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Camp Lowell was first established in 1866 on the outskirts of Tucson. Due to unhealthy conditions of the city the army moved the post 7 mile northeast and established Fort Lowell in March, 1873. The role of Fort Lowell encompassed escorting wagon trains, protection of settlers, guarding supplies, patrolling the border and conducting offensive operations against the Western and Chiricahua Apache Indians. Troop strength at Fort Lowell averaged 130 officers and 239 enlisted men. Serving at Fort Lowell were companies representing the 2nd, 4th 5th and 6th Cavalry Regiments, and the 1st, 8th, and 12th Infantry Regiments.

The buildings at Fort Lowell reflected a Mexican Sonoran style of architecture. Buildings were built with think adobe walls, pine logs, and saguaro ribs supporting hard packed dirt roofs and wide hallways for ventilation. By the mid-1880s Eastern Anglofeatures such as porches,shutters and tin roofing were added. The troops kept in constant contact with Tucson through dinners, dances, band concerts, baseball games and by frequenting the numerous gambling halls and saloons.
With the end of the Apache wars the army saw no further need for Fort Lowell and in 1891 the post was abandoned. Since 1963 the Arizona Historical Society has operated a branch Museum at the Fort Lowell Historic Site.

David T. Faust
Fort Lowell Museum