Sitting on the remains of what was once the Ft. McDowell officer's quarters.
Just behind the church and perhaps 50 yards behind (SSE) of the “fireplace” ruin were what looked to be two large cisterns or wells a few feet apart with their tops three feet above ground. These were once cisterns at the original Ft. McDowell and may be the remains of the two small structures in the center right of the old b/w 1905 photo.
About 5 miles past the casino on Ft. McDowell Rd., these are the only surviving remnants (2011) of the original Fort McDowell. Established September 7, 1865 along the west bank of the Rio Verde, this was once a vital military installation located seven miles north of the confluence of the Rio Verde (Verde River) and Rio Salado (Salt River). The Fort was built to protect trade the trade routes of the Verde and Salt Rivers. It was abandoned in 1890 and became a reservation for the Yavapai. For Phoenix residents, "Fort McDowell" is best known today as a casino. The original fort has not been preserved and there are no markers or plaques to indicate you're on a historical site.
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