Historic Fort Huachuca, Arizona, is located in the southeast corner of the state, approximately 75 miles southeast of Tucson and about 15 miles north of the Mexico border. Although it is surrounded by the tourist towns of Sierra Vista, Bisbee, and Tombstone, Fort Huachuca offers some interesting attractions of its own.

The fort was constructed in 1877 by the U.S. Army to help protect settlers and prospectors in the Arizona Territory from the Chiricahua Apache Indians, who were led by Geronimo. From this fort the army organized a force that chased Geronimo and his group through Mexico’s Sierra Madre mountains in 1886, eventually leading to their surrender.

After the surrender of Geronimo the Apache danger was gone, but the army decided to keep the fort open because of its strategic location at the foot of the sheltering Huachuca mountains and near a stream that provided a reliable water source. Fort Huachuca became the home of the 10th Cavalry, the famed “Buffalo Soldiers,” one of the army’s elite black cavalry corps. During World War II, the fort housed and trained two infantry divisions comprising over 24,000 soldiers.

Since then, the thrust of the fort’s mission has changed. The fort’s isolated location make it ideal for testing electronic, avionics, communications, and navigation equipment, and so the army’s Electronic Proving Ground is headquartered there to test communications, intelligence, and radar systems for the army and the other services. The Army Intelligence Center and the Army Information Systems Command are also located at Fort Huachuca. Altogether, about 12,000 people work at the fort, including Department of Defense civilians, contractors, and personnel from all four military branches.

When you visit Fort Huachuca, the first thing you might notice is that it doesn’t look or feel like stereotypical Arizona. Located in the mountains at about one mile altitude, the climate is relatively temperate: the daytime temperature ranges from around 60 degrees to 85 degrees Fahrenheit all year round. During the summer there are spectacular thunderstorms over the mountains. Also, the cooler temperatures and rainfall create a compelling landscape, with green desert grasses, mesquite trees and shrubs, and colorful wildflowers. The mild weather lends itself to outside activities: hiking, bicycling, and camping are popular.

The history of the fort is well preserved; many of the original buildings are not only still standing, but are still in use. Of the fort’s 70,000 acres, 110 comprise the original “Old Post Area.” This area includes the Pershing House, an adobe structure built in 1884 and traditionally used as the Post Commander’s quarters; the “Old Post Barracks,” now used as offices; Leonard Wood Hall, a large two-storied building once used as the hospital; and the Fort Huachuca Historical Museum, an adobe and stone building that originally served as the post chapel.

The museum recreates the story of the U.S. Army in the Southwest, displaying uniforms of various periods, early equipment and weapons, and model rooms that depict the daily life of the soldiers and their families. The Army Intelligence Museum is also located on the fort and contains displays and artifacts of wartime intelligence activities, including an original German Enigma code machine.

The wildlife on Fort Huachuca also provides a unique attraction. The altitude and climate lead to some of the most diverse plant and animal life in the state, and the fort helps protect and manage the wildlife. Garden Canyon is a scenic area on Fort Huachuca that enables visitors to enjoy a variety of wildflowers, birds, native mammals, and butterflies. During the spring and summer, the birds are especially numerous, and one can see why nearby Sierra Vista is called “The Hummingbird Capital of the United States.” An area near the top of Garden Canyon also provides a good view of some prehistoric rock paintings.