Fort Tyson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fort Tyson
(1856) |
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Fort Tyson ruins
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Location in La Paz County and the state of Arizona
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | La Paz |
| Website | Town of Quartzsite |
Fort Tyson was a special kind of fort built way back in 1856. It was owned by a person named Charles Tyson. This fort was located in an area that is now known as Quartzsite, Arizona. Charles Tyson built it to keep the local miners and their important water supply safe. They needed protection from raids by the Yavapai, a Native-American tribe. Over time, this area has been called Fort Tyson, Tyson’s Well, and finally Quartzsite. The name Quartzsite comes from the large amount of quartz rock found nearby.
Contents
Fort Tyson: A Historic Arizona Spot
Why Was Fort Tyson Built?
Charles Tyson was one of the first people to settle in this area. He saw that there was a lot of gold to be found, which would later become the town of Quartzsite. In the early days of the American gold rush, many people came to Arizona looking for gold. They found gold in the desert mountains of Plomosa and Dome Rock. This discovery led to a big increase in mining activity.
Many of these early miners and settlers came from California and other parts of the United States. The water supply in the area became a target for the Native-Americans of the Yavapai tribe. They were not happy about the new settlers coming onto their land. They sometimes raided the early settlements. Because of this, Charles Tyson decided to build a fort. He wanted to protect the settlers and their valuable water. He built this fort in 1856, and it became known as Fort Tyson. The settlement around it also took the name Fort Tyson.
Tyson's Well and Stage Station
In 1864, Charles Tyson dug a well by hand. Today, there's a historical marker where people believe the well was dug. Then, in 1866, Tyson built a stage station. This station was a stop for stagecoaches traveling between Ehrenberg and Prescott. At that time, Prescott was the capital city of the Arizona Territory.
The California and Arizona Stage Company started carrying passengers. These passengers included gold seekers, because gold had been found in mines near Wickenburg and Prescott. The stagecoaches would stop at Tyson's station. The Wells Fargo express also used this station. It was on its way to Ehrenberg and Wickenburg from California. Tyson’s Well Stage Station became a very busy stop. It was located on the famous Butterfield Overland Mail route, which connected Prescott, Arizona, and Riverside, California.
Changes and New Beginnings
Later, trains became a popular way to travel. This change affected how people traveled through the area. The town became almost empty when the stagecoach lines stopped running. However, there was a small mining boom in 1897. This brought life back to the town. That year, the town was officially named Quartzsite. Charles Tyson owned three stores, two saloons, and a post office there.
Tyson’s Well Stage Station continued to offer a place for travelers and freight drivers to rest. But the mining boom didn't last long. By 1900, it faded away. The town was once again nearly abandoned, with only about 20 people living there.
Images for kids
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Tyson's Well Old Stage Station historic marker.
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Fort Tyson Ruins, built in 1856.
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Another view of Fort Tyson Ruins.
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Fort Tyson Ruins, showing its historical significance.
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The site of Tyson's Well, dug in 1864.
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Tyson's Well Stage Station, built in 1866.
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Another view of Tyson's Well Stage Station.
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The watering well on the grounds of Tyson's Stage Station.
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A replica of the Oasis Hotel, originally built in 1900.
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Another view of the Oasis Hotel Replica.
