Archeology

The Citadel and Nalakihu Pueblos were the central hub of a vibrant agricultural community between the early 1100s and mid 1200s CE. About half the size of Wupatki Pueblo, Citadel was around 50 rooms and is strategically located on the top of a small cinder hill overlooking a limestone sinkhole. The area provided good opportunities for farming and hunting game animals such as mule deer, elk, and pronghorn. Soil studies have revealed evidence that people here grew cotton which could have been an important trading commodity. The Nalakihu Pueblo is a smaller structure built at the base of Citadel and was once used as the monument headquarters in the 1930s. The reconstructed portions of this pueblo have since been removed. This trail is located a 4 mi. (6.4km) drive from the northern entrance off of HWY 89, or a 10 mi. (16km) drive from the Wupatki Visitor Center. It offers an intimate experience with an Ancestral Puebloan heritage site and grand views of the surrounding San Francisco peaks and volcanic field. The first portion of the trail is accessible with a compacted decomposed granite surface. The parking lot is parallel to the road with an entrance/exit on both sides. There are 7 single car spaces, 2 accessible spaces, and 5 oversize vehicle spaces available. Pets are not allowed on this trail, leashed service animals are ok. Although it is no longer physically occupied, descendent communities believe the people who lived and died here remain as spiritual guardians. These places are remembered and cared for, not abandoned. Thank you for visiting respectfully and leaving no trace. These sites and the lands they are on are culturally significant to the 13 Traditionally Associated Tribes of Wupatki National Monument, all of whom have ancestral ties to this area.

The park museum is located in the visitor center. It contains a variety of artifacts from the Colonial and Revolutionary War Era, a 3-pound reproduction cannon, and interpretive exhibits.

Be sure to always check the Calendar or stop by the Visitor Center to find the programs that will be available during your visit. Evening programs, typically offered from Memorial Day through Labor Day, offer topics that go beyond the rim! Check the calendar for daily times and locations. This is a Ranger’s Choice program offering an exploration into compelling stories, interesting themes, and unique resources that make Bryce Canyon special. A schedule of daily topics is available in the Visitor Center.

Be sure to always check the Calendar or stop by the Visitor Center to find the programs that will be available during your visit. Typically offered year-round at Sunset Point at 11 a.m. Have your Bryce moment! Most people experience the view from Sunset Point as a breath-taking event, and for good reason. The amphitheaters filled with mazes of magical hoodoos may prompt you to ask…when…where…why…how? We have some of the answers! Geologists have spent years studying the unique geologic story of Bryce Canyon and its amphitheaters of hoodoos. Join the Ranger along the rim at Sunset Point to explore the evolution of the hoodoos and the groups of people who have passed through this magical terrain. Handicap accessible.

The 1715 Clough House remains one of the oldest surviving brick residences in Boston. Now located on Old North's campus, the Clough House serves as the home to the exhibit Unearthing Childhood: 300 Years of North End Kids and Ye Olde Pepper Candy Pantry. Unearthing Childhood Archaeology Exhibit Unearthing Childhood: 300 Years of North End Kids explores the lives of seven real children of diverse backgrounds who lived in Boston’s North End in the 1700s, 1800s, and early 1900s. This multimedia exhibit includes archaeological artifacts on loan from the City of Boston, videos, and activities for families with children. The exhibit is completely free and can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages. The exhibit is presented in partnership with the City of Boston Archaeology Department and was made possible by a grant from Mass Humanities, which provided funding through the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), a grant from the Cabot Family Charitable Trust, and an anonymous donor. A Community Partnership Grant from the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority helps keep this exhibit free for all visitors. Ye Olde Pepper Candy Pantry Founded in Salem, MA, in 1806, Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie is the oldest candy company in America. The company’s signature candies, the Salem Gibralter and the Black Jack, are recognized as the first candies ever sold commercially in the United States. Both are still made by hand using their original recipes. Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie has opened a pop-up shop and history experience here at the Clough House. The pop-up shop carries a full range of Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie’s candies, chocolates, and sweets. Beyond the treats, the space offers a deep dive into American candy history. Visitors will encounter original manufacturing equipment from the late 1800s, historical photographs, artifacts, and a 1913 book written by the uncle of Thomas Spencer, son of company founder Mary Spencer. History cards tracing the stories of the Gibralter and Black Jack accompany purchases, and a QR code gives visitors a live look at candy being made in the company’s Salem kitchen. The Ye Olde Pepper Candy Pantry pop-up shop will run through October 31. For more information, please visit Old North Church & Historic Site's website .

