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| Near Camp Verde in north central Arizona there is a remarkably well-preserved example of a Native American cliff dwelling. Montezuma's Castle National Monument is situated in a white rock canyon area surrounded by sycamore trees and not far from Beaver Creek. |
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| Montezuma's Castle (so named by the early settlers of the area who mistook the dwelling as Aztecan) was a five-story, 20-room abode the Sinaguan (Spanish for "without water") Indians inhabited around the 12th century A.D. It stands in a cliff recess about 100 feet above the valley. |
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| The Castle contained living and storage areas, and was probably a very safe place to live. It has withstood the ravages of time and climate for over 600 years. It is unclear why the Sinaguans abandoned their home; probably due to weather changes or conflicts with their neighbors. At any rate, Montezuma's Castle stands as an enduring monument to their lives and ingenuity. |
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| This is the lovely Beaver Creek area at the foot of Montezuma's Castle. |