• The Great House at Casa Grande Ruins stands out for miles

    Casa Grande Ruins

    National Monument Arizona

Stories

black and white image of woman in 1920s clothing looking at a large olla pottery artifact

Waltrina Robinson Williams at approximately 17 years of age visiting the ruins from Oklahoma. Note the top of the Model T in the background.

Jim Hatfield Family Collection, used with permission

The history of Casa Grande Ruins includes more than the archeological studies and ethnographic guesses about the Ancient Sonoran Desert people. Stories compiled from written and photographic accounts range from diary entries of early explorers to photographs of work done by a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) crew and tales of a great "Arizona Pageant" held several years within the park grounds.

Perhaps your family has had a special relationship with Casa Grande Ruins? Share your story, and old photographs, by using the contact us link!

  • Civilian Conservation Corps Civilian Conservation Corps

    From November 1937 to February 1940 there was a CCC spike camp at Casa Grande Ruins. They accomplished many things, including new buildings and new entrance fees Read More

Did You Know?

1852 sketch of Casa Grande by John Bartlett.

Father Kino, in 1694, was the first European to call this structure Casa Grande. It is a Spanish word that means 'great house.' The Casa Grande is a 4-story, 11-room structure which was built about 700 years ago.