Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Banner image: Casa Grande Aerial, by Henry D. Wallace.

“Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is a sanctuary where you can still feel a connection with the past. The centerpiece is the four-story tall adobe “Great House” (Casa Grande) that was built in the early 1300s. It was set aside as the Nation’s first archaeological reserve in 1892, and became part of the National Park Service in 1918. Between 60,000 and 80,000 people visit the Monument annually, making it a top tourist attraction in Pinal County. For the Akimel O’odham and other descendant Native American tribes (such as the Hopi and Zuni), Casa Grande Ruins is a sacred place with deep spiritual meaning. It figures prominently in traditional oral histories and serves as a tangible reminder of distant ancestors. Few places in Arizona can match the combination of historical, archaeological, and cultural significance of Casa Grande Ruins.”

—Kyle Woodson,
Director of the Cultural Resource Management Program for the Gila River Indian Community

What will I see?

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Coolidge, Arizona, is among the state’s best-known cultural landmarks because of its striking multistory adobe “Great House,” one of the largest known ancient structures in the United States. Established as the first archaeological reserve by President Benjamin Harrison in 1892, Casa Grande Ruins is not only the largest protected Hohokam site, but also the sole National Park unit that preserves and interprets what life was like for Sonoran Desert farmers in the distant past. The area enclosed within the park’s current boundary also preserves some of the once-extensive village associated with the impressive adobe structure.

What else is nearby?

• Historic Town of Coolidge
• Historic Town of Florence
• San Tan Mountain Regional Park
• Picacho Peak State Park
• Huhugam Heritage Center
• Gila River Interpretive Trail

Download a printable visitor’s guide here (opens as a PDF).