No matter where in Arizona you are, an ancient ruin is likely not far away. Few, however, are as well-preserved as Tuzigoot National Monument, a 110-room pueblo built by the Sinagua people nearly 1,000 years ago. Take a look:

Perched high atop a stone ridge just outside of Clarkdale, Tuzigoot National Monument is a multi-story pueblo ruin 120 feet above the Verde River floodplain.
Google/Lyne Cave
It was built by the Sinagua people between 1125 and 1400 CE and is the largest and most well-preserved of all the Sinagua structures.
The name "Tuzigoot" is Tonto Apache for "crooked waters," a term referring to the nearby Pecks Lake. This small reservoir is one of many bends in the Verde River.
Google/Cobalt Gomez
Traverse a paved walkway leading up to the ruins, stopping along the way to read informational plaques.
Google/Thorsten Diel
You'll walk away not only more knowledgeable, but also with a newfound appreciation for the cultures that influenced the development of Arizona.

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The pueblo boasts a whopping 110 rooms, but very few doors. Instead, the Sinagua people entered from below, ascending ladders and climbing into trapdoor-like openings on the roofs.
Wikimedia Commons/Burley Packwood
You'll notice the structure is tallest in the middle and gradually loses height as it unfurls. This was done purposefully, as the central area is thought to have been used for public functions.
Wikimedia Commons/Marine 69-71
Visitors can walk right up to the dwellings and enjoy a firsthand look at how the inhabitants lived so many years ago.
Wikimedia Commons/Marine 69-71
On your way out, don't forget to stop by the gift shop and peruse the ancient artifacts in the small, yet comprehensive museum!
Marvel at the impeccable craftsmanship required to erect a monument that would remain standing after almost a millennium.
Wikimedia Commons/Cathy Cline
Equally awe-inspiring are the sweeping panoramic views of the Valley that promise to take your breath away no matter the season.

Visit the monument’s website or Facebook page to learn more.

Have you ever visited the Tuzigoot National Monument? If so, we’d love to hear all the details of your experience! Let us know how it went, and check out our previous article for another incredibly well-preserved ancient ruin: There’s A Hike In Arizona That Leads You Straight To An Abandoned Village

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Tuzigoot National Monument, Tuzigoot Road, Clarkdale, AZ, USA