Vickie Atkinson shared information about our club trip in May to members. (Photo by Linda Harvey)
Linda Harvey
Vickie Atkinson shared photos and experiences with the membership of the club’s May 2026 trip to the Flagstaff parks and surrounding area. This area is rich in Native culture, history, and ruins from time immemorial.
One of the first stops on the four-day trip was to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. This now dormant volcano last erupted 1,000 years ago. Up to the time of the eruption, the Sinagua or the Ancestral Puebloan people had farmed the area for generations and had lived in pithouses which were dug partially into the ground. After the eruption, the land was no longer farmable and they moved to areas such as Walnut Canyon and Wupatki.
The area now known as Walnut Canyon National Monument shows evidence of people traveling through the area thousands of years ago. The Sinagua people appeared later to become permanent residents and whose culture flourished between C.E. 600 and 1400. They grew squash, corn, and beans. During the 1100s, many of the people moved into limestone alcoves below the canyon rim, where they constructed the cliff dwellings that are visible today.
Another area for the displaced people from the eruption is now known as Wupatki National Monument. Here the agriculture was based mainly on maize and squash on arid land where the rainwater was harvested for irrigation. The area shows signs that trade was important as artifacts such as varieties of pottery and seashells from the Pacific Ocean and Gulf Coast were found.
What is now known as Tuzigoot National Monument was built by the Sinagua people more than 1,000 years ago. It was on a vital trade route that provided cultural connections to indigenous communities from hundreds of miles away. There is a two-story pueblo structure with over 100 rooms that could have housed 250 people.
Another example of a Sinagua cliff-dwelling is at Montezuma Castle National Monument. Here a collection of 20 rooms, likely housed multiple families high above the river to avoid flooding.
Other stops for the tour included Montezuma Well, Lowell Observatory, Meteor Crater, Slide Rock State Park, Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, and wine tasting at Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria.
Vickie reported there was a great amount of information shared about each of the sites and a good time was enjoyed by all who are looking forward to the next trip. The club thanks Vickie for all her time and effort to bring this trip and story to the club. Great job!
On Nov. 10, there will be a presentation from Frank Morris on the September trip made to Acadia National Park and other sites in New England. No meeting is scheduled for December.
In 2027, the club meetings will be held at the same time, but change to the second Monday of the month. We will expand our focus to include conservation lands as well as state parks. If you have knowledge or information you would like to share, please send an email to linda_harvey@hotmail.com.