Historically speaking, deserts are highly known for having the hottest climates around the globe—seasons of rain are seldom experienced. In Sonoran Desert for instance, only seven inches of rain are received every year and to solve this, the Hohokam Indians built a dam in miles-long system including also the canals, headgates that are used for the supply of water from the surrounding desert and survival of the crops. And today, a monument serves as the preservation medium of this ancient four-storey building that ranges 60 feet long, also considered the largest created structure in those times. Thus, giving solitude to the building’s support and grace, the Spaniards called it as the Casa Grande or Great House that stands after the name itself, the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.

The Builders and the Great House

The tough building process was made possible as it was created thousand years ago using concrete-like materials called caliche, in shaping the building’s walls that faces the four directions of the compass therefore ample amounts of sun rays can reach the portholes of the walls in the summer season. As for the visitors’ benefits, they can easily witness ancient pottery materials and tools while wandering the mysterious remains and the reasons behind the careful construction of the Hohokam Indians.

Contemporary to other well preserved ruins in Arizona just like the Montezuma and Toronto Castles, the 14th century Casa Grande National Monument has been part of the Gila River settlement collections connected with other canals around the area. The monument stands in low elevation having the very hot months of summer, reaching temperatures up to 110°F and 80°F in daytime during the hottest spring seasons even in winter.

Standing the Temperature Rise

Despite the very hot place, visitors are free to take a glance during the jam-packed seasons except the Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day as the Casa Grande Ruins opens from 8 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon everyday for the whole year round, while it can be reached across the dusty farmlands nearby from any direction. However, past the monument entrance, they can drive through the Highway 87/287 or brushing the roads in 15 miles east of I-10. The visiting hours is assured with sharing of great information about the Hohokam people, the discovery of different large specimens of desert plants like the ubiquitous saguaro and other ideas such as picnicking opportunities in areas surrounded by entertaining squirrels. Otherwise when going at the back door, the visitor center leads to the main “Great House” as it stands in the middle of the rectangular space, formerly with walls to protect the surrounding places and other buildings.

Definitely an Attraction

Envisioning from a distance, the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument can be seen from places owing the terrain flats protected from the harsh desert sun. Also, when you look closer at the monument’s details, it stands tough by the help of large metal roof supported by four great pillars, all made possible through a strategy and design by an architect named Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. You definitely may find it an amazing design to make the preservation of building stay longer though changes are still done to make more of the remarkable sight just like the wooden construction in the year 1932 for cover replacement. But that’s not all! Good thing that visitors may also witness the interior contains and re-enforcing beams, measuring devices on the walls, metal ladders as its modern touches as well as tour groups for all ages led by available staffs. For much excitement, scheduled tours are also offered from months of January to April and reservations to Junior Ranger programs completed with its personalized badges are all available for the enjoying kids.

Though with slightly unnatural scene, what make the Casa Grande Ruins Monument much comprising are its historical remembrances that may always touch every visitor’s heart through the Hohokam efforts and the mysterious buildings. At the end, it would be one blast of experience during vacation anyway and still, considering it as one-of-a-kind is a blessing.

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