Pipe Spring National Monument Arizona - Fredonia, Arizona - Stone Fortress Attracts Visitors to Kaibab Paiute Indian Reservation Along Arizona/Utah Border

Pipe Spring National Monument Arizona is located on Arizona Route 389 on the Kaibab Paiute Reservation straddling the Utah Border. The nearest town is Fredonia, some 15 miles north east where I-89 ends. Located on the Arizona Strip area to the north of the Grand Canyon it is essentially isolated from most of the state.

The visitor center has a fairly extensive museum about the history of the area and its peoples and their relationship with the locally scarce resource of water. There are also restrooms, a gift shop and information brochures available. The visitor center museum was developed jointly between the Monument and the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians.

A sandstone rock fort, Winsor Castle, is the main attraction at the Pipe Spring National Monument Arizona. The Construction of the fort began in 1870. The Mormons designed it as the headquarters of a cattle ranch fortified for protection from a possible Navajo attack. Winsor was the name of the first cattle ranch manager who lived here with his family.

The fort was built directly over Pipe Spring. This fresh water spring had attracted indigenous peoples to inhabit the area since around the year 1 A.D. when the Ancient Pueblo Indians lived here (until 1200 A.D)

The inner courtyard of the structure has a veranda around the interior allowing walk around second floor access, over the wall lookout posts and or course defensive shooting positions when initially built.

A table in the courtyard displays a series of replicas of items used by the European settlers; visitors are allowed to pick up and interact with the items.

There are 10 rooms in the building, including the original first Telegraph Office in the state of Arizona, which was established here in 1871.

There are 3 bedrooms, a parlor, a meeting room and kitchen as well as the Cheese Room, where cheese was produced and the Spring Room. Water bubbled up through the sandstone floor of the parlor and was redirected from there to a trough in the Spring Room.

Most of the artifacts at the Winsor Castle were not left by the inhabitants but have been installed in order to faithfully represent the appearance and feel of the fort when it was inhabited.

Every half hour from 9 AM to 4 PM there are tours of the fort.

On the grounds there is a short hiking trail, fruit orchards and corrals of cattle and horses that can be visited. In the summer talks are scheduled as well as demonstrations of traditional crafts and traditions of both the settlers and the native inhabitants.

The East and West Cabins have additional exhibits focused on cowboys and on the preservation of historic sites.

There is a small picnic area at the monument.

The Monument is open from 7 AM-5 PM from June through August and from 8 AM-5 PM in September through May.

Pipe Spring National Monument Arizona is closed on New Year's, Thanksgiving and Christmas Days.