The ancient and extraordinary cliff home of Montezuma is preserved at Montezuma Castle National Monument in central Arizona, USA. It was not constructed by the Aztec monarch Montezuma but rather by the native Sinagua people about 700 years ago, despite the name’s implication otherwise. The Sinagua’s creativity as builders is on full display in this five-story limestone building set within a limestone alcove.

The house was probably used as a safe haven for a group of people to live in together, away from the elements and potential dangers. The arid desert climate has helped keep the site in astonishingly good condition, despite the fact that it was abandoned some 600 years ago. In 1906, it became one of the first national monuments to preserve this special piece of American heritage.

The Montezuma Castle National Monument in Arizona sheds light on the creativity and flexibility of pre-Columbian peoples and provides an intriguing peek into their way of life. The memorial serves as a reminder of the value of conserving indigenous cultures and a tribute to their enduring legacy.