Fort Mohave facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Mohave |
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| Colorado River, Arizona | |
A sketch of Fort Mohave in the late 1800s
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| Coordinates | 35°02′35″N 114°37′21″W / 35.04306°N 114.62250°W |
| Type | Army fortification |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by |  Arizona |
| Condition | tourist attraction |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1859 |
| Built by |  United States |
| In use | 1859–1890 |
| Battles/wars | Mohave War |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants |  United States Army |
| Airfield information | |
| Elevation | 540 ft (160 m) AMSL |
Fort Mohave was first called Camp Colorado. It was built on April 19, 1859, by Lieutenant Colonel William Hoffman. This happened during the Mohave War, a conflict with the Mohave people.
The fort was located on the east side of the Colorado River in Mohave County, Arizona. It was near a place called Beale's Crossing. This spot was chosen by Lieutenant Edward Fitzgerald Beale. After the conflicts ended, the fort was given to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1890. In 1935, it became part of the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation. Today, the state of Arizona helps manage the fort as a historic site.
Contents
Fort Mohave: A Look Back
Who Lived Here First?
The first European known to visit this area was a Spanish explorer named Melchor Díaz. He explored northwestern Mohave County in 1540. He wrote about meeting many native people there. They called themselves the Pipa Aha Macav, which means "People by the River."
The name "Mojave" (also spelled "Mohave") comes from "Aha Macav." The tribe still uses the traditional Spanish spelling "Mojave." Most English speakers use the modern English spelling "Mohave." Both spellings are correct, and both are pronounced "Moh-hah-vee."
Why Was the Fort Built?
The United States government built the fort, first named Camp Colorado, for a few reasons. One main reason was to protect people traveling to California. These travelers used important routes like the Beale's Wagon Road and the Mojave Road across the Mojave Desert.
The fort also served as a military base. From here, the army could manage its interactions with the Mohave people.
Early Years and Challenges
The post was renamed Fort Mohave on April 28, 1859. Its first commander, Captain Lewis A. Armistead, led 50 soldiers. They had a battle with about 200 Mohave people in the summer of 1859. This battle helped to end the fighting between them.
Two years later, the American Civil War began. Brigadier General Edwin V. Sumner ordered the fort to be left empty. The buildings were burned down on May 28, 1861. This was done so that regular army troops could move to Los Angeles. They were needed there to prevent a possible uprising by people who supported leaving the Union. Later that year, these soldiers were sent east to fight for the Union in the Civil War.
Rebuilding and New Uses
On May 19, 1863, Fort Mohave was rebuilt. Companies B and I of the 4th California Infantry moved in. Their job was to protect travelers on the Mohave and Prescott roads. These volunteer soldiers worked to build friendly relationships with the Mojave Indians.
Many of these soldiers also started looking for gold and other minerals in the area. They found mining claims and liked the region so much that many returned after the Civil War ended.
From Fort to School to Reservation
Regular United States Army troops stayed at Fort Mohave until September 29, 1890. Then, the War Department gave the land to the Office of Indian Affairs. This was ordered by President Benjamin Harrison.
The fort's buildings were then used as a boarding school for Native American children. For many years, students at this school had to speak English. They were also encouraged to give up their native traditions. The goal was to help them fit into the main American culture.
The school closed during the Great Depression. After that, the Office of Indian Affairs gave the property to the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation. The buildings were not kept up, so they became ruins. Today, the state of Arizona manages these ruins as a place for tourists to visit and learn about history.
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