RRPC: The Old Fort

Two weeks ago when I posted the topic "The Old Place" for today's Round Robin Photo Challenge, I had a vague idea of going to Old Tucson for my photos, or maybe downtown. Over the years I've taken many hundreds of photos of historic places around Tucson - old office buildings, the courthouse, a movie location built in 1930s, midcentury modern buildings, old hotels and motels, even my own church. I could fill this entry up many times over with file photos, but I'd rather post something new!

This week when Friday afternoon arrived, I hadn't taken any new pictures for it yet; so I selected a closer, probably more appropriate locale: Fort Lowell. Please excuse my delay in posting - aside from one tv show and four hours of sleep, I have been alternating between this and my CPA review course auditing assignment for the past 19 hours.

From Fort Lowell, Arizona

Fort Lowell was established in 1873, near what is now the corner of Craycroft Road and Fort Lowell Road in Tucson, Arizona. At the time it would have been at the edge of town, or more likely beyond it.

The fort soon became a supply depot, garrison and trading center. From here troops were dispatched to protect settlers, wagon trains and supply wagons, and to fight the Apaches. After Geronimo's defeat, the need for the fort declined. Despite local protests, the army shut it down in 1891.

The main site is now Fort Lowell Park, located on the east side of Craycroft near the end of Ft. Lowell Rd. The photo above is of historic Cottonwood Lane, the tree-lined dirt road that nowadays leads from the modern parking lot past the Fort Lowell Museum.

The buildings were made of Sonoran-style adobe brick. This was a common, relatively quick and easy building material around here - still is, really. A disadvantage is that over the decades it crumbles away unless maintained and repaired.

The museum is housed in the reconstructed Commanding Officer's quarters. Two sides of this have overhangs for shade, edged with ocotillo ribs. Ocotillos are a spiky, tall flowering shrub that dries into sticks, only to grow new leaves and flowers during the monsoon.

If you look closely, you can see that at least some of the ocotillos in the museum's two fences are living plants.

The dogs were very interested in the closed museum entrance. Cayenne in particular wanted in!

The post hospital is in an advanced stage of decomposition. This is what happens to adobe during a century of neglect.

The hospital ruin is fenced off, with a roof over part of it to protect it from the desert sun. Carved letters can be seen on an inner wall of the remaining structure. I'm not sure whether that is old or recent graffiti. It could easily be both. At least it's not spray paint!

The historic site extends beyond the park onto Fort Lowell Road, where ruins and near-ruins co-exist with private homes. Here is an old house on which you can see the more modern facade added to the caved-in adobe.

San Pedro Chapel is also part of this historic neighborhood. I don't know anything about it other than that it has an historic marker, an adobe crypt and a sign about a concert.

As usual, I took many more photos than I can show here, so I've set up an online album for the best ones on Picasa. Click on any photo to get to it, and see larger versions of these and other photos.

Now let's tour the other Robins' old places!

Linking List

Karen - Posted!
Outpost Mâvarin
http://outmavarin.blogspot.com

Julie
Julie's Web Journal
http://www.barrettmanor.com/julie/journal.aspx

Carly - Posted!
Ellipsis
http://ellipsissuddenlycarly.blogspot.com

Suzanne R - Posted!
SuzyQ421's Photo Blog
http://suzyq421sphotoblog.blogspot.com

Jama - Posted!
Sweet Memories
http://mummyjam.blogspot.com

Jessica
QuickSilver Dreams
http://www.thewatersedge.us/QuickSilver/

Monica - Posted!
Click Shots
http://familyaffairphotos.blogspot.com/

Terri
Ways I See the World
http://teelgeephotos.blogspot.com/

Gattina - Posted!
Keyhole Pictures
http://gattina-keyholepictures.blogspot.com/

Chris - Posted!
Camera Obscura RRPC
http://yecap1970rrc.blogspot.com

Liz
Visual Counterpoint
http://visualcounterpoint.blogspot.com/

Molly Mavis - Posted!
Visual Dialogues
http://visualdialogues.wordpress.com

Nancy - Posted!
Nancy Luvs Pix
http://nancyluvspix.blogspot.com/

-P ***Welcome new member!***
Its Only Words
http://sensiblegibberish.blogspot.com

Sherrie - Posted!
Sherrie's Stuff
http://sherrie-plummer.blogspot.com/

Mojo - Posted!
Why? What Have You Heard?
http://mojo11.blogspot.com/

TJ - Posted!
TJ's Photo EXPRESSIONS
http://tjphotoexpressions.blogspot.com/

Linda - Posted!
Mommy's Treasures
http://mommystreasures.blogspot.com/

Rita ***Welcome new member!*** - Posted!
Cashjocky and the Old Salt
http://cashjocky.blogspot.com

Marina - Posted!
Milepebbles
http://milepebbles.blogspot.com

Connie - Posted!
Far Side of Fifty Photos
http://farsideoffiftyphotos.blogspot.com/

Duane - Posted!
Meanwhile...
http://fdtate.blogspot.com

Teena - Posted!
It's all about me!
http://www.purple4mee.com

Wammy - Posted!
The Ellis Family Cincinnati
http://theellisfamilycincinnati.blogspot.com

Leslie **Welcome New Member** - Posted!
Empty Nest
http://lesliemikes.blogspot.com

Vicki - Posted!
Maraca
http://mymaracas.blogspot.com

Karen **Welcome New Member** -Posted 03/22/09
In The Moment
http://inthemoment-karen.blogspot.com


And be sure to check the Round Robin blog for a heads up on the next topic!

Karen