National Register of Historic Places

Navajo National Monument

Kayenta, Coconino County, Arizona
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
66000176

About this property

Navajo National Monument is a national monument located within the northwest portion of the Navajo Nation territory in northern Arizona, which was established to preserve three well-preserved cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloan people: Keet Seel (Broken Pottery), Betatakin (Ledge House), and Inscription House. The monument is high on the Shonto plateau, overlooking the Tsegi Canyon system, west of Kayenta, Arizona. It features a visitor center with a museum, three short self-guided trails, two small primitive campgrounds that are free to the public, and a picnic area. The Sandal Trail is an accessible self-guided 1.3 mi (2.1 km) roundtrip trail that ends at an overlook of the Betatakin ruins across the 560 ft (170 m) deep Betatakin Canyon. The overlook is the only point in the monument where visitors can view the cliff dwelling other than on the guided tours. Rangers guide visitors on free (3-5 hour long) tours of the Betatakin cliff dwellings and on 17 mi (27 km) roundtrip back-country hikes to the Keet Seel. The Inscription House site, further west, has been closed to public access for many years. The National Monument was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.

Location

Kayenta, Coconino County, Arizona
36.68606, -110.53517

Categories

PREHISTORICHISTORIC - ABORIGINALARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
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The Community
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Notable People
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Finds & Access
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Questions about this property

When was Navajo National Monument listed on the National Register?

Navajo National Monument was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Navajo National Monument?

Navajo National Monument is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Navajo National Monument?

The period of significance for Navajo National Monument is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Navajo National Monument?

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