Exploring the Southwest, you can visit thousands of sites that provide a well-rounded glimpse of cultures and eras of prehistory and history. One of the most dramatic red rock Native American sites, dating back to around 1100 AD, is Montezuma Castle. The five-story dwelling is notched within a preexisting cave in a limestone cliff, protected from rain and a flash flood-susceptible creek bed below.
Built by the ancient Sinagua people, who inhabited the Verde Valley area from the 12th to 15th century, the cliff dwelling features ladders that allowed tribe members to navigate the various levels. While the literal meaning of Sinagua is “without water,” those constructing the dwelling selected the site specifically because it was above Beaver Creek, which still flows year-round.
The area, featuring sycamore and cottonwood trees, was a magnet for wildlife in the arid high desert. After the Sinagua culture departed, the valley emerged as a major trade route shared by dozens of tribes, including the Apache cultures of the south and the Pueblo cultures of the north. Canal irrigation was ultimately used to grow crops such as squash, beans, and corn. The name Montezuma, affixed to the National Monument established in 1906, refers to an Aztec ruler who had no relationship with the inhabitants of the American Southwest.
The Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe, New Mexico, was erected in 1610 and represents the nation’s oldest building in continuous public use over the centuries. According to historical records, Spanish families moved to the area around 1604 and created a colonial government center known as casas reales, encompassing the governor’s residence and various civil government buildings. The building was originally constructed fortresslike and may have encompassed two stories. These precautions proved important, as Po’pay, a religious leader of the region’s Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo and persecuted for his beliefs, led an uprising in 1680 that left 400 people dead. Thousands of survivors of the Pueblo Revolt streamed into the palace’s walled plaza. Following a nine-day siege, these families were allowed to leave for El Paso del Norte down the Camino Real.
Over the next dozen years, the Pueblo people existed without Spanish rule. They turned the palace, with its expansive gathering spaces, into a traditional multi-story Puebloan dwelling with small rooms. In 1692, the Spanish returned, with 10 Puebloans dying in battle and another 400 inhabitants being forced to serve a decade each in Spanish households. In 1821, the palace became a Mexican administrative center following independence from Spain, lasting for 25 years until New Mexico became a United States territory. For six decades, the building was used by various American territorial governors, with Governor Lew Wallace famously authoring the novel Ben-Hur in the palace study. In 1909, the Puebloan Revival structure, featuring a thick adobe wall and a wraparound portal, or covered porch, was turned into a museum.
Visitors can also explore sites such as Whiskey Row in Prescott, Arizona, for a glimpse at life in the Old West. This well-preserved area of old downtown gained its name and reputation for various saloons, which met the needs of miners, gamblers, outlaws, prospectors, and cowboys. When the original district burned down in a major fire in 1900, the actual bar from the iconic Palace Saloon was rescued and installed in a rebuilt saloon that, like its neighbors, was constructed from fire-safe brick instead of wood. Today, this area preserves the gold rush atmosphere of more than a century ago while featuring an eclectic array of restaurants, bars, and art galleries.
