Camp Verde

In 1865, the U.S. Army established Camp Lincoln, later called Camp Verde and Fort Verde. There were no fortified walls at Fort Verde since the Yavapais and Apaches never attacked any of the 43 forts in the Arizona territory.

 Fort Verde State Park's museum is surrounded  by a picket fence.  The historic outpost with worn wooden floors tells the stories of central Arizona's Indian wars. Artifacts include a bugle (at right) found in 1878 on the Little Bighorn battlefield. Buglers played it  in the Arizona territory until 1886.

Today, Camp Verde is home to a farming and ranching community  with the Verde River keeping the valley appropriately green. The 
Yavpapai-Apache Nation occupies the nearby Middle Verde community west of town and operates the Cliff Castle Casino.

Montezuma Castle National Monument, Verde Valley Archaeology Center and the Out of Africa Wildlife Park are among Camp Verde's other tourism attractions.

Founded: 1865
Elevation: 3,160 feet
Population: 10,925

This cavalry trumpet was found on the Little Bighorn battlefield in 1878.

In winter, Camp Verde's verdant fields are golden, not green, "verde" in Spanish. In summer, the town lives up to its name with lots of greenery and shade.

Built in 1900, this was a saloon, cafe, hotel and Trailways bus station.

Cowboy Corner on Main Street is is thick with Western artifacts.

Fort Verde operated from 1865-91 with an average of 110 soldiers. They protected settlers who moved into areas occupied by Yavapai and Apache people.