36 AUGUST 2023 I n the heart of Coolidge, surrounded by agricultural fields, visitors can find an amazing example of Native American history and ingenuity. Just 56 miles southeast of Phoenix, Coolidge is home to the nation’s first archaeological reserve. The Casa Grande National Monument was established in 1892 by President Benjamin Harrison and declared a National Monument in 1906. The structure allows guests to stand right in the middle of history. Built in the early 1300s, the four-story “great house,” or Casa Grande, is a structural marvel. The people who lived here built it over 800 years ago. They dug up the right type of soil, mixed it with water to turn it into cement and built it by hand, layering the mud up four stories tall. Eight hundred years later, it’s still standing, with smaller ruins around the main structure that might have been used for storage or living space. The construction appears well-planned and organized, requiring tons of material and a huge cooperative effort from many people. The ruins are the largest protected Hohokam site and one of the few National Park units that preserve and interpret what life was like for Sonoran Desert farmers in the past. At the height of the Hohokam civilization, they established trade routes, dug hundreds of miles of wide- scale irrigation farming canals for crops, created jewelry and pottery, and used natural soil material called caliche to erect buildings. Southwest archeologists say the Casa Grande ruins are exceptional for the high degree of preservation. The roof over those four stories has been protected for over a century. The Casa Grande ruins show a native society that thrived in the Sonoran Desert, growing corn, beans, squash, cotton and tobacco. In addition, the culture used the many native plants and animals of the desert. These included cactus fruit, pads and buds, agave hearts, mesquite beans and the medicinal creosote bush. Archeologists have even found shells from the sea coasts – pointing to expansive trade. Archeologists also learned that the ancestral people left the Casa Grande in the 1400s after widespread depopulation and transformation. Speculation as to the cause was drought, disease, floods, earthquakes, invasion and internal strife. The Spanish arrived in the 1600s, found the big adobe building, and called it Casa Grande. Folks wanting to learn more about the history and marvel at this structural wonder can check out the picnic area that boasts a pollinator garden and views of some cultural sites. When the weather gets cooler, visitors can go on a guided tour. Kids who want to learn, explore, and protect the monument can sign up to be a junior ranger. Guests can also participate in special programs presented by archeologists, Native American storytellers, entertainers, and authors. The Casa Grande ruins are one of several National Parks that don’t charge an entry fee, and the best time to visit is in November-April. nps.gov History lessons await, just down the road from home Robin is the host and executive producer of the Arizona Highways Television , Saturdays and Sundays on CBS. BY ROBIN SEWELL Robins Adventures The Casa Grande National Monument. Religious Instruction • Strong Academics • Cutting Edge Technology • Service Learning Leadership Programs • PE and Interscholastic Sports • Instrumental and Vocal Music “Arts Attack” Program • School Nurse • Bus Transportation Available PEACE OUT, SUMMER! IT’S TIME TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL! 3901 East Indian School Road • 602-957-7010 • www.clsphx.org CHRIST LUTHERAN SCHOOL Christian Values. Quality Education. Preschool through Grade 8 art one gallery | foundation Representing students and local artists of Arizona since 1993 480.946.5076 . 4130 n marshall way . scottsdale . artonegalleryinc.com . @artonegalleryinc Morning Ritual by Herb Schultz • acrylic on canvas • 48” x 60” x 1.5” • $1500

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