Homolovi State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Homolovi State Park
Visitor Center
Homolovi State Park Location in Arizona
Location	Navajo, Arizona, United States
Area	4,500 acres (18 km2)
Established	1986
Governing body	Arizona State Parks

Homolovi State Park is a special state park in Arizona, USA. It protects more than 300 ancient sites built by the Ancestral Puebloans. The name Homolovi comes from the Hopi language. It means "place of the little hills."

The park is located just north of Winslow, Arizona. Visitors can explore historical exhibits and learn about the past. It's also a great spot for birdwatching and hiking. The park has a campground that is open all year. You'll find restrooms with showers and an RV dump station there. The park was closed for a while from 2010 to 2011 because of state budget cuts.

From 1986 until it reopened in 2011, the park was called Homolovi Ruins State Park. The Hopi tribe asked the Arizona parks board to remove "Ruins" from the name. They believe these sites are still spiritually alive. In 2011, the board agreed to change the name. They also added the phrase "ancestral Hopi villages" to describe the park.

Discovering Ancient History at Homolovi

The Homolovi area has seven different ancient village sites. These were built by prehistoric people, including ancestors of the Hopi. They lived here between about 1260 and 1400 AD. This area is very fertile because it's on the floodplain of the Little Colorado River. The people grew important crops like cotton, corn, beans, and squash.

Who Were the Hisat'sinom People?

The people from this time are called Hisat'sinom. This is a Hopi word meaning "long-ago people." You might also hear them called Anasazi. This name was used by Navajo guides who helped early researchers. However, "Anasazi" means "enemies of our ancestors" in Navajo. Today, the Hopi people prefer to use the name Hisat'sinom.

Four of these ancient sites are very important. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized for their historical value.

Exploring Homolovi's Exhibits and Activities

The park's visitor center used to have many interesting displays. You could see pieces of pottery, baskets, and other artifacts. These items helped tell the story of the park's human history. The center also provided information about the plants and animals in the area. You could even buy books and real Hopi artwork.

Visiting Homolovi II: A Large Ancient Village

Out of the seven Homolovi sites, two are open for visitors. Homolovi II is the biggest site and has been studied the most. It has a sidewalk and signs to help you understand what you are seeing. People lived here between 1330 and 1400 AD. This village had about 1200 rooms!

Archaeologists think the people here traded cotton with people from the Hopi Mesas. They traded cotton for pottery. Homolovi II also has three large open areas called plazas. There are also about forty kivas, which are underground ceremonial rooms. You can also see places where pit-houses once stood. These were homes built before 1260 AD and now look like small dips in the ground. You might also spot Petroglyphs (rock carvings) along a nearby trail called Tsu'vo.

The Story of Sunset, Arizona

Near the park, you can find the cemetery of an old town called Sunset, Arizona. This town was one of several farming communities along the Little Colorado River. It was started in the late 1870s by Lot Smith and his Mormon followers. But frequent floods forced the settlers to leave in the early 1880s. The community was eventually washed away by the river.

However, the cemetery, located on a small hill, survived. You can visit it today. Three of Lot Smith's children are buried there.

Trails for Outdoor Fun

Homolovi State Park offers great trails for outdoor activities. There are 6 miles (9.7 km) of unshaded dirt roads. These roads are perfect for hiking, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. There are also trails that lead directly to the ancient archaeological sites.

Wildlife at Homolovi State Park

Homolovi State Park is home to many different animals. You can get a bird checklist at the visitor center. It lists over 100 types of birds that live in the area.

Birds You Might See

Some of the birds you might spot include hawks and golden eagles flying high. You could also see killdeer, Gambel's quail, and great blue herons. Look for red-shafted flickers too.

Mammals and Reptiles

Many mammals also live in the park. These include gray foxes, bobcats, and badgers. You might also see prairie dogs, desert cottontails, jackrabbits, and porcupines.

The park is also home to several reptiles. These include the Hopi rattlesnake and western king rattlesnake. You might also see horned lizards, common collared lizards, bull snakes, and desert spiny lizards.

How to Get to Homolovi State Park

The park entrance is located on Arizona State Route 87. It's about 1.3 miles (2.1 km) north of Exit 257 off of Interstate 40.