Fort Huachuca celebrated the Army's 236th birthday and Flag Day Tuesday. Festivities were held at Southern Arizona's largest military installation, which covers more than 73,000 acres at the base of the Huachuca Mountains.
Fort Huachuca facts
• The fort was founded in 1877, initially as a cavalry outpost to protect settlers and travel routes during the Indian Wars, and to block traditional Apache escape routes into Mexico.
• The site was chosen for its abundance of water, trees and high ground from which to observe Indian activity.
• "Huachuca" is an Indian word that means "place of thunder."
• Camp Huachuca became Fort Huachuca in 1882. A few years later, it served as the Army's advance headquarters and forward supply base for the Geronimo campaign.
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• Starting in 1913, the fort was home of the "Buffalo Soldiers," the largest encampment of black troops in history. The site was chosen specifically for its isolated location away from white neighborhoods.
• The fort has been shut down and reopened twice, in 1947 and 1953.
• The fort was annexed by the city of Sierra Vista in 1971.
• In 1977, 100 years after its founding, the original encampment was declared a National Historic Landmark.
• The fort's Libby Army Airfield, which also serves as Sierra Vista's municipal airport, is listed as an alternative landing site for the space shuttle.
• Today, Fort Huachuca is a major center for military intelligence training and unmanned aerial vehicle training, and for testing electronic and communications equipment.
SOURCES: U.S. Army, Fort Huachuca Historical Museum, staff research.
