Ft. Bowie National Historic Site

The second Ft. Bowie, then
Ft. Bowie ruins, same view, today

Horned lizard

Apache pass

Original Ft. Bowie

2 deer

Apache springs

Foundation of Tom Jeffers house

Sorry, Murder She Wrote fans!

Notable grave in ft cemetery

Butterfield stage station

As promised here we are at the Ft. Bowie National Historic Site. This fort was built to curtail raiding Chiricahua under the leadership of Cochise and Geronimo after peace efforts failed. The stage station was built here simply to take advantage of the spring. The next stop was the cemetery. Most of the graves had been removed to San Francisco when the fort was abandoned. The cemetery still has about 30 graves of civilians, plus three Apache children who probably died of dysentery. Tom Jeffers was a well respected Indian agent who won the respect of Cochise. Apache springs was the whole reason anyone went to this valley. It was the only water around for 50 miles. We happened to see the two deer below the ruins of the original fort which was built on the hill to the left of the new fort. The whole area looks much the same as it did 100 years ago. The last two pix are taken on the hill overlooking both areas on both sides of the pass. Awsome.

This is a little 3 mile round trip hike from the parking lot, but it took us 4 hours. We stopped to take pix and to read all the signs. The area has significant historical value as the westward movement in southern AZ went through here. Geronimo surrendered formally at this fort and was escorted into exhile. It was weird hiking through this area. Really easy to imagine Apaches living here. A very interesting hike well worth the time.

Enough for now

Louise and Duane