Fort Naco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Camp Naco Historic District
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A building of Fort Naco in 2008
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 Location in Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Location | Junction of Willson Rd. & Newell St., Naco, Arizona |
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| NRHP reference No. | 12000853 |
| Added to NRHP | October 17, 2012 |
| Fort Naco | |
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| Naco, Arizona | |
| Type | Army post |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by |  Arizona |
| Condition | abandoned |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1917 |
| Built by |  United States |
| Materials | adobe, brick, wood |
| Battles/wars | Mexican Revolution |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants |  United States Army Arizona National Guard |
Fort Naco, also known as Camp Naco or Fort Newell, was once a military camp in the Southwest near Naco, Arizona. It was built as part of a project to protect the border with Mexico. Over time, buildings made of adobe (a type of mud brick), wood, and other materials were constructed to house soldiers and other important structures.
What is Fort Naco?
Fort Naco was one of the very last forts built by the United States on its own land. It is also the only border fort still standing from several that were built during the Mexican Revolution. This was a big conflict happening in Mexico during the early 1900s.
Why Was Fort Naco Built?
Soldiers first arrived in Naco in November 1910. They stayed there because of ongoing fighting just across the border. This included important events like the Battle of Naco in 1913 and the Siege of Naco in 1915, which happened in Sonora, Mexico.
After a famous Mexican revolutionary leader named Pancho Villa attacked a town in New Mexico in 1916, Naco became a key place. American troops gathered there to protect the border. Camp Naco was officially built in 1917 as part of the Mexican Border Project. It served as the main office for the 1st Infantry Regiment of the Arizona National Guard.
Who Lived at Fort Naco?
Camp Naco was home to different groups of soldiers. This included members of the U.S. Army's 9th and 10th Cavalry and the 25th Infantry. From 1911 to 1924, African-American soldiers known as "Buffalo Soldiers" were assigned to an outpost at Naco. These brave soldiers were part of units from nearby Fort Huachuca. Their main jobs were to patrol the border and keep American citizens safe. Many people came to Naco to watch the battles of the Mexican Revolution happening across the border.
Later, from 1935 to 1937, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was based at Fort Naco. The CCC was a program during the Great Depression that put young men to work on important conservation projects across the country.
Saving Fort Naco Today
In 1990, a youth organization bought the property, hoping to use it for young people. However, this plan did not work out. In 2006, a fire and the discovery of harmful materials on the site caused the group to leave the project. The mayor of Huachuca City then agreed to take over the site to prevent it from being destroyed.
By 2010, some of the fort's barracks (buildings where soldiers lived) were still standing and had been partly repaired. In 2012, the site was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
In 2018, the city of Bisbee took ownership of the site. More recently, money from grants has been used to clean up and preserve the fort. A group called "Friends of Camp Naco" is working to find an organization or person to take on the camp as a long-term project. They hope to find a new use for this historic place. In 2022, Camp Naco was added to a list of the "11 Most Endangered Historic Places" by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This highlights how important it is to save the fort.
In October 2022, the State of Arizona gave $4.6 million to the City of Bisbee. This money is specifically for restoring and improving Camp Naco.
