwood ook een keer een balletje gaan slaan op de golfbaan van Pine Shadows Golf Course. Maak een wandeling langs de rivier in deze gezinsvriendelijke omgeving of ga hier lekker paardrijden.

Jerome State Historic Park

Op vakantie in Jerome kun je de tentoonstellingen in Jerome State Historic Park, een museum met een opvallend verleden, bestuderen. Probeer de geweldige restaurants of de gezellige koffiehuizen in dit gezinsvriendelijke gebied.

Blazin' M Ranch

Maak met je gezin tijdens jullie vakantie in Cottonwood een uitstapje naar Blazin' M Ranch. In de omgeving kun je mooie wandelingen bij de rivier maken of bijvoorbeeld eens paardrijden.

Burning Tree Cellars

Probeer op vakantie in Cottonwood eens iets nieuws met een proeverij bij Burning Tree Cellars. Wandel hier langs de rivier of geniet gewoon van de wijnmakerijen.

Arizona Stronghold Vineyards

Probeer op vakantie in Cottonwood eens iets nieuws met een proeverij bij Arizona Stronghold Vineyards. Wandel hier langs de rivier of geniet gewoon van de wijnmakerijen.

Beste hotelaanbiedingen in Tuzigoot National Monument

Controleer de beschikbaarheid van hotels in de buurt van Tuzigoot National Monument

Taawaki Inn - Cottonwood, an Ascend Collection Hotel

441 South Broadway Clarkdale AZ

Summer Seclusion near Sedona

Clarkdale AZ

Boho 1-bedroom Suite in Luxury Resort

Clarkdale AZ

The Tavern Hotel

904 N Main St Cottonwood AZ

The Iron Horse Inn

1034 N Main St. Cottonwood AZ

De Cactus Pad, een bestemming woning in de historische binnenstad van Cottonwood

Cottonwood AZ

The Cactus Blossom: Perfect off Main St. Retreat for Wine Tasting & Exploring

Cottonwood AZ

Main Street Loft (Luxury 2nd Floor Condo)

Cottonwood AZ

Bootlegger's Loft / Luxury 2 Bedroom, 2 Full Bathroom Condo

Cottonwood AZ

all 537 accommodaties bekijken in Tuzigoot National Monument

Laagste prijs per nacht gevonden in de afgelopen 24 uur op basis van een verblijf van 1 nacht voor 2 volwassenen. Prijzen en beschikbaarheid kunnen altijd wijzigen. Mogelijk gelden er extra voorwaarden.