The Rambunctious Ruins of Fort Bowie

For years, the Apache Indians tolerated Americans, Mexicans, and Spaniards who traveled through the Apache Pass in order to quench their thirst at Apache springs.

However, when their was an influx of settlers during the 19th century and the acquisition of land and property was of the utmost importance, this disrupted the region and the way of life for the Native Americans.

Around 1858, Cochise, a chief of the Chokonen band of the Chiricahua Apache, allowed the construction of a mail post near the Apache spring, which carried mail and passengers from Missouri to California.

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In 1861, during the Bascom Affair, Cochise was accused of stealing goods and kidnapping a rancher’s stepson. Chief Cochise was detained by Lt. George Bascons troops in a tent prison, where he escaped seizing hostages and executing them. Due to the outbreaks of violence within the cultures, Fort Bowie was built in 1862. From 1862-1882, the fort served as a military camp.

Around 1872, Cochise and his people were settled on a 3000 square foot reservation. Tom Jefford,  a personal friend of the Apache, acted as the Indian agent between the tribe and the Americans. Unfortunately, Cochise died in 1874.

Two years later, Jefford was forced to turn over the reservation; however he was fired for refusing to govern the reservation under the constraints.

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The tribes were eventually moved to San Carlos reservation near the Gila River Valley. Geronimo escaped from the reservation, along with several bands of followers, and migrated to the Sierra Madre of Northern Mexico where he terrorized the border for over a decade.

The military detachments from Fort Bowie pursued Geronimo relentlessly, each time Geronimo surrendering and then escaping right afterwards.

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In 1886, General Nielson A. Miles finally captured Geronimo and his followers who were railed to Exile in Florida and Alabama.

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Today, in order to access the old stronghold you must hike on foot down the long dirt road for about one and half miles. The path is paved with grassland and wildflowers, and when you actually arrive at Fort Bowie you can imagine the extreme isolation the soldiers stationed there felt.

Along the way, you’ll pass the Apache Spring, the ruins of the Chiricahua Indians, and the original ruins of Fort Bowie. The permanent structure was built in 1868 with adobe walls. The outpost was abandoned in 1894.

Fort Bowie and its surroundings are a prime example of the old frontier, however in this instance the “frontier” concept had a massive, negative impact on Native Americans, as opposed to the idea that there was unlimited land and everyone had a right to it.