Thursday, January 28, 2016

Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well




While doing research of other places to visit within driving distance of  Scottsdale, Arizona, we came upon two spots that intrigued our interest--  Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well.  The National Park Service maintains these special places for generations to enjoy.  We also visited Sedona on this day and I will be sharing that beautiful place with you soon.




Montezuma Castle is located in the Verde Valley and was home to the Sinagua.  Prior to them, hunters and gatherers lived in this valley for thousands of years.  Agriculture and architecture emerged when the Hohokam and Northern Sinagua lived on this land.

Sinagua farmers built a five story twenty room dwelling around 1100-1300.




This cliff dwelling is one hundred feet above ground level.  Early American settlers thought this was Aztec and therefore named it Montezuma Castle! 










 As we meandered along the walkway in the valley, two hawks were circling above.




The valley is home to Beaver Creek that provided essential water for crops and for the people.






This area is so peaceful and cool with lovely vegetation and a cooling breeze from Beaver Creek.




After leaving Montezuma Castle we went to Sedona (that I will share later) and then onto Montezuma Well.

Just eighty yards from the Ranger Station up a walkway on a very hot afternoon we are amazed at  the sight that is before us!




Up the hill a little ways we climb over flat rocks to see the huge well.




This beautiful oasis in the desert is quite surprising!  Native Americans lived and worked in this area and considered it sacred and still do.




It's difficult to tell, but this body of water contains over 15 million gallons of water!  How can this be in an area that barely gets 13 inches of rain a year?  More than 10,000 years ago the Well's water fell as rain and snow atop the Mogollom Rim.  It has dripped through the rocks and through the years found its way to the cavern!  Water still flows into the Well every day!  New water finds its way (1.5 million gallons) each day!

As we walked around the edge we view ancient cliff dwellings.  We learned that the Hohokam probably lived here. They learned to use the water from the well to irrigate corn, beans and squash.  They made canals here thousands of years ago!  This is just amazing to me!






By the 1100's the Sinagua began building small dwellings in the cliffs.  They had more than 30 rooms along the rim.




In the 1400's most of the natives has moved to other places.  The rooms stood empty.  Descendants of the builders of these cliffs still return to this sacred place.  The Hopi, the Zuni, and the Yavapai still pass down to their generations oral histories of this well and its importance to their heritage. The Apache also have great reverence for this area.






Montezuma Well has been a surprising place to visit.  I learned so much about ancient people that I knew existed, but never really studied.  What a glorious place!












26 comments:

  1. Martha Ellen, I am as amazed as you about that well! I really needed the "message" in your post this morning. The music you chose helped it flow right into me. :-)

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    1. Cathy, the well is a hauntingly beautiful place that touched me and it makes me happy you heard the message! ♥

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  2. So very interesting, Martha Ellen. Makes me want to go visit if we get back to that area again. The well is amazing!

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    1. Dotsie, if you ever get the chance to visit Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well, you will never forget it! ♥

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  3. Your posts are making me want to take a road trip to the Southwest! I haven't been there in years. Those cliff dwellings are the most interesting.

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    1. Judy, when we decided to go to Arizona, it had been years since our last visit. We learned so much about the ancient people that roamed this land. The cliff dwellings that dot the area certainly point to the hardiness of the human being. ♥

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  4. So beautiful, Martha Ellen! Over the years, we have stopped to admire Montezuma Castle each time we drive to Sedona. Thank you so much for sharing the story of Montezuma Well. I can't wait to visit this special place! I just love traveling along with you on your wonderful adventures! Happy Weekend, my friend! ♡Dawn@Petals.Paper.SimpleThymes

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    1. Dawn, it makes me happy to know you have been to Montezuma Castle! I felt such a peace as we walked through the Verde Valley by Beaver Creek. I know you will enjoy the marvel of Montezuma Well. Thank you so much for joining me as we travel. It means a lot to me! Enjoy your weekend, dear Dawn! ♥

