Montezuma Castle National Monument (Arizona)

… was established by President Theodore Roosevelt under the Antiquities Act 100 years ago today.

Montezuma Castle

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.

Montezuma Castle National Monument