Fort Bowie NHS final sesquicentennial event this weekend | Arts & Culture

Fort Bowie is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, built in 1862 during the conflict between the U.S. military and the Chiricahua Apaches. 

The Fort Bowie National Historic Site will celebrate their 150th with special events all October long.  Among the events planned are guided hikes into the site by Park rangers every Sunday.  Visitors can meet up with a ranger at the Ft. Bowie trailhead on Apache Pass Road at 10 a.m. on October 28 for a one and half mile hike into the ruins.  Each hike will focus primarily on the order of events that led to the establishment of the fort, including the Bascom Affair and the Battle of Apache Pass.  Those making the hike should bring water, snacks and wear sturdy shoes.  The hike will end at the visitors’ center and visitors can make their way back to the trailhead at their own pace.

Events on October 27 will be capped off by a musical performance by the Old Arizona Brass Band (also known at the 4th U.S. Cavalry Regimental Band).  The will be performing music made famous on the western frontier.  The band will hold two performances at the visitor center between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. 

There will be complimentary cake and sarsaparillas served between sets.  The WNPA will also be offering 15 percent discounts on all items in the bookstore, during these performances. 

On October  27, ranger-led programs, including tours of the fort ruins and heliograph demonstrations, will be available throughout the day.

Visitors to Fort Bowie NHS will also be able to enjoy a collection of artifacts on loan from the Western Archeological and Conservation Center in Tucson, throughout October. All of the artifacts were found at Fort Bowie, and speak to the role or presence of women and children at the fort. The artifacts are on display at the visitor center, open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.

All events are free and open to both individuals and groups. Visitors should be prepared to hike to the fort ruins and visitor center, a round-trip distance of 3 miles. The trail is well-marked and includes easy to moderate terrain. Visitors are encouraged to bring picnic lunches (no food is available onsite) and spend the day exploring and enjoying the area. The site includes a visitor center and bookstore, which are open daily. Weather conditions this time of year are variable, but visitors should bring plenty of water, sun protection, and comfortable walking shoes. People with limited mobility can contact the visitor center for more information about accessibility options.

Fort Bowie NHS is located off Apache Pass Road.

**From Willcox, travel 22 miles south on State Route 186 to Apache Pass Road. Turn left on Apache Pass Road and travel eight miles along the dirt road to the trailhead parking lot.

**From Bowie, travel 14 miles south on Apache Pass Road to the trailhead parking lot. Apache Pass Road turns into a gravel road approximately 12 miles from Bowie.

For more information about events commemorating the fort’s sesquicentennial, contact the visitor center at (520)847-2500 ext. 1 or visit www.nps.gov/fobo.