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Kinishba Ruins: Echoes of the Mogollon People

Discover the ancient Kinishba Ruins, a window into the lives of the Mogollon people and their cultural legacy in eastern Arizona.

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Explore the Kinishba Ruins, a 600-room ancestral Pueblo village in eastern Arizona, built by the Mogollon people between the 12th and 14th centuries. Once home to over 1,000 inhabitants, the site offers a glimpse into the lives of the Hopi and Zuni ancestors.

A brief summary to Kinishba Ruins

Local tips

  • Check in at the White Mountain Apache Cultural Center and Museum at Fort Apache to get your permit and learn more about the site before visiting the ruins.
  • Bring water and wear appropriate clothing, as summers can be warm and winters can be cold.
  • Consider booking an Apache tour guide in advance for a deeper understanding of the history and cultural significance of the ruins.
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Getting There

  • Driving

    To reach Kinishba Ruins, start from AZ Hwy 73. Turn north onto West Kinishba Road. The ruins are located approximately 1.8 miles north of the highway. There is a parking area available at the site. Note there is no fee for parking. Before visiting Kinishba Ruins, you must first check in at the White Mountain Apache Cultural Center and Museum in Fort Apache to obtain a permit. The museum is located 0.7 miles east of AZ-73 on Fort Apache Road. Admission to the museum and historic park, which includes access to the ruins, is $5.00 per adult.

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Discover more about Kinishba Ruins

Kinishba Ruins, also known as “Brown House” in Apache, is a captivating archaeological site located on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation near Whiteriver, Arizona. This 600-room pueblo was constructed by the Mogollon people, ancestors of the Hopi and Zuni tribes, between the 12th and 14th centuries. The village was strategically built in a grass-covered valley near a reliable water source, with the White Mountains providing plentiful resources for hunting and gathering. The Kinishba pueblo consisted of nine major building mounds, some reaching three stories high, and included two large apartment blocks and several smaller buildings surrounding communal courtyards. The inhabitants farmed beans, corn, and gourds in the valley, conserving moisture by planting these crops together. The village thrived until the late 14th or early 15th century when it was abandoned for reasons that remain unknown, possibly due to a water source drying up. The site was first documented in English in 1892 by archaeologist Adolph Bandelier. In the 1930s, Byron Cummings, director of the Arizona State Museum, led an excavation and partial reconstruction of Kinishba, employing local Apache laborers and training students in archaeological techniques. Today, the White Mountain Apache Tribe cares for the site, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964. Visitors can explore the ruins and learn about the rich history and culture of the Mogollon people.

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