US:AZ - Casa Grande Ruin National Monument
Casa Grande Ruin National Monument, Arizona
Casa Grande Ruins is the first archeological site to be preserved by the federal government. It's also the fifth oldest unit in the National Park Service. It was set aside as a federal land reserve in 1892 and then as a National Monument in 1918.
For over a millennium, prehistoric farmers populated much of the present-day state of Arizona. When the first Europeans arrived, all that remained of this ancient culture were the ruins of villages, irrigation canals and an assortment of artifacts. Among the ruins is one of the largest and most mysterious prehistoric structures ever built in North America. It's called Casa Grande, which means "Big House."
The Great House depicted in an 1880s photograph prior to stabilization work and construction of the first two protective roof structures. This view is from the northeast. Below is a similar view today.
