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.

Flowers of the Hedgehog Cactus, flowering in the museum garden.

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Activities

Clarkdale travel guide

Tours & day trips

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Clarkdale: Verde Canyon Railway Train Ticket

Free cancellation available

Private & custom tours

See all 18 activities

Spiritual Tours Vortex Tours

Free cancellation available

Water activities

See all 9 activities

From Cottonwood: Guided Kayaking Tour on the Verde River

Free cancellation available

Wildlife & nature

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Kayak FISHING Down The Verde River Full Day 20 min from Sedona

Free cancellation available

Popular places to visit

Tourist on Train Through Verde Canyon in Arizona

Verde Canyon Railroad

You can browse the exhibits at Verde Canyon Railroad, a museum with a storied past, during your travels to Clarkdale. While you're here, you can savour the cosy cafes.

Early evening on a golf course, view from the fairway

Pine Shadows Golf Course

Enjoy a round of golf in Cottonwood at Pine Shadows Golf Course. Stroll along the riverfront in this family-friendly area or seek out the horse riding.

Jerome Arizona Ghost Town mine car and sign

Jerome State Historic Park

You can browse the exhibits at Jerome State Historic Park, a museum with a story of its own, during your holiday in Jerome. Visit the cosy cafes or top-notch restaurants in this family-friendly area.

Blazin' M Ranch

Take the family on an outing to Blazin' M Ranch during your trip to Cottonwood. Amble around the area's riverfront or seek out its horse riding.

Burning Tree Cellars

You can enjoy a tasting or tour at Burning Tree Cellars during your travels to Cottonwood. Stroll along the area's riverfront or simply enjoy its wineries.

Arizona Stronghold Vineyards

You can enjoy a tasting or tour at Arizona Stronghold Vineyards during your travels to Cottonwood. Stroll along the area's riverfront or simply enjoy its wineries.

Top Tuzigoot National Monument Hotel Deals

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Taawaki Inn - Cottonwood, an Ascend Collection Hotel

441 South Broadway Clarkdale AZ

The Tavern Hotel

904 N Main St Cottonwood AZ

Lux Verde Hotel

301 W. SR 89-A Cottonwood AZ

The Iron Horse Inn

1034 N Main St. Cottonwood AZ

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Cottonwood

565 SOUTH 6TH STREET Cottonwood AZ

Hampton Inn & Suites Cottonwood, Az

650 West Mingus Avenue Cottonwood AZ

Park Hotel

921 Main St Clarkdale AZ

Cottonwood Hotel

930 N. Main St. Cottonwood AZ

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