kinishba ruins and fort apache museum

Having grown up in the era of cowboys and indians Ft Apache was long on my list of stops to make in Arizona. Only 25 miles from Pinetop and Showlow the fort features a museum and several buildings dating to the 1870's. Only 2 are open..General Crooks cabin and the later Commanding officers home. Still standing but oterwise in use are dormitories , the T Roosevelt School and old guardhouse. You can feel history here.Located nearby and even more amazing are the Kinishba ruins. Dating to 800 AD these pueblo style ruins were rebuilt in the 1930's but have again fallen to ruins. The walking tour with guidebook from the Ft Apache museum tell the story...

We enjoyed looking at the museum and learned a lot about the people of this area. The video was great and the staff wanted to share their knowledge. The ruins were interesting but the road out is dirt and a little bumpy but still it is only two miles so worth it in the end.

During a recent trip into the White Mountains, my brother and I toured Fort Apache and the Kinishba Ruins. For an entry fee of $5 per person, The "Fort" and the Nohwike' Bagowa Museum weren't too bad. However, the museum was pretty tiny, and with only one building on the fort property open for touring, it was a rather quick visit and somewhat disappointing. The other buildings had photos on plaques out front showing how they looking during the 1800's and what they were used for. It sure would have been nice to take a look inside. Especially the Commanding Officers house and the dormitories, used in the 1930's. We also paid a quick visit to the local cemetary, but there really isn't much to see. The headstones are too simple to be of much interest. Then we headed to the Kinishba Ruins. I was really hopeful. I had seen the restored ruins at places like Wupatki and Tuzigoot and was really amazed. The photos on the Visitor Guide for Kinishba were from the 1940's and looked really promising. Unfortunately, we were in for a big disappointment. The ruins, once the pride and joy of Dr. Dean Cummings and apparently, the Apache people, have fallen into a terrible state of disrepair, so as to be barely recognizable.I feel terrible about this. The ruins at Wupatki and Tuzigoot, managed by the US Forest Service, are extremely well maintained. These properties, managed by the White Mountain Apache, by contrast aren't very good. One can only hope that with some outside investment and involvement, these properties could be lifted up and reflect the proud heritage of the Apache people.

Read the websit which said they were open 7-5 every day of the week. Unfortunately when we got there the museum said 8-5 M-F. It was Sunday. We had even tried to call before we left, but their 24 hour info line was down. We were still able to go around both the Fort Apache and Kinishba areas, but we were really wishing for the tour as people said it was really good. We still saw some great stuff but I doubt we got 1/10th the info that we could have.

Fort Apache walking tour was very neat. The guide (which has to be purchased) is very informative. We did every part and learned a lot of history. Don't forget to do the buildings on the other side of the road and the cemetery. The ruins are a further drive outside of town. They are beautiful, but it is helpful to do some reading on their backstory before seeing the sight. Readings will explain why they were reconstructed they way they were and why they are in the current state. Unfortunately, the trail guides don't talk much about this.

Best ruins I've seen. Not crowded with other tourists. Fort Apache was very interesting - historic but yet still used as an Indian boarding school. The buildings were not all open; looked in the windows at the officers homes which were very nice. Glad we went.

If you are remotely interested in the history of the American Frontier then this Fort should be on your list of to do's. I was very surprised at the level the Apache people have worked to keep this Army fort alive. This era in history was shameful but the Apache have done a marvelous job telling the story of fort life, the scouts and skirmishes in the area. The museum is interestingly filled with Apache history and artifacts. The only building at the fort that was accessible to visitors was General Crooks cabin. It is filled with photos, maps and information from that era. Its obvious the remainder of the quarters were well cared for and restored, I was disappointed that we could not tour the remaining buildings. The CO's home was splendid in its Victorian Charm inside (what we could see through windows) and out. We spent hours at the fort walking around and looking at the buildings, the stable are is fascinating, again I wish we could have gotten in the sole remaining barn to see the horses and soldiers names in the stalls. The cemetery isn't in very good shape, all the US soldiers who were buried there were moved when the fort closed, but it seems they forgot to move the women and children with them. The Apache scouts were also buried along side the soldiers and they were left as well. There are modern burials at the sight as well. The Kinishba ruins were in terrible condition. While amazing to see they are in nowhere good of shape as other ruins in the state. They don't seem to be that significant to the Apache considering the amount of trash we saw that the ruins. If you're going to visit historical sights take your trash with you people! Its not that hard. My main gripe was there was no real definition or plaques to the individual sights of the ruins. We had the booklet that tells of the ruins, however plaques would have been appreciated where the number signs are. If nothing else this ruin should be cherished due to the history alone, it is peaceful and I would have loved to have been there when the creek had water in it so we could see the waterfall in action.

Nicely done small museum of White Mtn. Apache Tribe and it's dealings with U.S. Army. Located on eastern edge of Fort Apache. Lots of older buildings (mostly closed to public), but beatiful restored Victorian mansion, which was the commandants quarters. May interesting late 19th. century structures. Low admission cost includes Kinishba ruins. Ruins are about 3/4 mi. west of museum and then about two miles off road. Be careful if you have a low ground clearance vehicle. Stay on left at Y intersection (unmarked). , as ruins have no tourist facilities or bathrooms and are unescorted. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE TRASH, GRAFFITI, ETC. Ruins are fragile and about a third of a mile from parking area and the views are well worth the walk. Leave only footprints. See photos.

These ruins are in a very isolated area of the state of Arizona. They were initially under excavation and restoration in the 1930's, but the work was never really completed. It is a worthwhile drive if you are in the area anyway. I wish the ruins could be better presented, though.

Interesting Historical Fort - the full review is under Fort Apache. This item is a duplicate.

After visitng the Fort Apache Cultural Center, we drove further down Hwy 73 to Canyon Day where we exited the highway and drove another 2 miles on White Mountain Apache Lands to the Kinishba Ruins and Museum. We were the only ones there, and there is no guide or welcome center/museum (closed since 1952). We had been given a Visitor Guide to Kinishba at the Fort Apache Museum, so were able to easily navigate the route from the parking lot through the ruins--stopping at each numbered sign post to read the description of the ruin and appreciate the history and culture of the Tribe . This is a 1/3-mile gravel path, so not recommended for wheelchairs. Even though portions of Kinishba were rebuilt between 1931 and 1939 (according to the Visitors Guide), they are in bad shape--visitors are warned to keep off walls and out of rooms. While we enjoyed the Ruins, we were disappointed to see discarded beer and liquor containers in the parking area--giving us the feeling that's it a place for kids to go and party.

The Fort Apache is a small museum with great exhibits and a short film on Apache White Mountain Indian Reservation on Hwy 70 close to community of Canyon Day. Beside the museum you can take a walking tour around the T.R. School, then drive a short distance to Kinishba Ruins. There is an antrance fee (Senior rate: $3) which is for all: the Ruins, self-guided walking tour, and Kinishba Ruins (1/3 mile walking loop trail. The brochure (incl. in the entrance fee) has a map with points of interests- examples of the settlement of ancestors of today's Hopi & Zuni Pueblo tribes. The pit houses indicate that the settlement dates back to AD 800, and it's likely the Pueblo people occupied it into the 1400's. Hopi & Zuni people probably selected this location because of good soil & water, as they were focused on farming. We found the Kinishba fascinating & really worthwhile the visit. I am surprised it is not heavily promoted, but perhaps that is the real attraction. We met only two other couples in the museum & on the walking tour, but we were the only visitors to the Kinishba Ruins.