Fort Verde State Historic Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Fort Verde District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Commanding officer's house and Dennis Lockhart portraying General Crook
Location in Arizona Show map of Arizona Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Bounded by Hance, Coppinger, and Woods Streets, Camp Verde, Arizona
Area	12 acres (4.9 ha)
Built	1872
NRHP reference No.	71000120
Added to NRHP	October 7, 1971

Fort Verde State Historic Park in Camp Verde, Arizona, is a special park that helps us understand what a military fort was like in the 1880s. This park works to protect parts of the old fort from the time of the Apache Wars. The park was created in 1970 and became a recognized historic place a year later.

Why Was Fort Verde Built?

In the mid-1800s, settlers moved near the Verde River in Arizona. They grew crops like corn to sell to people in Prescott, which was the capital of the Arizona Territory, and to miners nearby.

However, more people moving in meant less hunting and gathering land for local Native American tribes, like the Dilzhe'e Apache and Yavapai. Because their food sources were disrupted, these tribes sometimes raided the farmers' crops for food.

The farmers asked the United States Army for help. In 1865, soldiers arrived to protect the settlers. Over the next few years, they set up several military posts:

• In 1865, a small camp was set up about 5 miles (8 km) south of today's Camp Verde.
• From 1866 to 1871, a place called Camp Lincoln was used, about a mile north of where Fort Verde is now.
• From 1871 to 1873, Camp Verde was built gradually.
• In 1879, Camp Verde was officially renamed Fort Verde.
• In 1891, the army left Fort Verde.
• In 1899, the fort was sold to the public.

By 1872, about 1,500 local Native Americans were moved to a reservation. After this, the army's main job changed. Instead of protecting settlers from raids, they made sure the tribes stayed on the reservation. The last big fight with Native American groups in the area happened in 1882 at the Battle of Big Dry Wash.

What Was Fort Verde Like?

Fort Verde was never surrounded by walls or fences, and no battles ever happened right at the fort itself. When it was busiest, the fort had 22 buildings. Only four of these buildings were still standing by 1956. That year, local people created a small museum in the old administration building. Later, they gave the buildings and 10 acres (40,000 m²) of land to the state to become a State Park.

Some of the buildings at the fort were made using a special method called pice. This involved making large adobe slabs by pouring mud into wooden frames, instead of using many small adobe bricks.

Exploring Fort Verde State Historic Park Today

When you visit Fort Verde State Historic Park, you can see several historic buildings and markers. These help you imagine what life was like for the soldiers and officers who lived and worked here.

• The "0" Mile General Crook Trail Marker shows where General George Crook started a military supply trail in 1871. This trail connected Forts Whipple, Verde, and Apache. You can find this marker near the Fort Verde Administration Building.
• The main Administration Building was where all the important decisions about the fort were made. Today, it's the park's Visitor Center and museum. Inside, you can see exhibits, old military items, and learn about the Indian Scouts and the Indian Wars era.
• You can also see inside the Commanding Officer's Office within the Administration Building.
• There's a display of old uniforms that soldiers wore when they served at Fort Verde. This display is also in the old Administration Building.
• You can visit the Commanding Officer Quarters, which was the home of the fort's leader.
• The Bachelor Officers’ Quarters was where unmarried officers lived.
• The Doctor’s & Surgeons Quarters was the home and office for the fort's medical staff.