The city of Casa Grande, AZ, was originally a railroad stop named after the most recognizable landmark nearby, the Casa Grande Ruins. The National Monument protecting the ruins was a little more than 20 miles away, located in Coolidge, AZ, which causes some confusion for visitors. The park includes less than 500 acres (less than 1 square mile) and does not get a lot of visitors, which is unfortunate since the area has a lot of interesting history.
Without a written language some of the history is speculation by archaeologists. They think that 800 years ago the landscape was significantly different with water flowing in the four major rivers in the area year around. The residents developed agriculture and irrigation and had quite a thriving society in the region. The big house was the center of that society for about 150 years. The people inexplicably scattered and abandoned the city around 1450 and the history of the people that was passed down from generation to generation was lost.
The ruins are located in Coolidge, AZ, not Casa Grande, AZ.
A model of Casa Grande back in its glory days.
Larry, the volunteer, did a nice job telling us about the 650-year-old "Great House" and the surrounding area.
A few feet below the
surface, the desert dwellers discovered a layer of calcium carbonate used to make concrete-like hardpan known as caliche (cuh-LEE-chee). Built in the early 1300s, Casa Grande stood 35 feet tall and contained nearly 3,000 tons of
caliche mud. The protective cover was constructed in 1932.
Two Great Horned Owls are permanent residents.
In an effort to preserve what remains above ground, they have blurred what was original and what has been added.
This entire area was excavated down an additional 7 feet or so. They filled it back in, in an effort to preserve it.
The monument includes just under 500 acres. There are 4 other compounds and one ball field out there, but this is the only compound we were allowed access.
1800s sketch of the compound that included the big house.
The saguaro cactus produces its creamy white blooms in May
and its bright red fruits in June.
We really liked it too. Loren can't believe u didn't stop in Quartzite. Its been fun coming along with u.
ReplyDeleteSharon