On December 8, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt celebrated the passage of the Antiquities Act by declaring four sites of historic and cultural significance as our nation's first National Monuments. Among these was Montezuma Castle, which the President identified as a place "of the greatest ethnological value and scientific interest." Although very few original artifacts remained in the structure due to intensive looting of the site, Roosevelt's decision assured the continued protection of one of the best preserved prehistoric cliff dwellings in North America.

used in this tour.

Credits: This tour was created by 2019 Montezuma Castle Artist in Residence Darius Nabors (www.59in59.com). A special thanks to the National Park Service for providing the educational materials