Fort Bowie National Historic Site

Fort Bowie witnessed almost 25 years of conflict between the Chiricahua Apache and the US Army, and remains a tangible connection to the turbulent era of the late 1800s. Explore the history of Fort Bowie and Apache Pass as you hike to the visitor center and old fort ruins. Today, this peaceful landscape stands in stark contrast to the violence that once gripped this land.

Fort Bowie Ruins

San Simon Valley can be seen just beyond the ruins of the cavalry barracks.

Ruins of the fort with mountains and valley in the background.

Mountain howitzer

The mountain howitzer is a symbolic relic from the active days of Fort Bowie

Close up of a canon barrel

Post Trader's Store

The Post Trader's store on a spring day.

Ruins of adobe building under a blue sky with white clouds.

Fort Bowie landscape and ruins

Fort Bowie was once a bustling frontier military fort. Today, the ruins offer a place of reflection.

Ruined walls of the old buildings and mountains in the background

Fort Bowie Cemetery

Fort Bowie cemetery is accessed via the Fort Bowie Trail, and in addition to many US troops buried here, some Apache/Indeh are buried here as well.

Black and white photo of white tombstones in a cemetery, mountains in the background

Heliograph demonstration

The heliograph was an important communications tool in the late 1880s. Stationed on top of high desert peaks, sunlight was reflected off mirrors in coded patterns to send a message miles away.

A group gathers as a ranger displays the heliograph equipment