At Montezuma Castle National Monument, visitors can view two cliff dwellings built by the Hisatsinom, or Sinagua people, around 1150 CE. These impressive feats of engineering are a testament to the people that lived here and the community they were a part of. Although the dwellings seen here were constructed starting around 1150, people lived in this area long before they were built. These structures were occupied until the Hisatsinom left the area by about the early 1400s. Despite their appearance, the dwellings here are not abandoned and forgotten; they are celebrated and remembered. Many indigenous peoples maintain a strong connection with this land and site today. A 0.3 mile (0.5 km) paved loop trail around the site and offers numerous views of the dwellings as we see them today. Montezuma Castle is located about 100 yards (91 m) from the visitor center. Castle A is located on the far side of the loop, about 160 yards (146 m) from the visitor center. More than 95% of what we see of the main dwelling, Montezuma Castle, is original with some work performed over the years to stabilize the structure. Its location inside the cliff is largely what is responsible for its preservation, keeping it protected from the elements. A short spur trail allows visitors a closer look at Castle A, a dwelling that was about twice the size of Montezuma Castle. This structure was burned sometime between 1375 and 1395 during a dispute between the Hisatsinom who lived in this building and the Apache and Yavapai, but some of the stonework and caveate rooms are still visible along the cliff. Due to the sensitivity of these sites, tours inside Montezuma Castle were discontinued in 1951 and access to Castle A was discontinued in 1978. Please respect the dwellings here by remaining on the trail and not sitting on or climbing them. A five minute video tour of the inside of Montezuma Castle plays on loop in the museum during operating hours. Montezuma Castle is not visible from any roads. Safety Bring water on your walk. Although the trail is mostly shaded, summer high temperatures range from 95 ° to 115 ° F (35 ° to 46 ° C). The park does not sell bottled water, but water bottles can be purchased from the bookstore and a water bottle refill station is available at the visitor center. From spring through fall, rattlesnakes are seen in the park and may be present on the trails. If you encounter a rattlesnake during your visit, please let a staff member know immediately. Park rangers are specially trained to safely relocate rattlesnakes. Never attempt to handle or move a snake yourself and give all snakes at least six feet of space. Please remember that we are visitors in their home; rattlesnakes and all other park wildlife are protected from harm or harassment by law. Check the forecast ahead of time. From July through mid-September, heavy rainstorms called monsoons are common in the afternoon. The trail is closed for 30 minutes following any lightning strikes within five miles of the park. Regulations Never climb or sit on the dwellings or structures. Please stay on the paved trail at all times. Drones and other unmanned aircraft are not permitted in the park. Please leave all plants, animals, rocks, artifacts, bones, and other items where you find them for others to enjoy. If you find something interesting on the trail, take a photo to share with a ranger. Pets are welcome on the trails but must be on a leash no more than six feet at all times. Always clean up after your pet. Never leave your pets in the car. Pets are not permitted in the visitor center except during check-in.

Did you know that dogs are welcome to visit Fort Stanwix National Monument with their special people? Learn the rules of B.A.R.K., participate in two activities below, and take the oath to become a Bark Ranger! You can also visit the ranger station inside the historic fort for a special B.A.R.K. Ranger stamp and collar tag! Activities : FIND A POOP BAG STATION - Sometimes your friend may wish to leave a present behind at the park. There are poop poles provided at two locations along the park trail, and several trash cans. Find one, just in case you must dispose of one of these gifts. TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR PUP ON LEASH - It is always important to keep your dog on a leash while exploring. Take a picture of your dog on their best behavior at the park! #FortStanwix #BARKRangers SAY HELLO TO ANOTHER VISITOR - Whether in your living room, in a local park, or on the lakeshore, find a spot to share a snack with your pet. Remember to keep them on a leash, dispose of any poop bags if needed, and always check hot pavement with the back of your hand before letting your pet walk across a street or parking lot on a hot day. If you can't hold your hand there, it's too hot! VISIT A BONUS PARK - Explore a park that shares Fort Stanwix’s history. Gansevoort Park, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers of the American Revolution, and the Oneida Carry Monument, are all in walking distance. Be prepared to share a picture of your pupper in your picked park! B = Bag your poop! • Help keep the park clean by bagging your and placing it in a trash receptacle. • Dog waste is not natural fertilizer. It pollutes waterways and can spread disease. A = Always wear a leash! • Keep your dog and others safe by using a handheld leash no more than 6ft in length. • Even if your dog is friendly, not every person, animal, or other dog will react well to them. R = Respect wildlife! • Dogs can scare and chase birds and other animals away from nesting, feeding, and resting spots. • Even small animals wildlife can be unpredictable and dangerous to pets. Give them space. K = Know where you can go! • With the exception of service animals, no pets are permitted in park visitor centers. However, pups can go through most areas of the historic Fort that their humans can. B A R K Ranger Pledge: (Fill in your pet's name and your name in the spaces. Raise your right hand and your pet's paw and read the pledge out loud.) I, _______________________, a well-behaved dog, and my human, ____________________, promise to respect the rules of B.A.R.K. and to help show others how to care for our National Parks. Congratulations, B A R K Ranger!

