Arizona Forts

American Forts: West

ARIZONA

Last Update: 06/JANUARY/2007

Camp Canyon de Chelly
(1849), near Chinle
A temporary Federal encampment located two miles northwest from the mouth of the canyon.

Fort Defiance (2)
(1851 - 1861, 1863 - 1864), Fort Defiance
The first Federal fort in the state. Located at the mouth of Cañon Bonito on the west-side of Black Creek. Abandoned in 1861 for Fort Fauntleroy, NM, but regarrisoned in 1863 by New Mexico Volunteers, and renamed Fort Canby. In 1868 the post was transferred to the Navajo Indian Agency. Currently in use by the Navajo Reservation as Tribal Headquarters. All that remains of the old fort is a three-story stone building.

Camp Mansfield
(1863), near St. Michaels
A temporary camp located seven miles south of Fort Defiance.

Hubbell Trading Post (National Historic Site)
(Navajo Indian Reservation)
(1878 - present), Ganado
Not really a fort, but historically important. There are several trading posts in the Navajo Reservation, most are not of any historic importance.

Camp Canby
(1863 - 1864), near Ganado
A base of operations used by Kit Carson and the NM Volunteers against the Navajos, located 23 miles southwest of Fort Defiance. Possibly existed in name only.

Camp Florilla
(1864), Kinleechee
One of Kit Carson's camps, located near Cross Canyon.

Camp Supply (1)
(1863), near Holbrook
A temporary supply camp used by Kit Carson, located on the north bank of the Little Colorado River two miles east of town.

Camp Holbrook
(1882), Holbrook
A temporary Federal encampment.

Camp Sunset
(1858 - 1882), near Winslow
Used intermittently by trappers, Mormon settlers and the military until the railroad came through. Also called Camp Colorado Chiquito (Little Colorado). Located six miles east of town.

Camp Schroeder
(1858), Navajo County
A temporary Federal camp. Exact location unknown.

Ojo de les Lemilas Post
(1860), Navajo Indian Reservation
A temporary post located about 100 miles northwest of Fort Defiance.

Lee's Fort
(1871 - unknown), Lee's Ferry
A Mormon stone fort restored by the National Park Service. It was built to protect the ferry that was once here from 1871 - 1928. It was operated by John Doyle Lee, a wanted fugitive, for only two years (1874 - 76) before he was captured by U.S. marshalls and executed.

Winsor Castle
(Pipe Spring National Monument)
(1869 - 1875), Moccasin
A Mormon-built red sandstone fort located on the Kaibab Indian Reservation. Preserved by the National Park Service.

Fort Garrett
(unknown dates), near Pearce Ferry
Not really a fort, it was a crude shanty built north of the Colorado River by a man named Garrett and Bill Shanley when they were living in that area. There are no roads leading to it. You must hike or go on horseback.
(info provided by Ken McClure)

Fort Mohave
(1859 - 1861, 1863 - 1890), near Golden Shores
A Federal fort at Beale's Crossing to protect the ferry to Needles, California, it was abandoned in 1861 for Los Angeles, CA, to quell a civil disturbance there. Initially known as Camp Colorado (1). Renamed Camp Mohave (1863 - 1879) after the post was reactivated. Turned over to the Indian Reservation in 1890 for use as a school, but closed in 1935. The buildings were destroyed in 1942, but some ruins remain.
(NOTE: "Mohave" is generally spelled with an "H" east of the Colorado River, and spelled with a "J" west of the Colorado River. Both are pronounced the same.)

Camp Colorado (2)
(1868 - 1871), near Parker
A Federal camp, originally called Camp on the Colorado River, located near the mouth of the Bill Williams River.

Camp La Paz
(1874 - 1875), La Paz
A temporary camp and supply depot located at the old Mexican ghost town north of Ehrenberg. Between 1862 and 1870 this was a large colony of gold prospectors. Camp Lincoln (2), a subpost of Fort Yuma, was temporarily established here in 1864.

Detachment at Ehrenberg
(1875), Ehrenberg
A temporary detachment post from Camp La Paz.

Fort (Charles) Tyson
(1856), Quartzsite
A settlers' defense against Indians. Gravesite of Hadji Ali (Hi Jolly), a Syrian camel owner who helped the U.S. Army try to use camels instead of horses in the desert during the 1850's.

