Fort Huachuca
Of
the many camps established in the 1800s to protect settlers in the Arizona
Territory, only Fort Huachuca is still an active military fort. The post is
situated at the base of the Huachuca Mountains and contains over 70,000 acres, 110
of which became a national Historic Landmark in March of 1977.
The historic area includes the Brown Parade Field, which was the center of post life during the days of the horse soldiers. Surrounding buildings which are maintained in the appearance of their historic time include the Post Commander’s quarters, the Old Post Barracks, a hospital in the Leonard Wood Hall, and General’s row, original officer housing which is still in use.
The historic area also includes two instructive and interesting museums: the Main Museum with a Museum Annex and the Intelligence Museum. Both are open daily and free of charge to visitors.
Fort Huachuca was the home of all the famous African American regiments who served in various wars: the 24th Infantry 9th Cavalry in 1890; the 10th Cavalry, the Buffalo Soldiers, in 1913-1931; and the 25th Infantry in World War II, who trained the 92nd and 93rd Division for Europe and Pacific fighting. Currently the fort’s leadership in military intelligence and technology command makes Fort Huachuca a valuable link in military training.
The following time line shows the varied and important roles this Fort has taken in military history:
1877 - Camp Huachuca was established to protect settlers and travel routes in southwest Arizona and block Apache escape routes to Mexico.
1882 - Camp Huachuca was designated as a U. S. Army Fort.
1913 – The 10th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers arrived. They participated in the 1916 expedition into Mexico. During World War I they guarded the United State-Mexican border.
1933 – The 25th Infantry Regiment was the main combat unit at the fort. It was absorbed by the 93rd Infantry Division during World War II. During the war years troop strength reached 30,000.
1947 – The Fort was transferred to the State of Arizona for governance.
1951 – The Fort reactivated for the Korean War, first as Air Force Base, then as a post to train Aviation engineers, who built Libby Army Airfield.
1954 - The Fort became the U.S. Army Electronic Proving Ground.
1960 – The Fort Huachuca Museum opened in the former post headquarters.
1967 - The Fort became the headquarters of the U.S. Army Strategic Communications Command and in 1971, the U.S. Army Intelligence Center and School was activated.
1973 - The Strategic Communications Command became the U.S. Army Communications Command.
1984 – The combined command was changed to U.S. Army Information Systems Command.
1990 - Fort Huachuca became the home of
the Army Intelligence Center, the Army Information
Systems Command, and the Joint Interoperabilty Test Command.
1995 – The U.S. Army Intelligence Museum was established and used for teaching within the U.S. Army Intelligence School.
2006 – Currently, Fort Huachuca is also the home of the 111th Military Intelligence Brigade which conducts Military Intelligence (MI) MOS-related training for the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines. In addition it houses the Army Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM)/9th Army Signal Command and a major subordinate command, the 11th Signal Brigade.
The main gate of the fort is on Fry Boulevard. Coming down Arizona 90 from Benson, visitors may take Buffalo Soldier Trail to Fry Boulevard and stop at the Visitor’s Center for a permit to enter the fort. The driver must show car registration, proof of insurance and a valid driver’s license and will receive a detailed map of the Fort and the nearby area. Passengers must have picture identification.
In the southwest corner of the fort is a spectacular high observation point and picnic area. Garden Canyon, popular for hiking and bird watching, and the steeper Sheelite Canyon are located in the southeast sector of the post. Along Garden Canyon is a pictograph site where the ancient rock art is protected by a chain-link fence. Up the road from that site is the Rappel Cliffs Rockshelter Pictograph Sites. The soldiers use the cliffs nearby to practice rappelling.
Related information can be found on the following websites:
www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/amsw/sw3.htm
http://huachuca-www.army.mil/sites/local/
Other sources: Arizona Highways, October 2004
GVR Hiking library: maps, pamphlets, and Arizona Star newspaper articles.
Prepared by John and Bette Bosma. 2007. Photographs by J & B Bosma.
Additional Material: GVHC Library File 33