The Holly Trail is Hovenweep’s longest and most rugged hike. Start at the campground follow the trail 3.5 miles along a canyon wash to the Holly Group. After exploring Holly’s standing structures and lasting petroglyphs, return along the same route for a total distance of 7 miles. The trail leads into and out of the canyon by way of slot canyon (one on each end) and winds across the wash. We recommend the Holly trail for those wanting a longer hike, canyon hiking, or a different point of view. After all, the trail must be very similar to those taken by people who lived at Square Tower Group visiting their neighbors at Holly. There aren’t any standing structures until you reach the Holly Group, but about two miles in are rubble piles from an older, fallen structure. The Holly Group is also home to the Holly Sun Panel, a petroglyph panel that archeologists believe marks the summer solstice. Visible any time of year, the panel is seen from an overlook at the far end of the Holly Group. The Holly Group is also accessible from a dirt road off Road 10. Visiting Respectfully These structures may seem long-abandoned, but they are ancestral homes for the modern Pueblo peoples, many of whom believe their ancestors inhabit them still. Hovenweep National Monument was established to protect these places. Help us protect these dwellings by remaining on trail, not touching or entering any structure, and leaving any artifact in place. Thank you for doing your part and visiting respectfully!

This two mile loop trail starts at the visitor center and circles around the Square Tower Group structures / Little Ruin Canyon. The trail starts as sidewalk down to the overlook, then veers off in either direction (and loops back around) to circle the canyon. A portion of this trail crosses the canyon, with 80 feet of elevation gain and loss on stairs. The primitive trail is lined with rocks and passes within 5-10 feet of most of the structures, allowing visitors an uninterrupted and natural view of these architectural wonders. A trail guide gives historical information and insight into the towers, but we encourage you to ponder the day-to-day life of the ancestral Pueblo people who lived here. The Square Tower Group is Hovenweep’s largest and most convenient collection of standing structures. Ten buildings perch on the rim of Little Ruin Canyon; the remains of several more are crumbled down the canyon walls. Some of the most popular and unique structures in the Four Corners region are in this canyon: Hovenweep Castle, Twin Towers, and Square Tower, for which the group is named. You don’t have to walk the entire loop to see and enjoy the Square Tower Group. Several out-and-back hikes give plenty of options to do as little or as much as you can or want. Visiting Respectfully These structures may seem long-abandoned, but they are ancestral homes for the modern Pueblo peoples, many of whom believe their ancestors inhabit them still. Hovenweep National Monument was established to protect these places. Help us protect these dwellings by remaining on trail, not touching or entering any structure, and leaving any artifact in place. Thank you for doing your part and visiting respectfully!

This overlook is your gateway to the Square Tower Group and often your first glimpse of Hovenweep’s ancestral Puebloan structures. Just a 10-minute walk from the visitor center, the overlook provides scenic views of the surrounding landscape, Little Ruin Canyon, and several of the Square Tower Group structures. It is also the beginning of the Square Tower Group rim trail. The paved overlook trail beings at the visitor center; round-trip length is 0.32 miles (0.5 kilometers). Along the way, placards identify native plants. The Square Tower Group is Hovenweep’s largest collection of standing structures. From the overlook, you can see Stronghold House, Twin Towers, Eroded Boulder House, and Tower Point. Waysides at the overlook identify and interpret these structures. Visiting Respectfully These structures may seem long-abandoned, but they are ancestral homes for the modern Pueblo peoples, many of whom believe their ancestors inhabit them still. Hovenweep National Monument was established to protect these places. Help us protect these dwellings by remaining on trail, not touching or entering any structure, and leaving any artifact in place. Thank you for doing your part and visiting respectfully!