Tuzigoot National Monument's Tavasci Marsh / NPS

Tuzigoot National Monument, in Arizona will close temporarily during weekdays beginning January 13. The visitor center's historic windows are scheduled for a lead and asbestos abatement procedure. The entire monument will close Monday through Friday, but because the abatement work will not occur on weekends, the park will be open for visitors to walk the trails on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 am to 4:45 pm.

The weekday closures are expected to last through February 7. The park is scheduled to return to daily operations starting Saturday, February 8. The Visitor Center will reopen once the window and carpet replacement is complete in late February. Visitors can check the park website for project updates. 

During the weekday park closures for lead and asbestos abatement, the entrance gate will remain closed for visitor and employee safety due to the proximity of the work zone to areas heavily used by visitors. Access to Tavasci Marsh will remain open through Dead Horse Ranch State Park during the park closure.  

“Tuzigoot National Monument is committed to visitor and employee safety,” said Superintendent Penny Wagner. “We look forward to returning to daily operations and welcoming the public back inside the historic Visitor Center after this important work is complete.” 

The Tuzigoot Visitor Center was constructed in 1936 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Visitor Center is a significant architectural example from the depression-era Works Progress Administration program and the wood windows are character-defining features. The Tuzigoot Visitor Center, like all historic buildings, needs special care and maintenance. Over the past 20 years, the park has invested in maintaining and improving the Visitor Center including a new roof and a complete rehabilitation of the interior of the building. In 2011, the windows were painted and caulked prior to the installation of new museum exhibits. The work completed at that time fully encapsulated the lead paint and asbestos glazing used during the original construction of the windows and protected visitors and park staff from harmful materials. Today, the historic wood windows are in need of repair. 

The lead and asbestos abatement is a component of the project to repair the historic wood windows and will be completed by licensed abatement professionals. The window repair and preservation work will be performed by the National Park Service Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC). HPTC is a leader in federal preservation and is dedicated to the safe preservation and maintenance of national parks and partner facilities. A team of skilled preservation craftspeople from the Flagstaff HPTC Regional Support Team will complete the extraction, repair, and reinstallation of the historic windows at the Tuzigoot Visitor Center.  

Montezuma Castle National Monument is located 35 minutes from Tuzigoot National Monument and the entrance fee from visiting Montezuma Castle also covers Tuzigoot. During the Tuzigoot Visitor Center closure, visitors who do not already have an America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass or a valid pass from Montezuma Castle should plan to pay the entrance fee online through Recreation.gov. Payment for entrance fees can be made in advance or onsite using the posted QR code. Passes will not be available onsite during the visitor center closure.  

Visitors may purchase items and souvenirs related to the park through the Western National Parks Association Online Store and limited items will also be available at the Montezuma Castle National Monument bookstore. 

For more information on entrance fees and passes, please visit Fees & Passes - Tuzigoot National Monument (U.S. National Park Service).