Visiting the Grand Canyon? If you want to see how the Pueblo Indians lived over 800 years ago stop by the Tusayan Native American Indian ruin and museum. This national historic site is located within the Grand Canyon National Park.
How to get to Tusayan Ruins
The Native American ruins are located with the Grand Canyon National Park .
The Grand Canyon is a 3.5 hour drive from Phoenix. From the south entrance station of the Grand Canyon Tusayan is 20 miles. You would follow Arizona 64 road, turn right on Desert View Drive to follow the road to the museum’s entrance. The entrance will be to your right on Tusayan Entrance Road.
What to See
The small one-room museum and gift shop was built in the 1930’s. You can visit the museum to learn about the people who lived in this area. The paths are wide. They are wheelchair and stroller accessible. Take the path to your immediate left to see the ruins. The entrance to the Tusayan Ruin is immediately to the left of the building.
Tusayan Ruins
The ruins are in a compact area, so you will not have far to walk to see them. First you will see the remains of the Kiva. Public and spiritual ceremonies took place in the Kiva. You will also view the ruins of storage rooms where people stored their food supplies.
You will see the ruins of living quarters. At one time the living quarters was comprised of three to four rooms. Up to 40 people called these living quarters home.
If you continue down the path you will walk to the farming area. Archaeologists used the tree rings on the juniper tree to date the buildings in this area back to A.D. 1185.
Location: Grand Canyon
Nearby Attractions:
- Desert View Watchtower (3.5 miles)
- Grand View Point (11 miles)
- Grand Canyon Village (22 miles)
- Bearizona Wildlife Park (75 miles)