Camp Beale's Springs
(1871 - 1874), near Kingman
Some ruins remain of this fortified stage station located a few miles northwest of town. Another website at Ghosttowns.com

Camp Willow Grove
(1867 - 1869), south of Valentine
A temporary Federal camp. Site is located on the north-side of Willow Creek on private property.

Camp Peach Springs
(1894), Peach Springs
A temporary subpost of Fort Whipple, it lasted one month.

Fort Rock Spring
(1866), Truxton, Seligman
Camp Rock Spring was a temporary camp north of Truxton, probably never actually built. A second site is located on the east-side of Fort Rock Creek east of Seligman. No trace exists.
(additional info provided by Marshall Sitrin)

Camp Pomeroy
(1863), Coconino County
A temporary Federal mule camp. Exact location unknown. Replaced by Camp Clark one month later.

Fort Moroni
(1882 - unknown), near Flagstaff
A Mormon cattle fort located seven miles northwest of town. Also called Fort Valley and Fort Rickerson.

Camp at Bear Spring
(1863 - 1864), near Flagstaff
A temporary encampment, believed to be located at today's Elden Spring, located four miles northeast of town.

Camp on Oak Creek
(1881), near Flagstaff
A temporary subpost of Fort Verde, located just south of town at Oak Creek Canyon.

Camp Tuthill
(Coconino County Park and Recreation Area)
(1928 - 1955), near Flagstaff
An Arizona National Guard summer training area, located south of the city. Site now a county park.

Camp on Lake Carleton
(1866), Mormon Lake
A temporary camp.

Camp Hualpai
(1869 - 1873), near Paulden
First known as Camp Devin, then renamed Camp Toll Gate until 1870. Located on a mesa overlooking Walnut (Mohave) Creek, southeast of Aztec Pass. Sometimes referred to as Fort Hualpai.
Located here or nearby in 1881 was Camp on Walnut Creek.

Camp Rawlins
(1870 - 1871), west of Paulden
A temporary subpost of Whipple Barracks, located 17 miles southeast of Camp Hualpai in Williamson Valley.

Fort Rock
(1864), Yavapai County
A settlers' defense against Indians. Located 60 miles northwest of Prescott.

Camp on Date Creek
(1867 - 1873), Date Creek, Skull Valley
A Federal post originally named Camp McPherson. After only three months the post moved 25 miles north to Skull Valley and was renamed Camp Skull Valley. It moved back to Date Creek after only two months, the old name being restored. By 1868 it moved two more times, but stayed in the Date Creek area. It was given its final name in 1868.

Fort Whipple
(1864 - 1898, 1902 - 1918), Prescott
First known as Camp Clark in 1863 and located about 20 miles north of town (no trace of which remains, a marker is near Del Rio Ranch north of Chino Valley), then relocated in 1864 to its present site and renamed Camp Whipple. It was a large rectangular pine-log stockade located on Granite Creek. Rebuilt in 1869. Designated a fort in 1870, and the adjacent Whipple Depot (1864) then became a separate command. Became the headquarters of the Military Department of Arizona. The depot burned down in 1872 and was rebuilt. The depot, later renamed Prescott Barracks, was merged with Fort Whipple into one reservation called Whipple Barracks in 1879. Abandoned in 1898, but regarrisoned in 1902. Placed on care-taker status in 1913. Located at the Yavapai Indian Reservation. A VA Hospital was established here in 1918, originally under the Public Health Service banner.
Of interest nearby is the Sharlot Hall Museum with info on military history.

Palace Station
(1874 - unknown), Prescott
A stage station, rebuilt in 1878. Now occupied by the U.S. Forest Service.

Camp Brodie
(1910's), near Prescott
Built by the U.S. Army for border patrols.

Camp Granite Reef Dam
(1910's), near Prescott
Built by the U.S. Army near Whipple Barracks during the Mexican border crisis.

Camp Curtis
(unknown dates), near Mayer
Located on Big Bug Creek four miles from town.

Fort Misery
(1863 - 1920's), near Crown King
A reproduction two-story log house that was used as the first court and jail for the Arizona Territory. It was once attacked by Indians and the prisoners in the jail were released to fight, and were given their freedom after the battle. Later this became a boardinghouse and the locals gave it the nickname of "Fort Misery".

Post at Wickenburg
(1866), Wickenburg
A Federal garrison post.

