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Fort Bowie National Historic Site is an example of a frontier fort

By June 13, 2019 No Comments
Fort Bowie POTD
Fort Bowie 1
This is what it looked like in the late 1800s when it was an active fort

Fort Bowie National Historic Site is the site of Fort Bowie, which was built in 1862 in order to secure Apache Pass and Springs. It sits in the southeast corner of Arizona and is about an hour and a half east of Tuscan. The fort was active until it was abandoned in 1894 eight years after Geronimo was captured by the company of men for this fort. During the time it was active, Fort Bowie was base of operation of the company that had several engagements with the local Apache Indians.

Fort Bowie 3
This one is for my mom, and any other teachers out there, as it is the school house ruins

Today the fort is in ruins, due to the fact that it sat abandoned for 66 years until the National Parks Service starting taking care of it in 1960. Now a days you can walk around the ruins of the quite extensive grounds. The fort is free to visit, but in order to get to the fort you must walk a mile and a half trail. The NPS has set it up this way so visitors can not only make stops at several historic spots (Apache Spring, Siphon Canyon, the ruins of the Butterfield Stage Stop, and Bascom’s Camp), but also appreciate the history of the area and what life might have been like in the hot desert sun. I found this out very well when I did the walk in over 100 degree heat. By the time I finished the hike and walking around the ruins I must have been a sight, because the ranger chose to give me a ride back to my car. Needless to say, I did not object. 🙂 Plus is saved me more time to visit nearby Chiricahua National Monument, which is where I will be telling you about next.

Fort Bowie 2

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