Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff, tells a story of ingenuity, survival and ultimately, prosperity in an unforgiving desert landscape.
Montezuma Castle in the Cliff
Montezuma Castle was built in an alcove about 90 feet up a cliff. This protects the dwelling from flooding.
Window in Montezuma Castle
Visitors to Montezuma Castle usually only get to see the dwelling from the outside. This view shows what the Sinagua might have seen.
Storage Room at Montezuma Castle
The Sinagua used space efficiently - here a storage room sits in a short cliff space below the main Castle.
Montezuma Well
Montezuma Well provided a stable source of water to the Sinagua.
Montezuma Well Overlook
From the overlook, visitors can view some of the dwellings alongside Montezuma Well.