Fort Verde State Historic Park

Visit this former U.S. Army post in Camp Verde, where frontier history of the late 1800s comes to life.

Yavapai and Apache Indians inhabited Arizona’s high deserts when the first settlers arrived. Fort Verde was established to protect settlers and served as a base for General Crook’s U.S. Army troops during the 1870s and 1880s. Many of the fort’s original buildings have been preserved for visitors to see firsthand what frontier life was like. Visitors are invited to join living history tours for a glimpse into military history during the settlement of the Western frontier.

Step Back in Time

Fort Verde once had 22 buildings arranged around parade grounds used by infantry and cavalry forces. Today, the Military Headquarters Building is a museum that chronicles the lives of people residing at the fort. Artifacts and exhibits take visitors back to the harsh living conditions and the conflicts reflective of expanding the U.S. frontier into inhabited lands. Visitors can also walk through the captured-in-time Commanding Officer’s Quarters, the Bachelor’s Quarters and the Doctor’s & Surgeon’s Quarters. Plan a visit during the annual Fort Verde Days held in October, when reenactors in period costumes reveal what life was like in the Arizona Territory.

Hike Historic Trails

Many hiking trails in the Camp Verde area follow the paths that original inhabitants and the first settlers once traveled. Thousands of early settlers got their first glimpse of the Verde River Valley from the Copper Canyon Trail that descends to the valley floor. The Cold Water Trail was once a supply route for Fort Verde, used to transport men and supplies to the fort. The Grief Hill Trail was one of the earliest entry points for settlers and military personnel heading to Fort Verde from Prescott. It follows a steep and treacherous wagon route from the late 1800s, an added history lesson that visitors can experience while hiking in Arizona.

Explore Cliff Dwellings

Visitors to the area can also see some of the best-preserved cliff dwellings in the Southwest. Montezuma Castle was once home to Sinagua people, believed to be the area’s original inhabitants. See archeological artifacts preserved from the dwellings and learn how its cliffside, riverside location provided respite in the rugged Arizona backcountry. Visit nearby Montezuma Well and Tuzigoot National Monument
for more insights into Sinagua culture.