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Visiting the Casa Grande Ruins

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Real Estate Broker/Owner with Golden Girls with SW Desert Homes BR564219000

Visiting Casa Grande and Casa Grande - Part Two

In an earlier post,  I shared with you the backroads, byroads, and main roads of Casa Grande, AZ, just about the halfway point between Phoenix and Tucson.

Today I'd like to take you to Casa Grande, the Indian ruins, in nearby Coolidge.  That was the first thing I realized upon taking the 20 mile trip east from Casa Grande and I-10.  Casa Grande the CITY, was named after the RUINS, and here all this time I'd thought the reverse.


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The national monument consists of the ruins of multiple structures.  All were surrounded by a compound wall which was constructed by the people of the Hohokam period, early 13th century.  It's an area you can visit in person.

Evidence was also found that the Sonoran Desert people who built the Casa Grande also developed  irrigation farming which lasted over a thousand years.  Casa Grande means "Big House" in Spanish.

 Visiting Casa Grande and Casa Grande

The place was unmanned the day of our visit, but self-guided tours are encouraged.

Visiting Casa Grande and Casa Grande

The structure is made of caliche, (deposits of gravel, sand, and mineral nitrates)  and has managed to survive the extreme weather conditions for about seven centuries.

Visiting Casa Grande and Casa Grande

The buildings were constructed using traditional adobe processes with the wet adobe thicker at the base.  They build it up using layers of caliche.

Visiting Casa Grande and Casa Grande

There is a large house consisting of outer rooms which surround the inner structure, all of which are 3 stories. The inner is 4 stories.  

Visiting Casa Grande and Casa Grande

I'm not so sure they still let you go inside of it, but we were allowed to at the time.

Visiting Casa Grande and Casa Grande

President Harrison actually designated the Casa Grande Ruins in 1892 as the first prehistoric and cultural reserve. I was later designated as a national monument by President Wilson in 1918, whereupon a protective wood roof was constructed.
A newer roof covering was built in 1932 to protect it from the elements.  

Visiting Casa Grande and Casa Grande

 

 

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If I can assist you in your home buying or selling in Marana, Tucson, Oro Valley, or Vail, please don't hesitate to call me!  Email at Cara@SWDeserthomes.com

Cara Marcelle Mancuso, Designated Broker, Golden Girls with SW Desert Homes     520-909-2988   

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Comments(1)

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Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Great information.   Thanks for sharing and enjoy your day!

Sep 30, 2022 07:18 AM