Around the year 1400, people began leaving their homes here, yet five hundred years later the walls were still largely intact. The builders had chosen the site wisely, using the shelter of a natural alcove, and much of what stands today is original. The Castle is considered one of the best-preserved sites from its period, likely because it was hard to reach. Hopi and other Native consultants say dwellings like this were intended to return to the earth after the people left, but in 1906 the Castle became a national monument managed for present and future generations. Preservation treatments were applied to help it withstand hundreds of thousands of visitors and keep its walls standing, and whenever possible archeologists try to match modern treatments closely to the original materials and building details while using only what is necessary to protect the structure's integrity. By the 1950s safety and stability had become the priority, and the dwelling was closed to visitors. In April 1964 crews repaired the ceiling of the tower roof with desert and seep willow. Mortar repair remains an ongoing effort, baseline condition records help managers monitor change and make informed decisions for long-term care, and preservation now also includes LiDAR scans that provide precise measurements of architectural elements inside and around the Castle.