Montezuma Castle NM: a Past Preserved in Stone
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Montezuma Castle NM: A Past Preserved in Stone Montezuma Castle National Monument A Past Preserved in Stone: A History of MONTEZUMA CASTLE National Monument Josh Protas ©2002, Western National Parks Association file:///C|/Web/MOCA/protas/index.htm (1 of 2) [9/7/2007 10:44:24 AM] Montezuma Castle NM: A Past Preserved in Stone CONTENTS A Past Preserved in Stone: A History of Montezuma Castle National Monument ©2002, Western National Parks Association protas/index.htm 27-Nov-2002 file:///C|/Web/MOCA/protas/index.htm (2 of 2) [9/7/2007 10:44:24 AM] Montezuma Castle NM: A Past Preserved in Stone (Contents) Montezuma Castle National Monument Contents List of Figures Cover Foreword Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1. EXPLORATIONS, IMPRESSIONS, AND EXCAVATIONS The Prehistoric Ruins of the Verde Valley in the Nineteenth Century Chapter 2. THREATS AND RESPONSES The Preservation and Protection of Ruins in the Verde Valley Chapter 3. A CHALLENGE IN PRESERVATION The Early Management of the Monument Chapter 4. THE JACKSON YEARS The Protection, Development, and Promotion of Montezuma Castle National Monument Chapter 5. MOVING ON UP The Modern Development of the Monument Chapter 6. WITHIN A CHANGING LANDSCAPE Managing the Natural Resources of the Monument Chapter 7. FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS Cultural Resource Management at the Monument file:///C|/Web/MOCA/protas/contents.htm (1 of 5) [9/7/2007 10:44:25 AM] Montezuma Castle NM: A Past Preserved in Stone (Contents) Appendix A. Montezuma Castle National Monument Annual Recreational Visitation Appendix B. 1906 Establishment Proclamation Appendix C. 1937 Proclamation Expanding Monument Boundaries Appendix D. 1943 Addition of Montezuma Well Property to the Monument Appendix E. 1959 Revision of Monument Boundaries Appendix F. 1978 Boundary Changes Index (omitted from the on-line edition) Figures Figure 1. Site location map. Figure 2. Routes of Espejo and Farfán to the mines. Figure 3. Sketch of Montezuma Well by Edward Palmer, ca. 1866. Figure 4. Picnic at Montezuma Well, ca. 1875. Figure 5. Ruins along the rim of Montezuma Well in the late 1890s. Figure 6. Sketch of Montezuma Castle from 1878. Figure 7. Picnic party in front of Montezuma Castle prior to 1897. Figure 8. Montezuma Well and cliff dwellings. Figure 9. Rothrock's advertisement for his photography studio painted at Montezuma Well. Figure 10. Montezuma Castle in 1896. file:///C|/Web/MOCA/protas/contents.htm (2 of 5) [9/7/2007 10:44:25 AM] Montezuma Castle NM: A Past Preserved in Stone (Contents) Figure 11. S. L. Palmer excavating burials from the midden on the ledge on Level 2 of the Castle. Figure 12. Montezuma Castle in the late 1890s. Figure 13. Hand-tinted postcard of Montezuma Castle. Figure 14. Hand-tinted postcard of Montezuma Well. Figure 15. Views of needed repairs at Montezuma Castle, ca. 1914. Figure 16. Weakened sections of Montezuma Castle, ca. 1916. Figure 17. Panoramic view looking westward along the face of the Castle ruins. Figure 18. Repairing the Castle walls, ca. mid-1920s. Figure 19. Shelter cabin and later monument museum. Figure 20. Castle A from the east, after the second tier of rooms was cleaned. Figure 21. Castle A ruins in the process of being cleaned. Figure 22. Proposed tunnel at Montezuma Castle. Figure 23. Stabilization plans, ca. 1938. Figure 24. Custodian Earl Jackson showing Montezuma Castle to a visitor. Figure 25. Panoramic view of Mr. Back's ranch at Montezuma Well. Figure 26. The Montezuma Well museum with Ranger Albert Schroeder in doorway, and the old log smokehouse and Back residence. Figure 27. Superintendent John O. Cook pointing out the details of the new Castle model, and the model shelter after remodeling in 1958. Figure 28. Example of the high visitation to the monument during the late 1950s. Figure 29. Image of Montezuma Castle used in an advertisement for Malco Gasoline. file:///C|/Web/MOCA/protas/contents.htm (3 of 5) [9/7/2007 10:44:25 AM] Montezuma Castle NM: A Past Preserved in Stone (Contents) Figure 30. Front page of the Verde Independent celebrating the dedication of the new Montezuma Castle visitor center building. Figure 31. The new apartment building at Montezuma Castle, one of the modern-style Mission 66 developments at the monument. Figure 32. Proposed development changes at the Montezuma Castle unit. Figure 33. Proposed development changes at the Montezuma Well unit. Figure 34. Environmental impact of mining in the Jerome area. Figure 35. Verde Crossing, showing the intensity of grazing in the Verde Valley, 19 May 1901. Figure 36. H. J. Charbonneau and monument staff preparing for diving research at Montezuma Well. Figure 37. Joint water users' ditch cleaning project at Montezuma Well, and traces of the prehistoric ditch in the bottom of the modern ditch located during the ditch-cleaning project. Figure 38. Burro from neighboring lands looking for water in a prehistoric irrigation ditch. Figure 39. Montezuma Castle National Monument Environmental Backdrop Unit. Figure 40. Photograph of Yavapai domed brush houses by A. F. Randall, before March 1888. Figure 41. Camp Verde Indian Reserve, map on file at the Bureau of Land Managment Office, Phoenix. Figure 42. Pit House 3 after excavation. 