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Homolovi Ruins State Park
HCR 63, Box 5
Winslow, Arizona 86047
Phone: (928) 289-4106
From Flagstaff, you want to take I-40 east to
Highway 87 North, use Exit 257.
In the high grassland of 14th century northern
Arizona, an ancient people found a home along the Little Colorado
River. These people, the Hisat'sinom (known to archaeologists as the
Anasazi), paused in their migrations to till the rich flood plain
and sandy slopes before continuing north to join people already
living on the mesas, people who are today known as the Hopi.
The Hopi people of today still consider Homolovi,
as well as other pre-Columbian sites in the southwest, to be part of
their homeland. They continue to make pilgrimages to these sites,
renewing the ties of the people with the land. The Hopi tell us that
the broken pottery and stones are now part of the land and are the
trail the Bahana will follow when he returns. Therefore, these are
mute reminders that the Hopi continue to follow the true Hopi way
and the instructions of Masau'u.
The migrations ended when the people settled at
the center of the world, the Hopi Mesas north of Homolovi. However,
as new people appeared, such as the Dine' (Navajo) and later the
Europeans, the Hopi watched as their homeland was occupied by the
new people. Eventually they also saw these people begin destroying
their ancient homes, digging in these sacred sites for curios and
for items to sell.
In an effort to protect some of these sites, the
Hopi people supported the idea of Homolovi Ruins State Park. This
idea resulted in the establishment of the park in 1986 and the
opening of the park in 1993.
Homolovi Ruins State Park now serves as a center
of research for the late migration period of the Hopi from the
1200's to the late 1300's. While archaeologists study the sites and
confer with the Hopi to unravel the history of Homolovi, Arizona
State Parks provides the opportunity for visitors to visit the sites
and use park facilities including a visitor center and museum,
various trails and a campground. Several covered picnic tables are
located throughout the park. Pullouts provide the opportunity to
observe wildlife in this park of over 4,000 acres at an elevation of
4,900 feet.
Facilities:
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Three main pueblo ruins, Visitor Center,
bookstore and exhibits
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53 camping sites with electric hook-ups, dump
station, restrooms and showers
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Showers available year-round. Water hook-ups
available April thru mid November
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Picnic tables and grills, day-use ramadas, and
trails
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