Pipe Spring National Monument

Pipe Spring National Monument

Pipe Spring National Monument is an LDS history site that is run by the National Park Service because it is a National Monument. It lies in Arizona just over the border between Kanab and Hurricane.

 

Pipe Spring is a fort that very much resembles Cove Fort in southern Utah. The history of the fort is very interesting. Our guide, a Native Paiute, called the fort Brigham’s Last Bastian. He noted that the fort wasn’t built due to fear of Indians, but as Brigham Young’s last place of escape from the federal government if they came to arrest him for his practice of polygamy. The fort is called Pipe Spring because it was built on the only natural spring in the valley, which took a major water supply from the tribes living there. Still, there were no conflicts at this fort, and though it has rifle slots for defense and a thick outer wall, they were never used.

Pipe Spring National Monument

When you arrive at the monument, there is a small Visitor’s Center with a museum dedicated to the history of the area. You won’t spend a lot of time in the museum, but there are some displays about the area and also a video that talks about the history of the fort.

 

There is a guided tour of the fort, so when you arrive make sure to find out when the next tour is going to take place. We lucked out and showed up right when one starts. There are some other places to visit if you need to wait for a tour.

 

Up the hill from the Visitor’s Center there are a few artifacts, a small Native American camp, and even some farm animals. There are also 2 outlying buildings you can briefly stop at that were used as bunkhouses. You can spend some time admiring the water that still flows from Pipe Spring. There is also a 1/2 mile hike to an overlook of the valley. We didn’t have time to do the hike, but be prepared. It’s in the open so wear sunscreen and a hat. The main attraction, though, is the fort itself.

Pipe Spring National Monument
You can wander in the garden and look at the old wagons.
Pipe Spring National Monument
We spent time grinding corn.
Pipe Spring National Monument
And exploring the Native American huts.
Pipe Spring National Monument
This is the view of Pipe Spring National Monument from the visitor’s center.

A guided tour takes you into the inner courtyard where you learn about the construction and purpose of the fort, which is 2 stories high. Then you’ll go through each of the rooms, including kitchen, sitting room, and bedrooms. A few things of special interest include the refrigeration room, where the spring kept things cool for the pioneers, and the telegraph office, where the first telegraph in the territory was established. There is also an old pump organ, which still functions and that we were allowed to play. We also loved that the fort was built right into the mountainside. Those rooms were very cool even in the heat of the day.

Pipe Spring National MonumentThis gives a little background on Pipe Springs

There is a fun touch table for the kids to learn more about pioneer and Native American every day life.
There is a fun touch table for the kids to learn more about pioneer and Native American every day life.
Pipe Spring National Monument
This has carvings from people who stayed at the Fort. It’s a very neat artifact that has been preserved.
Pipe Spring National Monument
This is the refrigeration room. That trough is where the spring runs through the house and outside.
Pipe Spring National Monument
Mom got the chance to play the old pump organ that still works.
Pipe Spring National Monument
Chairs made form cowhide. It’s amazing how they wasted nothing.
Pipe Spring National Monument
This is the telegraph office.
Pipe Spring National Monument
You work your way upstairs where the bedrooms are and you can look up into the tower.
Pipe Spring National Monument
The door upstairs opens on top of the hill and the rooms below are built right into the hill. So interesting.
Pipe Spring National Monument
It’s a pretty fort and we had fun walking through.
Pipe Spring National Monument
You do have to climb up some steep stairs.

This is a great tour, and our boys loved it. We learned a lot from our very knowledgeable guide. Of course, our boys completed the Junior Ranger program at this National Monument as well. Make sure to pick up a booklet at the desk when you arrive because some pages are specific to the tour of the fort. They have different booklets for different ages, so even our 3 year old was able to participate.

Pipe Spring National Monument
Our 3 year-old working on his junior ranger bingo page.
Pipe Spring National Monument
There are some huge cows as well as a few horses.
Pipe Spring National Monument
One of the bunkhouses to visit.
IMG_5951
This bunkhouse is on the opposite side from the other house.
Pipe Spring National Monument
It is actually quite beautiful with the spring water and the old artifacts.

Plan on spending about 2 hours at Pipe Spring National Monument and if you have a National Parks Pass, you can enter for free. Otherwise it’s $7/adult, and 15 and younger are admitted for FREE.

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