This is a place for discussions of history and historic preservation of old downtown Tucson and the five Historic Preservation Zones. I will publish articles here when it seems helpful. Useful material from others is welcome. Readers are invited to comment on posts regarding reasonable historic preservation, better understanding of our history and to serve the interests of old downtown Tucson residents. You may be invited to post here also; please let me know if you want to do so. Much of the research and descriptive text have been obtained with Perplexity AI. Feedback on incorrect information or site malfunctions will be very helpful.

Fort Lowell

This  page is now mostly blank because no content has been provided. As history buffs and neighborhood boosters provide material, it will be placed here. As time and energy permit, content will also be posted by the site's webmaster. 

Fort Lowell was the final Army installation in Tucson. It replaced Camp Lowell in 1862 to achieve better sanitary conditions and probably also because housing a number of soldiers in the midst of a civilian community led to friction. 

There is further information on Wikipedia and on the National Park service site. This article supports the idea that the local community wanted the camp relocated far enough away to reduce conflicts but close enough to defend the town. 

The Fort Lowell neighborhood is included in this site because of its original location downtown, its importance to the old town in defending it from Apache attacks and its status as one of five Historic Preservation Zones. 

The Tucson Parks and Recreation web page on Armory Park says this about Camp Lowell: In 1873 the camp was moved out of town and reestablished at its current location at the confluence of the Pantano and Tanque Verde washes. In 1879, Camp Lowell was renamed Fort Lowell.

The main features of the Fort Lowell neighborhood include:

  • The nearby Fort Lowell Park and Fort Lowell Museum: Located in a reconstructed 1880s adobe officers' quarters, the museum offers exhibits on Army life during the Apache Wars and hands-on activities for visitors.
    • Ruins of the original fort buildings
    • A protected structure housing the hospital ruins
    • Hohokam Indian sites
    • Picnic facilities
    • A playground
  • Historic Buildings: Several structures from the original fort are preserved and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
  • Walking Tours: Visitors can take self-guided tours of the historic neighborhood and fort grounds. 
  • Historic District: The surrounding Fort Lowell Historic District showcases a blend of preserved historical structures and newer residential areas.
  • Natural Features: The area's location near the confluence of the Rillito and Tanque Verde rivers has made it a historically significant site for various cultures over thousands of years.

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