Wupatki National Monument Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Wupatki National Monument
IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
Wukoki ruins in 2008
Wupatki National Monument Location in Arizona Show map of Arizona Wupatki National Monument Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Coconino County, Arizona, US
Nearest city	Flagstaff, Arizona
Area	35,422 acres (143.35 km²)
Created	December 9, 1924 (1924-December-09)
Visitors	205,122 (in 2018)
Governing body	National Park Service
Website	Wupatki National Monument

The Wupatki National Monument is a special protected area in north-central Arizona, close to Flagstaff. It's a place rich in Native American history and ancient sites. The National Park Service takes care of it, working closely with the nearby Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. Wupatki was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. It covers a large area of about 35,000 acres.

Ancient Life at Wupatki
Wupatki Today: A Place of Memory
- Ancient Trade Routes
Images for kids
See also

Ancient Life at Wupatki

The many old settlement sites you can see at Wupatki were built by different groups of ancient Pueblo people. These groups included the Cohonina, Kayenta, and Sinagua tribes. People first started living here around 500 AD.

The Tall House Pueblo

The name Wupatki means "Tall House" in the Hopi language. The main Wupatki Pueblo is a large, multi-story building. It has over 100 rooms and a community gathering area. This was the biggest building in the area for almost 50 miles. It even has the northernmost ballcourt ever found in North America! Other smaller buildings, including structures similar to kivas (special ceremonial rooms), have also been found nearby.

Life After the Volcano

A big change happened in the 11th century (between 1040 and 1100). The Sunset Crater volcano erupted, covering the land with volcanic ash. This ash actually made the soil better for farming! It helped the ground hold water, which was great for growing crops like maize (corn) and squash. Many people moved into the area after the eruption. By 1182, about 85 to 100 people lived at Wupatki Pueblo. However, by 1225, the site was left empty forever. Experts believe about 2,000 people lived in the wider area during the century after the eruption.

Wupatki National Monument

Wukoki ruins complex

Building with Sandstone

The walls of these ancient homes were made from thin, flat blocks of local Moenkopi sandstone. This stone gives the pueblos their unique red color. The blocks were held together with mortar, and many of these walls are still standing today. Each settlement was built as one big structure, sometimes with many rooms. The Wupatki Ruin is the largest settlement in the monument. It was built around a natural rock outcrop and had over 100 rooms. It's thought to be the tallest and biggest building of its time in the region.

Unique Features

Besides the ballcourt, Wupatki also has a cool natural feature called a geological blowhole. This is a crack in the ground where wind escapes from an underground cave system. Other important sites in the monument include Wukoki and The Citadel.

View from atop a Wupatki Pueblo

Wupatki Today: A Place of Memory

Even though Wupatki looks empty now, it's not forgotten. The Hopi people believe that the spirits of the people who lived and died here are still present as guardians. Stories about Wupatki are passed down among the Hopi, Navajo, Zuni, and other Native American tribes in the area. Members of various Hopi clans still visit Wupatki. They come to learn more about their family history and traditions.

Ancient Trade Routes

It might seem like Wupatki was a tough place to live because of the lack of food and water. However, archaeologists have found many artifacts from far-off places at the site. This shows that the people of Wupatki were involved in trade. During excavations, items like different types of pottery and seashells have been found. These items came from places as far away as the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf Coast. This tells us that the ancient people of Wupatki were connected to a wide network of communities.