Fort Bowie Facts for Kids

This page is about the U.S. Army outpost in Arizona. For the film, see Fort Bowie (film).

Quick facts for kids Fort Bowie
Apache Pass, Arizona, US
Fort Bowie in 1893
Type	Army fortification
Site information
Controlled by	Arizona
Condition	tourist attraction
Site history
Built	1864
In use	1862–1894
Garrison information
Occupants	United States Army

Fort Bowie was an important army outpost in the 1800s. It was located in southeastern Arizona, near the town of Willcox, Arizona. Today, the remaining buildings and the area around them are protected. It is now called the Fort Bowie National Historic Site.

The U.S. Army built Fort Bowie in 1862. This happened after several fights between the California Column soldiers and the Chiricahua Apache people. One of the biggest fights was the Battle of Apache Pass in July 1862. The fort was named after Colonel George Washington Bowie. He was a commander who helped set up the fort.

The first Fort Bowie was more like a temporary camp. It wasn't a strong, permanent army base. In 1868, a second, stronger Fort Bowie was built. This new fort had adobe barracks (places for soldiers to sleep), houses, and a hospital. It also had corrals for horses and a trading post. This second fort was built on a higher area about 500 yards east of the first one.

For over 30 years, Fort Bowie and Apache Pass were central to military actions. These actions eventually led to the surrender of the Apache leader Geronimo in 1886. After this, many Chiricahua Apaches were moved to Florida and Alabama. The army stopped using Fort Bowie in 1894.

Why Was Fort Bowie Built?
Fort Bowie Today: A Historic Site
Images for kids
See also

Why Was Fort Bowie Built?

Two main events led to the building of Fort Bowie in 1862. These were conflicts between the United States Army and the Chiricahua Apache people.

The first event was in January 1861, known as the Bascom Affair. Some Apaches raided a ranch. The ranch owner, John Ward, wrongly thought that Cochise and the Chiricahua Apaches were responsible. He asked the army to get his stolen property back.

The army sent Lieutenant George Nicholas Bascom and his soldiers to Apache Pass. They went to confront Cochise. Bascom captured Cochise and threatened to hold him. But Cochise managed to escape. After this, there were many years of fighting between Cochise's warriors and the army.

Apache prisoners at Fort Bowie, 1884

The second big event was the Battle of Apache Pass. This battle happened on July 15-16, 1862. A Union army group was traveling from California to New Mexico. They were going to fight Confederate soldiers. On their way, Apaches ambushed them.

This battle showed how important Apache Pass was. It had a vital water source called Apache Spring. So, the army decided to build Fort Bowie to protect this pass and the spring. Construction on the first fort began in 1862. As mentioned, it was a temporary camp. The more permanent second fort was built in 1868.

Fort Bowie played a key role for over three decades. It was a central point for military operations. These operations ended with the surrender of Geronimo in 1886. The fort was then closed down in 1894.

Fort Bowie Today: A Historic Site

Fort Bowie National Historic Site
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Fort Bowie National Historic Site Location in Arizona Show map of Arizona Fort Bowie National Historic Site Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Nearest city	Bowie, Arizona
Area	999.45 acres (4.04 km²)
Established	July 29, 1972
Visitors	8,401 (in 2018)
Governing body	National Park Service
Website	Fort Bowie National Historic Site


Fort Bowie and Apache Pass
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark

Built	1862
NRHP reference No.	72000194
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	July 29, 1972
Designated NHL	December 19, 1960

The area of Fort Bowie and Apache Pass was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1960. This means it's a very important historical place.

Today, the remains of Fort Bowie are carefully looked after. You can still see the adobe walls of the old buildings. There are also ruins of a Butterfield Stage Station. This was a stop for stagecoaches that carried mail and passengers long ago.

To get to the site, you travel on an unpaved road called Apache Pass Road. You can reach it from Interstate 10 near Bowie, Arizona. Or, you can come from Arizona Highway 186, close to Chiricahua National Monument.

To see the fort ruins and the visitor center, you walk a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) trail. This trail starts at a parking area along Apache Pass Road. As you walk, you pass other historic spots. These include Apache Spring, Siphon Canyon, and the ruins of the Butterfield Stage Stop. You can also see Bascom's Camp along the way.

A U.S. Army soldier named Orizoba Spence is buried in the fort's cemetery. He received the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the Indian Wars.

In 1958, a Western movie called Fort Bowie was made. It starred Ben Johnson. The film showed some of the conflicts between the U.S. Cavalry at the fort and the Apaches.