217 Figure 43. 1996 stabilization project crew. Copyright © 2002 by Josh Protas Published by Western National Parks Association, Tucson, Arizona The net proceeds from WNPA publications support educational and research programs in the national parks. Receive a free catalog, featuring hundreds of publications. Email: [email protected] or visit our online store at www.wnpa.org file:///C|/Web/MOCA/protas/contents.htm (4 of 5) [9/7/2007 10:44:25 AM] Montezuma Castle NM: A Past Preserved in Stone (Contents) Protas, Josh. A past preserved in stone : a history of Montezuma Castle / Josh Protas p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1-58369-019-0 1. Montezuma Castle (Ariz.) 2. Montezuma Castle National Monument (Ariz.) History. 3. Sinagua culture. I. Title. E99.S547 P76 2001 979.1'57dc21 2001042950 Written by Josh Protas Edited by Abby Mogollón Designed by Bill Benoit Printing by Cushing-Malloy Inc. Printed on recycled paper with inks from renewable resources <<< PREVIOUS CONTENTS NEXT >>> A Past Preserved in Stone: A History of Montezuma Castle National Monument ©2002, Western National Parks Association protas/contents.htm 27-Nov-2002 file:///C|/Web/MOCA/protas/contents.htm (5 of 5) [9/7/2007 10:44:25 AM] Montezuma Castle NM: A Past Preserved in Stone (Foreword) Montezuma Castle National Monument Foreword The prehistoric cliff house above Beaver Creek has been misunderstood since the 1860s, when the first vagabond groups of miners and soldiers visited the area and misnamed it after the Aztec emperor, Montezuma. A few years ago a young historian proposed trying to rectify that situation by preparing a history of the "discovery" of Montezuma Castle and Well, the designation as a national monument, and the subsequent management of this national treasure. Josh Protas's A Past Preserved in Stone: A History of Montezuma Castle National Monument is the successful result of those efforts. My career at Montezuma Castle National Monument has spanned nearly three decades. Often, I have felt a kindred spirit with the early explorers of these ruins. There is much yet to discover and understand about the wonderfully intact Sinagua cliff house and its associated sites, irrigation systems and "Well." Many National Park Service managersthe Jacksons, Boss Pinkley, John Cook, Sr.have wrestled with problems and opportunities since December 8, 1906, when President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Montezuma Castle a national monument, the first prehistoric ruin to be so designated under the 1906 Antiquities Act. The philosophies for preservation and access were just evolving at that time. The early decisions described by Josh Protas help us understand some of the steps, and occasional missteps, in planning for the long-term preservation of this small part of the Sinagua culture, a people that once loomed large in the upper Verde Valley of central Arizona. There were many more subtle ruins lost to homesteading and expanding settlement. Even Montezuma Well was threatened until the 1943 Act provided for its acquisition and preservation. Water still flows from the Well in prehistoric canals, thanks to constant preservation maintenance and upkeep. Once an isolated attraction off the main highway, Montezuma Castle National Monument is today one of the most highly visited monuments in the National Park Service system, thanks to a direct interstate highway link to northern Arizona from booming Phoenix. Visitation has brought renewed and increased interest to the site, but also has resulted in the need for more development at "the Castle," which always brings up the National Park Service's mission, that tricky balance between the protection of resources while providing for public use. Fortunately, some of the more negative proposals for tunneling behind or building stairways in front of the Castle were tabled, while present roads and parking lots are kept to a minimum. An unobstructed view of the Castle from below still greets the visitor. file:///C|/Web/MOCA/protas/foreword.htm (1 of 2) [9/7/2007 10:44:26 AM] Montezuma Castle NM: A Past Preserved in Stone (Foreword) Josh Protas's work provides the visitor as well as monument management an excellent review of the nearly century of preservation and protection issues. The hope is that the values"ethnological value and scientific interest"proclaimed worth protecting for the public good by President Teddy Roosevelt in 1906 will still be evident a century from now. Glen Henderson Superintendent Montezuma Castle National Monument 2001 <<< PREVIOUS CONTENTS NEXT >>> A Past Preserved in Stone: A History of Montezuma Castle National Monument ©2002, Western National Parks Association protas/foreword.htm 27-Nov-2002 file:///C|/Web/MOCA/protas/foreword.htm (2 of 2) [9/7/2007 10:44:26 AM] Montezuma Castle NM: A Past Preserved in Stone (Acknowledgements) Montezuma Castle National Monument Acknowledgements I am indebted to many people whose invaluable assistance made possible the completion of this work.