Fort Apache Historic Park – Whiteriver, Arizona
The southwest is dotted with historic spots related to the Native American past. One such historic spot is Fort Apache, which was established in May of 1870 near the town of Whiteriver in order to help the Apache tribe protect their lands in a peaceful manner. This historic park can be found just four miles south of the Arizona town of Whiteriver. It can be reached by taking State Highway 73 from Carrizo or from Pinetop. The fort is approximately 22 miles from the turnoff. The army post and the land around it became part of the Apache reservation.
Fort Apache is important because it represents both the turmoil and the cooperation that the different Apache Indian tribes went through with the people of the United States. Fort Apache is an important part of this history. This site is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a great way to spend an afternoon and find out a bit more about the history of this area.
This military installation has an interesting past. The military personnel that were stationed there over the years worked with and against the local Native American people. For instance, it is associated with the famous Native American leaders Cochise and Geronimo, both of whom were Apache Indians that became famous for their deeds and military abilities. The fort was also home to several famous White Mountain Apache Scouts such as Chief Diable and Chief Alchise. Many of these Native Americans were part of the tremendous efforts to bring peace to the area of the southwest.
This site has a lot to offer to visitors. There are a variety of things to see and do here. A self-guided walking tour allows visitors to step back in time to the heyday of Fort Apache. This 288 acre site has over twenty buildings that you can tour as you read about the purpose of each building, all of which date from various times from the 1870s to the 1930s. In addition to the Fort buildings and the old military cemetery, there are also prehistoric Native American ruins, Native American petroglyphs, some of which date back to prehistoric times, the Apache Culture Center, and an authentic recreated Apache village to give visitors an idea of what life was like for the Apache people.
The White Mountain Apache Tribe owns Fort Apache, which is still part of the original reservation. The visiting hours for the Culture Center, Apache Village and walking tours are Mondays through Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from June through August. During the winter, the hours are Mondays through Fridays, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Culture Center is not open on Sundays, and is closed on all major holidays. No mention of fees is made on the website. To get more information, call 928-338-1392 or call the tourism office at 928-338-1230.
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