Fort Whipple, Arizona

Fort Whipple was a U.S. Army post which served as Arizona Territory's capital prior to the founding of Prescott, Arizona. The post was founded by Edward Banker Willis in December 1863 [1] in Del Rio Springs and originally named Camp Clark, after Surveyor General of the New Mexico Territory John A. Clark.

Fort Whipple
Prescott, Arizona
Fort Whipple historic plaque located on the grounds of the VA Hospital in Prescott, Arizona
TypeArmy fortification
Site information
Controlled by Arizona
ConditionMedical treatment facility
Site history
Built1863
Built by United States
In use1863 - 1913
Garrison information
Occupants United States Army

On May 18, 1864 it was moved 21 miles southwest to a miner's tent settlement on the left bank of Granite Creek called Granite City (also Granite Dells, Gimletville), which was on higher ground, had better access to lumber, and the military could better protect miners. At this time, the post was renamed Fort Whipple, after Amiel Weeks Whipple, a Civil War Union General. The capital was placed two miles south in the new city of Prescott founded in 1864.[2][3]

By 1895 the place was dilapidated, and in 1897 scheduled for deactivation, but in 1898 the US declared war on Spain, and 200 troops were recruited and sent east to the Spanish–American War. The Fort was inactive between 1899 and 1902, then reactivated in April 1902 with plans to rebuild the post. New buildings and quarters were constructed and completed by 1908. Four companies (about 500 soldiers) moved in, they were not needed after Arizona became a state in 1912, and the place was deserted except for a maintenance crew.

In 1918 during World War I, the Army reactivated Fort Whipple as U.S. Army Hospital #20 for respiratory illnesses, many with tuberculosis (TB) and soldiers injured by nerve gas. It had 22 buildings and 900 sick beds.[4]

The property was transferred to the U.S. Public Health Service and operated under a permit from the War Department. Executive Order 3669 [5] signed on April 29, 1922 transferred the permit and functions of the hospital to the newly established U.S. Veterans Bureau (Hospital #50, Whipple Barracks, Arizona), and in 1931 to the Veterans Administration (renamed U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in March 1989) as the VA Hospital in Prescott, Arizona. In 2004, it was renamed the Bob Stump Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, after Congressman Stump, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.

Along with being a hospital, the fort still has buildings (built during the reconstruction period of 1905-1908) around the campus, The buildings on the hill once served as the officers quarters. The buildings served as homes to staff of the hospital for many years, but were vacated over 5 years ago. The Department of Veterans Affairs has plans to renovate these former quarters to become functional in providing Veteran's healthcare services.[6]

Fort Whipple Museum and other historic structures
Part of a series of the
Cities and towns in Arizona with lists and images of historic properties; cemeteries or historic districts
Flag of Arizona

Pictured is one of the military officer's quarters (Building 11, painted yellow and green) which has been turned into the Fort Whipple Museum, with artifacts and history about the fort and hospital, including medical instruments, Army weaponry, the Buffalo Soldiers, maps, photographs and memoirs written by those stationed there. The museum is operated as a joint project of the Sharlot Hall Museum and the Bob Stump Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Also pictured are:

  • The Fort Whipple Officer's Row.
  • The Fort Whipple NCO Quarters.
  • The Fort Whipple Army Barracks.
  • The Fort Whipple Post Headquarters.
  • The Fort Whipple Theater.
  • The Fort Whipple Guardhouse.
Historic 1903-1908 structures in Fort Whipple
Fort Whipple Museum
  • Fort Whipple Museum (Quarters-11).
  • Fort Whipple Museum
  • Fort Whipple Officers Quarters.
  • Fort Whipple Officers Quarters in Officer's Row.
  • Fort Whipple NCO Quarters.
  • Fort Whipple Army Barracks.
  • Fort Whipple Post Headquarters.
  • Fort Whipple Theater.
  • Fort Whipple Guardhouse.

Original location
Del Rio Springs marker where Fort Whipple was originally established

References
  1. FortWiki
  2. Brandes, Ray (1959). "A Guide to the History of the U.S. Army Installations in Arizona 1849-1886". Arizona and the West. 1 (1): 42–65. JSTOR 40166912.
  3. Hoagberg, Earl (May 1999). "135 Years Ago Today a Capital is Born Named Prescott". Sharlot Hall Archives & Library.
  4. Bates, Al (May 2000). "From Fort to Veteran's Affairs the latest chapter of Whipple". Sharlot Hall Archive & Library. Archived from the original on 2016-10-24. Retrieved 2016-10-24.
  5. "Executive Order 3669", DocsTeach, National Archives
  6. "VA's Proposed Use of Historic Properties", Daily Courier, June 27, 2019

Days Past articles, Sharlot Hall Museum Resource Center

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