Burke's Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Burke's Station
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 Burke's Station
Location in Arizona
Burke's Station
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Maricopa |
| Elevation | 443 ft (135 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (no DST)) |
| GNIS feature ID | 23887 |
Burke's Station was a very important stop for stagecoaches in Arizona during the 1800s. It was part of a famous mail and passenger route called the Butterfield Overland Mail. Imagine it like a gas station and rest stop for horses and people traveling across the country!
The station was named in 1858 after Patrick Burke, who was the first person to run it. It played a key role in connecting different parts of the American West before trains became common.
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What Was Burke's Station?
Burke's Station was a place where stagecoaches could stop to change horses, allow passengers to rest, and get fresh supplies. These stations were vital for long journeys across the country. They were like small oases in the desert, offering a break from tough travel.
The Butterfield Overland Mail Route
Burke's Station was a stop on the Butterfield Overland Mail route. This was a huge stagecoach service that delivered mail and passengers across the southern United States. It ran from 1858 to 1861, connecting places like St. Louis, Missouri, and San Francisco, California. The route was over 2,800 miles long!
Burke's Station was located about 9.43 miles from a place called Grinnels Ranch. It was roughly halfway along a very difficult part of the route that led to Oatman Flat.
History of Burke's Station
Burke's Station had an interesting history with several changes over the years. It opened in 1858 and quickly became an important stop.
Temporary Closure During the Civil War
In 1861, the Butterfield Overland Mail service had to stop running. This was because of the American Civil War, a big conflict in the United States. Many routes, including the one Burke's Station was on, were closed for safety and other reasons. This meant Burke's Station also closed temporarily.
New Owners and Revival
After the Civil War ended, Burke's Station was bought by a man named King Woolsey. Later, in 1866, it was brought back to life as a stagecoach station. This time, it was bought by William Fourr. He didn't just run the station; he also sold things like flour and groceries. He even had a dairy herd, which means he sold milk products!
In 1869, William Fourr sold Burke's Station. It continued to operate as a stage stop for a few more years.
The End of the Stagecoach Era
The days of the stagecoach were numbered. When the Southern Pacific Railroad started building train lines in Arizona, it changed everything. Trains were much faster and could carry more people and goods than stagecoaches. This made stagecoach stations like Burke's obsolete, meaning they were no longer needed.
After it stopped being a stage station, the name of the place changed to 'Burkes Ranch'. By the year 1900, it was known as 'Alpha'.
