(Kaibab AZ)
Fourteen miles West of Fredonia is Pipe Springs National Monument; a joint project between the Paiute-Kaibab Band and the National Park Service. This was a well known natural spring used by travelers through the area.
Pipe Springs Fort
A tithing ranch was established there, and a stone fort was built over the spring by the Mormon Church. The ranch provided food to the men building the Saint George Temple 60 miles to the west. The spring water was shared with others, and managed by the ranch. But, as you can imagine, most was used by the ranch.
Bunk House
The fort is much as it was when in use. There are corrals, ponds, gardens and out buildings. A volunteer does a tour explaining the uses of the fort and the history surrounding it.
Smithy next to corral
Pioneer Camp
The museum shows how the different groups around the spring worked together and compromised over it’s use. Eventually, the Church sold the ranch. Today, the water is split equally between the natives, local ranchers, and the park service.
Native Camp
It’s an interesting story of how the west was developed. And, the restored ranch is well done. From there I headed toward my next destination.
Site: Pipe Springs NM
Scene: Fort, ranch, museum
That sure looks like an interesting place. Lots of history there. I bet you could spend hours looking at everything and imagining what it was like back in the day.
I sure can, and usually do. I like getting into the history of a place.