Fort Bowie
National Historic Site
 Fort
Bowie
commemorates
in
its
1000
acres,
the
story
of
the
bitter
conflict
between
the
Chiricahua
Apaches
and
the
United
States
military.
For
more
than
30
years
Fort
Bowie
and
Apache
Pass
were
the
focal
point
of
military
operations
eventually
culminating
in
the
surrender
of
Geronimo
in
1886
and
the
banishment
of
the
Chiricahuas
to
Florida
and
Alabama.
It
was
the
site
of
the
Bascom
Affair,
a
wagon
train
massacre,
and
the
battle
of
Apache
Pass,
where
a
large
force
of
Chiricahua
Apaches
under
Mangus
Colorados
and
Cochise
fought
the
California
Volunteers.
The
remains
of
Fort
Bowie
today
are
carefully
preserved,
the
adobe
walls
of
various
post
buildings
and
the
ruins
of
a
Butterfield
Stage
Station.
It
stands
as
a
lasting
monument
to
the
bravery
and
endurance
of
U.S.
soldiers
in
paving
the
way
for
westward
settlement
and
the
taming
of
the
western
frontier.
It
also
serves
to
give
us
an
understanding
of
the
"clash
of
cultures,"
one
a
young
emerging
nation
in
pursuit
of
its
"manifest
destiny,"
the
other
a
valiant
hunter/gatherer
society
fighting
to
preserve
its
existence.
Apache
resistance
was
finally
crushed
at
Fort
Bowie,
and
the
result
was
the
end
of
the
Indian
wars
in
the
United
States.
VISITATION
11,022
in
1994
LOCATION
Bowie,
AZ
ADDRESS
Fort
Bowie
National
Historic
Site
c\o
Superintendent
Chiricahua
National
Monument
Dos
Cabezas
Route
Box
6500
Willcox,
AZ
85643
TELEPHONE
(928)
847-2500
OPERATING
HOURS,
SEASONS
Visitor
Center:
8:00
a.m.
to
5:00
p.m.,
daily.
Closed
Christmas
Day.
Ruins
Trail
hours
are
from
sunrise
to
sunset.
Peak
season
is
from
March
until
May.
CLIMATE,
RECOMMENDED
CLOTHING
Summers
are
hot.
Carry
water
and
have
sun
protection.
Temperatures
may
climb
above
100
degrees
Fahrenheit.
Winter
-
snow
may
briefly
blanket
the
area.
High
winds
are
possible
with
below
freezing
wind
chills
from
October
to
April.
Clothing:
During
the
summer,
light
clothing
is
recommended.
Always
carry
rain
gear
and
protection
against
the
sun.
During
the
winter,
wear
warm
clothing.
Sturdy
hiking
boots,
with
good
ankle
support,
are
also
recommended
when
hiking
the
trails.
DIRECTIONS
From
Willcox
drive
southeast
for
20
miles
on
State
#186
to
the
Fort
Bowie
turn
off,
then
drive
another
eight
miles
on
the
unpaved
road
to
the
Fort
Bowie
Trailhead.
Be
prepared
to
walk
the
three
miles
round
trip
to
the
ruins
and
back
to
your
car.
From
the
town
of
Bowie,
the
trailhead
is
located
on
Apache
Pass
Road,
13
miles
south.
The
park
is
116
miles
east
of
Tucson
via
I-10,
and
227
miles
from
Phoenix.
TRANSPORTATION
Privately
owned
vehicle.
There
is
no
public
transportation
to
Fort
Bowie.
Airline
service
to
Tucson
(116
miles)
and
rental
cars
are
available.
FEES,
COSTS,
RATES
None.
FACILITIES
AND
OPPORTUNITIES
Visitor
Center/Exhibits:
Visitor
center
with
historic
exhibits,
book
sales
on
the
Apache
campaign,
the
Butterfield
mail
route,
and
military
history
during
this
period.
Lodging
and
camping
facilities:
There
is
no
camping
or
overnight
facilities
in
the
park.
Closest
accommocations
are
in
the
towns
of
Bowie
and
Willcox.
Food/supplies:
No
food
services
or
gasoline
are
available.
Closest
services
are
in
the
towns
of
Bowie
and
Willcox.
Accessibility:
Access
to
the
fort
is
by
a
one
and
one-half
mile
trail
(three
miles
round
trip),
moderately
strenuous.
Special
access
for
mobility
impaired
visitors
can
be
obtained
by
calling
(928)
847-
2500
or
by
writing
directly
to
the
park.
RECOMMENDED
ACTIVITIES/PARK
USE
The
hike
in
to
the
fort
is
part
of
the
Fort
Bowie
experience.
Visitors
can
get
a
sense
of
the
lonely
isolation
that
the
soldiers
experienced
while
stationed
there.
The
trail
also
winds
past
remains
of
a
Butterfield
Stage
Coach
Station,
the
post
cemetery,
an
Apache
Wickiup,
the
Chiricahua
Apache
Indian
Agency,
Apache
Springs,
the
original
fort
and
finally
the
more
elaborate
Fort
Bowie
and
the
visitor
center.
A
minimum
of
two
hours
is
recommended
for
the
round
trip
visit.
While
at
the
fort,
visitors
can
tour
the
ruins
of
Fort
Bowie,
view
the
exhibits
inside
the
visitor
center,
bird
watch,
and
hike
the
trails.
Picnic
facilities
are
located
at
the
trailhead
and
the
visitor
center.
BASIC
VISIT
RECOMMENDATIONS
Allow
at
least
two
hours
for
the
tour.
Return
via
the
overlook
trail
for
great
views
of
the
fort
and
the
battle
site.
Wear
sturdy
walking
shoes
and
bring
water.
ADJACENT
VISITOR
ATTRACTIONS
Chiricahua
National
Monument
-
offers
hiking,
picnicking,
camping,
bird
watching
(21
mile
drive);
Coronado
National
Memorial
-
offers
hiking,
picnicking
(115
miles);
Tombstone/Bisbee
-
historic
mining
towns
(120/140
miles);
Fort
Huachuca
Army
Post
at
Sierra
Vista
(museum
&
exhibits)
105
miles);
Rex
Allen
Museum
in
Willcox
-
memorabilia
from
cowboy
movies
for
the
late
1940's
-
1950's
(30
miles);
Steins
(restored
ghost
town)
near
AZ/New
Mexico
line
(30
miles).
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Call
(928)
847-2500
or
Park
Headquarters
at
Chiricahua
(928)
824-3560. |
