National Register of Historic Places

Tusayan Ruins

Grand Canyon National Park, Coconino County, Arizona
Listed
July 9, 1974
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
74000285

About this property

The Tusayan Ruins (aka Tusayan Pueblo) is an 800-year-old Pueblo Indian site located within Grand Canyon National Park, and is considered by the National Park Service (NPS) to be one of the major archeological sites in Arizona. The site consists of a small, u-shaped pueblo featuring a living area, storage rooms, and a kiva. Tree ring studies indicate that the site was occupied for about twenty years, beginning around 1185. It is found on the Desert View Drive portion of Arizona State Route 64, 3 miles west of the Desert View Watchtower. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The site was excavated in 1930 by members of the Gila Pueblo of Globe, Arizona. Preservation work took place in 1948 and 1965. The site represents the survival of an isolated Pueblo II culture into the Pueblo III era. The Tusayan Ruin and Museum is a NPS interpreted location, which includes a trail from the museum thru part of the ruin. Tours may be ranger lead or self-guided. The Tusayan Museum was built in 1928 to a design by National Park Service architect Herbert Maier and sponsored by Laura Spelman Rockefeller as a trailside museum. It was expanded in 1934, and represents an interpretation of a Hopi structure.

Location

Grand Canyon National Park, Coconino County, Arizona
36.01392, -111.86644

Categories

PREHISTORICSCIENCE
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
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Desert View Watchtower Historic District
Listed
3.1 mi
Hull Cabin Historic District
Listed
5.8 mi
Grandview Mine
Industrial
6.2 mi
Grandview Lookout Tower and Cabin
Civil War
6.3 mi
Hull Tank Lookout Tree
Industrial
7.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Tusayan Ruins listed on the National Register?

Tusayan Ruins was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 9, 1974.

What type of historic resource is Tusayan Ruins?

Tusayan Ruins is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Tusayan Ruins?

The period of significance for Tusayan Ruins is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Tusayan Ruins?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Tusayan Ruins will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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