Globe

Also see nearby: Tonto National Monument

Globe is a bit worse for wear, but started as a booming gold and silver mining town, before settling down to mining its real mother-lode: copper. But 800 years ago, the Hohokam, and later the Salado Indians, built a huge (1,400 people) village here called (later by the Apache) Besh-Ba-Gowah, or "city of metal". The site was a popular settlement area for years because of a steady water supply, the diversity of natural food resources and a climate which provided a long growing season for crops.

The ruins - these walls were once smooth-sided and covered by adobe clay

The only entry to Besh-Ba-Gowah was through a central corridor. It was once a narrow, windowless passage - and completely covered - leading into the large open-air plaza that was the center of activity within the pueblo. The pueblo was built in several stories. Many of the ground floor rooms were used for storage as upper stories were added for living areas. The roofs were also used as food-drying areas and living spaces. A few rooms were dug several stories below the ground, and probably used as ceremonial rooms, as they were lined with rows of benches to hold many people. Several of these rooms have been almost completely "restored/recreated" and contain the types of tools and pottery, which were excavated at the site. Most of the site remains unexcavated. The adobe which once covered the stone walls making them smooth-sided, has eroded away.

Restaurant: In town, La Casita serves up decent Mexican food with friendly servers.

TO SEE ADDITIONAL PHOTOS & LEARN MORE:
Read our Postcard from Besh-Ba-Gowah