FORT VERDE
State Historic Park
Location: between Phoenix and Flagstaff, Verde Valley, 3 miles east
of I-17 (in the town of Camp Verde)
Address/Contact: P.O. Box 397, Camp Verde, Arizona 86322;
phone (928) 567-3275, fax (928) 567-4036
Distance: 90 miles from Phoenix, 57 miles from Flagstaff
Opening hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, all year long (except Christmas Day)
Fees: yes, entrance fees
Direction: from Phoenix drive I-17 north (towards Flagstaff), use
Exit 287 (Cottonwood/Payson) and go east (Highway 260), turn left on
Main Street and follow the signs to the State Park.
Fort Verde State Historic Park. It is the best preserved example of
an 'Indian Wars' period fort in Arizona.
The history. 1863 the New Mexico territory was divided. Prescott became
the Capitol of the Arizona territory. Arriving settlers came
into conflict with the local Tonto-Apache and Yavapai Native Americans and asked
for military protection in May 1865.
First volunteer military units established a tent camp near West Clear Creek
and were replaced by regular U.S. Army troops in 1866. Camp Lincoln, 1 mile
north of the present camp, was renamed to Camp Verde (1868) and was used
till 1871. Then the Army built a new camp (at the current location) which
was finished in 1873. There were 22 buildings and a parade ground.
1879, Camp Verde was renamed to Fort Verde and finally abandoned in 1891.
After the mid 1870s the Army tried to keep the local Native Americans
on the San Carlos and Fort Apache reservations. In August 1881, a tense
confrontation at Cibicue on the White Mountain Reservation left several
dead - among them the prominent Apache medicine man Nakai de Klinni.
The peace was interrupted again in July 1882 as a band of Indian warriors
raided throughout the area, resulting in a last major battle at
Big Dry Wash (July 17, 1882) of the northern Apache Wars.
Note: To improve the movement of troops along the Mogollon Rim the military built
a wagon road west to Fort Whipple (near Prescott) and east to Fort Apache.
Later it was called Crook Road and General Crook Trail.
The visit. Today you can experience three historic house museums
(Commanding Officer’s Quarters, Bachelors' Quarters and Doctor’s Quarters),
all furnished in the 1880s period, on the north side of the parade ground.
The small visitor center (office) offers post cards, books,...
Tipp: There are several events a year but in my opinion the 'Ft. Verde Days'
(2nd weekend in October, with a parade and other historic events) are a
special highlight.
Source: my visit at Fort Verde State Historic Park
All photos: © by gbintheworld.com
Nearby attractions:
Please visit the page
Trips and Sightseeing in northern Arizona for other interesting parks,
monuments and places north of Phoenix.
All information: as of fall 2003
Links to websites and info about the
Fort Verde State Historic Park (links open in a new window):
Fort Verde State Historic Park official website @ www.pr.state.az.us
E
Fort Verde State Park Yavapai Heritage Roundup @ www.sharlot.org
E
Camp Verde official website, Chamber of Commerce
E
Website Orientation:
> Home/Welcome
> EXTRA!!! my magazine
> Trips & Hiking
> Trips and Sightseeing, Northern Arizona
> Fort Verde State Historic Park (= you are here)
[Welcome]
[USA Austria]
[EXTRA - my magazine]
[Webcam Links]
[Link Collection]
[About me]
[Photo Collections]
[Downloads]
[Disclaimer]
[Sitemap]
[Guestbook]
[Email]
If you didn't get to this page through the mainpage ('choose a language')
of gbintheworld.com
then please click here!!!
© gbintheworld