Near East Hollamon Street 0.3 miles North Montezuma Well Road (Arizona Route 260).
The Crook Road begins at this point
with the first in a series of mile markers
across the Mogollon Rim segment of the
military supply trail connecting Forts
Whipple, Verde and Apache. Reconnoitered
in 1871 by General George Crook with a . . . — — Map (db m28561) HM
On Montezuma Castle Road 1 mile east of Beaver Creek Estates Road.
The abundant alcoves and rock shelters found in cliffs throughout the Verde Valley served as homes, storage units, and spiritual sites.
Wind and water have sculpted countless alcoves, holes, and crannies in the soft layers of the . . . — — Map (db m251679) HM
On Montezuma Castle Road 1 mile east of Beaver Creek Estates Road.
Water, shelter, building materials, arable land, and other environmental conditions made the Verde Valley an ideal place to live.
Montezuma Castle is the most obvious structure here, but it was part of a larger community that . . . — — Map (db m251684) HM
The bachelor officers lived a somewhat spartan lifestyle, not altogether unexpected considering the low pay, slow promotion, frequent moves, and the amount of time spent in the field. Although these quarters were designed to have three bedrooms, . . . — — Map (db m250262) HM
On General Crook Trail (South Access Road) 0.2 miles east of Interstate 17 Exit 285, on the right when traveling east.
The oldest settlement in the Verde Valley. Site of historic Fort Verde. The first settlers came into the valley in February, 1865, followed by the military in August, 1865. Original military and historic buildings still stand. — — Map (db m40814) HM
All of the buildings at Fort Verde were built in the typical architectural style once found at nearly every 1870s military post in the United States. There are probably fewer than a dozen such buildings left west of the Mississippi River.
This . . . — — Map (db m250261) HM
Near East Holloman Street 0.2 miles north of Arizona Route 260.
The following named individuals were assigned, either permanently or temporarily, to Camp Verde, Arizona Territory. While stationed here their personal action in combat was above and beyond the call of duty, earning them the nation's highest . . . — — Map (db m28593) HM
On Montezuma Castle Road 1 mile east of Beaver Creek Estates Road.
To construct their cliff home, residents made use of a naturally eroded alcove and fit 20 rooms into the shape of its contours.
Why build a home in a cliff face? There are many possibilities: proximity to water and farmland, to stay . . . — — Map (db m251687) HM
On Montezuma Castle Road 1 mile east of Beaver Creek Estates Road.
Between approximately 1100 and 1400, the Castle neighborhood also included a larger pueblo and numerous small alcove homes in the cliff face along Beaver Creek.
Nestled in a limestone cliff overlooking the creek, Montezuma Castle . . . — — Map (db m251691) HM
On Montezuma Castle Road 1 mile east of Beaver Creek Estates Road.
Around the year 1400, people began leaving their homes here. Five hundred years later, its walls were still largely intact.
The builders chose their home site wisely, taking advantage of the shelter that a natural alcove provided. . . . — — Map (db m251685) HM
Fort Verde’s flagpole was designed like a ship’s mast, just like many other military fort flagpoles that were built in the 19th century. This design supports an upper and lower timber, which allows for the use of shorter logs. Often a single tree . . . — — Map (db m159103) HM
On Hollamon Street, on the right when traveling east.
The Mythology of a Western Fort
Fort Verde is typical of western forts built in the 1870's and 1880's but our vision of forts comes from movies. Log stockades with towers and John Wayne fearlessly firing his rifle at attacking Indians. The . . . — — Map (db m40815) HM
On Montezuma Castle Road 1 mile east of Beaver Creek Estates Road.
While many details of life in this settlement will never be fully known, it is clear that farming, craft, and trade thrived here.
The space where you have been walking was a small part
of the farmland cultivated by the people of . . . — — Map (db m251677) HM
On Montezuma Castle Road 1 mile east of Beaver Creek Estates Road.
Memories, stories, and traditions continue to bind people today to this cultural heritage site.
The community surrounding Montezuma Castle was one of related households both familial and social units. The Hopi Parrot, Bear, Water, . . . — — Map (db m251657) HM
On E Hollamon Street, on the right when traveling east.
The Civil War has ended, the country opens up for expansion in the West, and conflicts of a different nature face the L.L.S. Military. The Indian Wars of the 1870s-1880s brought soldiers to Arizona to protect the settlers and brought challenges to . . . — — Map (db m159088) HM
On Montezuma Castle Road 1 mile east of Beaver Creek Estates Road.
Around 1400, after centuries of settlement here, families began leaving their Verde Valley homes.
The archeological record suggests that from 1350 to 1400, people began to leave the valley and join larger pueblos to the north and . . . — — Map (db m251675) HM
On North Montezuma Castle Highway 2 miles north of West Highway 260 & South Main Street, on the right when traveling north.
Pecan Lane Rural Historic Landscape was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 2, 2000.
Pecan Lane played a significant part in the agricultural history of Camp Verde. During
the late 19th century and early twentieth . . . — — Map (db m27855) HM
On Montezuma Castle Road 1 mile east of Beaver Creek Estates Road.
This cliff may seem a featureless stone face with a few holes and broken walls, but look closely and the rocks reveal the outline of a once large and vibrant neighbor to Montezuma Castle.
Because Montezuma Castle suffered extensive . . . — — Map (db m251682) HM
On Montezuma Castle Road 1 mile east of Beaver Creek Estates Road.
It is no coincidence that this diorama made its debut at the same time ladders were removed and access to the cliff dwelling ended.
Before the official end of guided tours of the cliff dwelling on October 1, 1951, park rangers had . . . — — Map (db m251673) HM
On South Coppinger Street at East Hance Street, on the left when traveling south on South Coppinger Street.
One of three made in Ames Iowa in 1920. Powered by a 90 HP 4 cylinder Hercules gas engine, LPX patent. Bucket capacity 1 cubic ft. This link belt excavator power shovel was used in the Camp Verde Salt Mine in 1928. — — Map (db m251643) HM
There were two married officers’ quarters built at Fort Verde in 1871, both designed in the Mansard style. The style “disguises” the second floor by extending the line of the roof down. It was a popular style from the 1850s through the . . . — — Map (db m159091) HM
The foundation before you is from one of two Married Officers Quarters. This two-story building was architecturally identical to the Commanding Officers Quarters, but with a reversed floor plan.
After the U.S. Army abandoned the fort, the . . . — — Map (db m159101) HM
Each permanent military command was required to have a physician. The Post Surgeon was allowed these rather spacious accommodations because patients were treated and surgery was performed here.
The Post Hospital was located at the northeast . . . — — Map (db m159092) HM
On Montezuma Castle Road 1 mile east of Beaver Creek Estates Road.
Montezuma Castle invites us to pause in wonder at the ingenuity of the people who began building it over 700 years ago.
Ancestors of today's Puebloan peoples built and occupied the Castle. We can only speculate why they chose to . . . — — Map (db m251692) HM
On South Main Street, on the right when traveling west.
In memory of Wales Arnold.
Co. E, 5th Cal. Vol. Inft.: Scout in
Apache Wars: Post trader at Camp
Verde: Pioneer farmer in Verde
Valley: and of his wife, the
beloved ”Aunty Arnold” of
all the Verde. — — Map (db m100022) HM