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  5. Morning Mary Ellen, you have me AZ Dreaming & Drooling for a trip back there...your post along with the fact that this past weekend I went to a travel show with my daughter while the guys checked out the outdoor sports show, & ended up with a bag & a head full of "I want to go there's"....has me this close to booking a trip....lol....love the part about the gas....I had vision of the scene from wild hogs when they ran out of gas...funny now but it wouldn't have been if it did happen....we went there too but took a tour so someone else had to worry about the gas...Did you get the chance to try a Navajo taco? They were delish....was also wondering if you heard or got the chance to see the Mystery Castle near Phoenix...amazing place & story behind it...Looking forward to more AZ posts...just might make me take a trip.....Have a great weekend... :-)

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    1. Hi Cynthia, we packed quite a bit into our week in Arizona. We missed having a Navajo taco as well as the Mystery Castle. I must admit to never having heard of either. Sounds like you need to book a trip soon. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment!♥

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  6. When I was a child, we visited the cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde. I will never forget it. At the time, you could actually go right up to the doorways because they had rigged up a make-shift stairway. That would never happen now! How very different this trip is from your visit to Britain, in a fascinating way. I grew up in the West, it is like another world in many aspects. In these places, it is as if time has stood still, and you can feel the past all around you.

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    1. Jeri, that must have been so interesting as a child to go into a cliff dwelling! You are so right, the Southwest is another world into itself! It's another world from Va and for sure England! I like what you said about feeling the past all around you---indeed one can if they are still. ♥

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  7. They must have been very strong people. I can not fathom living in such a physically challenging place. Very interesting and another place I missed entirely.

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    1. Vee, I agree, those that walked before us make me feel quite spoiled! ♥

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  8. Oh Martha Ellen, what a beautiful post! You know I have been to Arizona, but have not visited the Montezuma Castle. It is amazing. Great post!
    Thank you so much for your kind words about my purses and taking the time to visit.
    blessings,
    Penny

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    1. Thank you, Penny! We really enjoyed our visit. I have a greater appreciation for the southwest and the people who lived there so long ago. Blessings to you! ♥

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  9. Well you have done it again!! I want you for my travel agent!! :-D
    Actually I travel wonderfully along with you and Grayden!! Thank you for always delightfully bringing us along!! :-)
    Love you lots ! XX OO Linnie

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    1. Dearest Linnie, you are so kind! We love having you with us on our travels! It means the world to me! Love you too, dear one! XOXO ♥

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  10. Oooooo, this is such an interesting place to visit. And I love that the parrot and the bear resided there. The surroundings look like dry dessert, but looks beautiful at the same time. God's nature is excellent in every way.

    Have a peaceful Sunday, Martha Ellen.

    ~Sheri

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    1. Sheri, it is indeed the desert, but with pockets of cool spots in the valley and of course by the creek and the well. We were in awe over the beauty of Arizona. Yes, God's nature is excellent in every way! Enjoy your afternoon, Sheri! ♥

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  11. I really enjoyed seeing this post, Martha Ellen! My sister her family live in AZ as well as my husband's sister and her family. We drove once to visit them and will probably do the same on a future trip --we loved all the scenery we saw along the way! Now I know to look for these interesting and sacred Native American sights!

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    1. Pat, I think you would enjoy all of the places we visited in this area. It's so different from where I've lived my whole life, but has unique beauty that is wonderful! ♥

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  12. It is fascinating that people learned to live in these places that I would have seen as inhospitable. Mankind has been given the gift of resourcefulness...and ingenuity too!

    And that huge well. Amazing!! Another gift from our Creator.

    Beautiful, fascinating places, Martha Ellen. Thank you for sharing these things with us. I'll be looking forward to your post on Sedona.

    (Thank you, too, for your sweet and encouraging post on my blog! Hugs...)

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    1. Cheryl, the desert is a harsh place that I can hardly imagine living in now with all of the modern conveniences! How spoiled am I? The gift of the well from God certainly enabled survival for ancient people. Thank you for your comments and support, dear one! ♥

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  13. What wonderful memories! Dave and I went to these places and I thoroughly astonished him when we climbed down into an Anasazi dig. I'm afraid of heights but was NOT going to miss that experience! The southwest is amazing and your travelogues are wonderful; many grateful thanks for reviving precious memories.

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    1. Wow, Sandra, that must have been an amazing experience with your sweetheart! I'm so happy these posts bring back wonderful memories of your beloved. I do hope your knee is better, dear one. ♥

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