Fort Lowell Museum is located on Craycroft Road and between Fort Lowell Road and Glenn Road today.
Fort Lowell-Courtesy of Arizona Historical Society
Beginning
Before the mid-1800’s, armed forces from Mexico and the United States have occupied Tucson. Mexican troops, confederate soldiers, and other forces have come and gone leaving ghosts of their forts and bases like Fort Lowell. Before the official fort was constructed, Camp Lowell was established in 1866 and was named after Charles Russell Lowell, a general of the Union army who died in the Civil War (Wikipedia). During that time, many Native Americans also lived in the area including the Apache and Hohokam. Their tribes were known to have settled by what is recognized as the Pantano River in Tucson, Arizona (Arizona Historical Society).
In 1873, the US Army in Tucson, Arizona moved Camp Lowell from what is today’s downtown Tucson and began construction on a fort. They chose an area close by a fresh water supply, the Rillito River. In order to complete this project, the Army compensated and forced local ranchers off the land. This did create some hostility between the soldiers and ranchers.
Fort Lowell Band-Courtesy of Arizona Historical Society
Fort Lowell served as a base for military offense operations during the Indian Wars and also as a trading post between other forts such as Fort Bowie and Fort Huachuca in Arizona. At one point, over 200 men were placed at Fort Lowell. The Commissary storehouse held six months’ worth of supplies, which included bacon, salt, sugar, coffee, beans, corn meal, flour, fruits, and canned goods. In 1875, a local butcher distributed beef to the soldiers stationed at the fort (Fort Lowell Museum).
Fort Lowell Quartermaster's Houses-Courtesy of Pima County Government
Quartermaster’s Houses
There were seven quartermaster’s houses constructed in Fort Lowell and now only three originals stand. Three are on the west side of Craycroft Road and have been restructured and currently being restored. The Fort Lowell Museum on the East side of Craycroft Road is a replica of the officers’ quarters that used to stand in the same place (Fort Lowell Museum).
The Cavalry Stables held on average 133 horses and was complete with a corral made of adobe. Unfortunately, there isn’t any saved pieces of the stables but today ranches and horse stables stand where Fort Lowell (Fort Lowell Museum).
Fort Lowell Hospital-Courtesy of Arizona Historical SocietyHospital
Fort Lowell did have its own hospital in 1878 and the ruins still stand. The building was made of adobe, pine wood, and saguaro ribs with a dirt roof. It had 16 beds for patients, its own kitchen, a dispensary room, isolation ward, quarters for steward, and surgeon’s office. Usually a commissioned officer Army surgeon was in charge of the hospital but contracted citizen surgeons were also hired. A detailed log of number of patients in and out of the hospital as well as inventory was a crucial part of the job. One of the most common diseases that patients needed to be treated for was Malaria. This sent 50 soldiers to the hospital and it was unknown why until Walter Reed conducted research on the disease and in the Tucson area. He found that the moisture in the air and common mist in the early mornings that many of the soldiers breathed in was causing the illness. Also, poor drinking water conditions was another reason (Arizona Historical Society).
Fort Lowell Hospital-Photo by K. Peterson
Fort Lowell Hospital-Photo by K. Peterson
Commissary Storehouses
For the soldiers at Fort Lowell, it was hard to adjust to the conditions and desert isolation. The Post Trader’s Commissary offered some distractions such as cards, dominoes, parties, shows, and music. The alcoholism and boisterous night life was beginning to be a problem that needed attention from superior officers. New regulations and adjustments were made but usually the overconsumption of alcohol was ignored. The Commissary is still standing today and utilized as apartments on Fort Lowell Road (Fort Lowell Museum).
Fighting the Apache
Geronimo-Courtesy of BlogOfArizona.net
One of the main purposes and operations of the companies at Fort Lowell was to plan offense strategies during the Indian Wars against the Apache Indians. Geronimo, the leader of the Chiricahua Apache during the time, was attacking stagecoaches and trains in Arizona (Biography). Troops at Fort Lowell went after and fought the Indians on several occasions. The Post Surgeon’s log at Fort Lowell reported patients that came in with battle injuries such as shot wounds and lacerations. In 1880, the railroad finally made its way to Tucson and the Apaches would attack the train cars that ran through the Rincon Mountains to the Southeast. The soldiers’ orders were to guard, protect, and assist with transporting cargo and civilians across the desert where Apache Indians may be waiting to ambush them. The natives that were caught were sent to prison camps like the ones in Florida or Alabama in the 1800’s (Fort Lowell Museum).
Then, in 1886, the Apache and Geronimo surrendered to US Troops. The Indian Wars in Arizona were reaching an end and Fort Lowell was losing its significance. However, the troops still helped as a central post station between forts but due to the railroads, that job was no longer required by them as much. By 1887, the troops mainly pursued train robbers and recovered an Army payroll. This success came with rewards for the soldiers and Fort Lowell was granted a new water pump, storage tank, two windmills, screen doors for quarters, and additional NCO quarters. Although Fort Lowell served a purpose, the original main objectives were either completed or utilized by other means. Two years later in 1889, the post officially closed and then the troops were being moved out of the fort. In 1891, the last of the soldiers had left Fort Lowell and the fort was abandoned (Fort Lowell Museum).
Today
Many ruins of Fort Lowell are preserved and can be viewed throughout Tucson thanks to the Arizona Historical Society and other organizations. Within the perimeter of where the fort used to stand is now a museum dedicated to sharing this local history and also the Fort Lowell Park. There are swimming pools, tennis courts, baseball fields, a jungle gym, and a pond with ducks and herrings. Many people use this park for recreational purposes and little leagues teams meet there for practices and games. Meanwhile some of the ruins that were saved are used as municipal areas for picnics and parties.
Fort Lowell Park Tennis Courts-Photo by K. Peterson
Fort Lowell Pond-Photo by K. Peterson
Fort Lowell Museum-Photo by K. PetersonThe Fort Lowell Museum is located in a replica of quartermaster house that used to stand in same place. Souvenirs, information, and amazingly well-kept displays including flags, uniforms, diagrams and maps, surgical instruments used at fort Lowell hospital, guns, Indian artifacts, and more can be viewed here.
The Arizona Historical Society hosts Civil War reenactments that occurred in Arizona and on the second Saturday of February is Fort Lowell Day.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Russell_Lowell
www.arizonahistoricalsociety.org
http://www.biography.com/people/geronimo-9309607
Fort Lowell Museum-Karen
