We’re fortunate that Padre Kino wrote about the ‘Great House’ here in 1694, and that almost 200 years later President Harrison preserved the ruins. The O’Odham or desert people built the Hohokam or earthen buildings at some point over the two thousand years (at least) they flourished here, experts in canals and trade.

Today’s Gila River is tiny and dry, since most of its water has been diverted for Phoenix & Tuscon. With the climate crisis exacerbating drought, whole river valley ecosystems are turned to dust as we maintain golf courses and landscaping. Too busy and thoughtless to notice our destruction of the natural world, people drive air-conditioned SUVs to buy iced coffee, oblivious to the oblivion we cause.

Click to see my photos of all national park units in Arizona.