Fort Verde (State Historic Park)
(1864 - 1891), Camp Verde
Originally known as Camp Lincoln (1), or Camp on the Verde River, an outpost of Fort Whipple, then located five miles south at the Verde River and West Clear Creek. Built by the NM Volunteers, and garrisoned by regular troops in 1866. The camp moved four miles north in 1866. Renamed Camp Verde (2) in 1868. Moved one mile further north to its present site near Beaver Creek in 1871, known as New Camp Verde. It was renamed again in 1879. The government auctioned off the fort in 1891 and only four buildings (Officers' quarters) now survive. A museum is in one of these buildings. Photos of Fort Verde
(thanks to Jerry Blanz for providing correct location info)

Camp Ilges
(1867), near Camp Verde
A temporary campsite on the Verde River near Camp Lincoln.

Camp Lewis (1)
(1865 - 1870), west of Strawberry
A temporary Federal camp located on Fossil Creek near the Verde River.

Fort (William) McDonald
(1882), near Payson
A settlers' fort on a butte east of town, built during Indian troubles.

Camp Reno
(1867 - 1870), near Punkin Center
A subpost of Fort McDowell. Some ruins remain at the site west of town near Reno Mountain. The "Battle of Big Dry Wash" was near here in 1868.

Camp O'Connell
(1868), near Sunflower or near Punkin Center
A short-lived Federal post.
(NOTE: Conflicting info: cited in Tonto Valley, Gila County - or on the east-side of Sycamore Creek, Sunflower Valley, Maricopa County)
(thanks to Marshall Sitrin for additional info)

Camp Tonto
(1864), Gila County
A temporary NM Volunteers camp, probably somewhere on Tonto Creek.

Camp Roosevelt Dam
(1910's), Roosevelt
Built by the U.S. Army during the Mexican border crisis.

Fort Badger
(1866), near Fort McDowell
Located at the confluence of the Salt (Salado) River and Verde River next to the Indian Reservation.

Fort McDowell
(1865 - 1891), Fort McDowell
Originally named Camp Verde (1) but quickly renamed Camp McDowell. Designated a fort in 1879. Became the Yavapai Indian Agency in 1891. Some ruins, one adobe wall still stands.

Fort Utah
(1877), Mesa
A Mormon settlers' adobe fort.

Camp Pinal
(1870 - 1871), near Miami, near Superior
Originally simply known as Infantry Camp. Abandoned in 1871 one month after being renamed. Original site is the Pinal Ranch near the headwaters of Mineral and Pinto Creeks, six miles west of Miami. The post was rebuilt as Camp Picket Post at Queen Creek near Picket Post Butte near Superior, but was abandoned after only nine days. The mining town Pinal was established in 1877.

Camp Globe
(1910's), Globe
Built by the U.S. Army for border patrols. Continued to be used during World War I.

Camp Miami
(1910's), Gila County
Built by the U.S. Army for border patrols.

Camp San Carlos
(1872 - 1900), San Carlos
Also known as Post at San Carlos (1882 - 1894), a subpost of Fort Grant. Later became the Indian Agency. All remaining buildings were destroyed in 1930. Some ruins remain.

Camp Hentig
(1880's), near San Carlos
Never established as an official military post. This was an overnight campsite, originally called Camp Ash Creek until 1881, often used on trips between San Carlos and Fort Apache. Located on Ash Creek Flat east of town.

Camp at Turkey Creek
(1882), near Fort Apache
A temporary outpost of Fort Whipple located 17 miles southwest of Fort Apache.

Fort Apache (Historic Park)
(White Mountain Apache Culture Center and Museum)
(1870 - 1922), Fort Apache
Built at the end of a military road, the post guarded the nearby Indian agency. Replaced Camp Goodwin. Previous names included Camp Ord, Camp Mogollon, and Camp Thomas (1) all during 1870. From 1871 to 1879 it was called Camp Apache. Became an Indian School after the Army left, still in use today. Several original buildings remain, including one that now houses a U.S. Post Office. Fort Apache Cultural Center is in a replica cabin. Nearby is an 1880's Apache village. Admission fee. Another website from White Mountains Online | Another website from the United Nations' World Monuments List

Fort Milligan
(1860's), Eagar
A settlers' stockade against Indians located one mile east of town in Round Valley.

NEED MORE INFO: Fort Tule near Castle Hot Springs; East Fort and South Fort near Crown King; Camp Grierson (1889) unknown location.

Southern Arizona - page 2

Special thanks to Ted Cook for providing info on the 1850 - 1900 period forts and camps.