Scenic USA - Arizona

Each day Scenic USA presents a new and interesting photo feature from somewhere in the United States. Chosen from a wide variety
of historic sites, city scenes, backcountry byways, points of interest and America's best parklands, this site offers the viewer hundreds
of unique vacation destinations and photographic subjects. Each feature is coupled with a brief explanation. For further detailed
information, links to other sites are provided, but are never to be considered an endorsement.

Wupatki National Monument

Photos by Rob Jones
Rob's Wupatki Walkabout Report

Wupatki National Monument Pueblo      Northern Arizona is covered in fascinating ancient pueblo sites and archeological ruins. One of the most recent and largest site in the state flourished about 800 years ago. Although no longer physically inhabited, today's Hopi people believe that Wupatki is still guarded by spirits of Sinagua people who have long passed.
     Today, the Wupatki National Monument covers 56 square miles of high desert just outside Flagstaff, where a population of several thousand Sinagua lived, farmed and built incredible pueblo structures. Just a few hundred years before Columbus arrived in North America, the Wupati complex was the tallest, largest and most influential pueblo in the Colorado Plateau.
     Although the area was once of the driest and warmest Wupatki National Monument Petroglyphs locations in the regions, archeologists believe that ash deposits from an eruption of Sunset volcano nearby retained moisture in the soil, allowing crops of beans, squash, corn and cotton through the mid 13th century.
     By 1250, the Sinagua people moved on, leaving behind evidence of trade, pottery shards, petroglyphs, great kivas, and masonry dwellings. Park trails lead to Lomami, Box Canyon, Wovoka, Citadel, and Nalakihu pueblos. The park service suggests touring these five Pueblos will take a few hours.

   Plan Your Visit - NPS