1100 Ruins Drive, Coolidge, AZ 85228
Phone: 520-723-3172
Fax: 520-723-7209
Open All Year
Overview. When natives led Eusebio Kino, a Jesuit priest and explorer, to this four-story Hohokam ruin in 1694, he named it Casa Grande and wondered why it was built and abandoned. Today, we still don't have the answers. This towering structure, built around A.D. 1350 of nearly 3,000 tons of mud, looms over the smaller ruins at the site, which include a court for playing some type of ball game. Because Casa Grande's "windows" seem to line up with the sun at the summer solstice, archaeologists speculate that it could have been an observatory, inspired by Mexican cultures to the south. We will probably never know. The Hohokam abandoned the site a mere 100 years after completing the giant structure, a mystery as great as Casa Grande itself.What to see and do. Rangers lead informative walks through the ruins during the winter months, but you may choose to wander through on your own at other times. A 400-yard self-guided tour includes wayside signs identifying desert flora. Interpretive displays introduce visitors to the Hohokam, discuss their connection with Mexican culture, and speculate on why they built and abandoned Casa Grande. There is a bookstore in the visitor center, and picnic facilities are available at the site. Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is located within the city limits of Coolidge, on AZ 87, mid-way between Phoenix and Tucson. Don't confuse the ruins with the town of Casa Grande, 20 miles away. The visitor center is open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM (closed Christmas Day). Leashed pets are permitted. Handicapped-accessible facilities are available. Seasonal alert. Be prepared for intense heat during the summer months. Drinking water is available at the visitor center. Rattlesnakes, poisonous centipedes, and scorpions all thrive in this desert climate. Be cautious as you explore the ruins.
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