Fort Tyson, Military fort in La Paz County, Arizona.
Fort Tyson is a military defensive structure in the desert of west-central Arizona, located near Quartzsite at a historically important location. The structure was built from adobe and wood, modest in size but designed to protect the settlement and its water supply.
Charles Tyson built the fort in 1856 to protect miners in the region and secure access to water sources. The site played a role in the early phase of American westward expansion and the conflicts that defined that era.
The ruins show how settlers and Indigenous peoples lived alongside each other during westward expansion in the 1800s. This location represents where different ways of life met and shaped the region's early development.
The site is open to visitors and can be explored on foot year-round. Informational markers on location explain the history and help visitors understand the remaining structures.
A hand-dug well built in 1864 was located at the site and later became known as Tyson's Well. This water source became essential for travelers crossing the desert and turned the location into a vital stop on desert routes.
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