Ramblin Ways: NOVEMBER 5, 2013 CASA GRANDE RUINS

The Casa Grand or Great House, so named by the Spanish Missionaries in 1694. The ruin dates from 1350 and was built by the Ancestral People of the Sonoran Desert.

In the late 1800s scientists pressed for legal protection as people has been doing damage for the two previous centuries. In 1892 the Casa Grande became the nation's first national archeological reserve. It is covered by a massive roof which helps to preserve it from the weather and sun.

Listed as one of our National Monuments it is an amazing structure. As you drive by on the highways from either corner of the property you can see the roof which only whet the appetite of this history bug to take a closer look.

Any of the signs can be read just by clicking on them to enlarge. They are so full of information it is hard to include everything so I let them tell the story of this amazing structure.

As I moved around the area there were many small enclosed areas where the walled areas had been excavated.

The ancients were farmers and constructed one of the most complex irrigation systems to bring water into the desert so they could sustain themselves. One thought as to why they disappeared soon after the Casa Grande was built was that they increased water consumptions to such a degree that the amount of water could not keep up with them when they chose to come together in a larger community instead of scattered over the land in a farming environment.

As the sun sank lower in the sky I ended my tour of the ruin with the thought that I need to return to this place and soak in the whole thing again before I leave this area. Luckily I am only about 25 miles from this amazing structure so it will be easy to return again this winter.

REMEMBER!!!!!!