The main ruin is protected from the elements by a large roof structure.
Before being protected as a national monument, the site suffered from souvenir hunters and vandals.
There are other partial structures on the site that show the general outlines of the original compound.
No one knows why the site was abandoned around 1450 AD.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument was the first cultural and prehistoric site to be protected by the United States government. It was set aside in 1892 by President Benjamin Harrison.
The structure is constructed of caliche, a naturally occuring soil mixture that turns quite hard when mixed with water and dried.
The visitor's center and orientation film are excellent.
The "ball court" as seen from the picnic viewing platform.
The picnic area has tables, grills, and a nice amount of shade.