fort whipple museum

A very interesting place, and the volunteers who show you around have a great knowledge of the Museum and its history contained within. Well worth a visit

This is a fun walk thru history. The architecture is still preserved, there's a museum in the officers quarters, and an excellent VA hospital on the grounds.

We were greeted when we entered by a well informed gentleman who gave us an interesting history of the fort which served for many years as a hospital during several wars.

When we were in Prescott last year, we visited all the Museums but this one. Fort Whipple Museum, run by very nice and knowledgeable volunteers, is open only Thursday to Saturday (3 days a week), and last year, we missed out.The Museum is small, but reeks of history. Fort Whipple served as a tactical base for the U.S. Cavalry during the Indian Wars. Later, the barracks housed the "Buffalo Soldiers", and after that, it was a tuberculosis sanatorium. Since the 1920's, it has been a Veterans Hospital. The timeline of the Fort is pictured and "narrated" (by signs, photos and artifacts) in this Museum. The setting is beautiful. We were there on a Saturday, and it was very quiet. Right now, during the week, there is construction going on in the surrounding area, and it can get very noisy.An hour is sufficient here. Donations are appreciated. Lovely little quiet spot to ponder history. There is a handicapped entrance in the back of the house.

You probably need an interest in the subject to find and visit this small house museum. I found it to be a fun story told extremely well by the great docent. He brought the history to life and then we wandered through the building. We also drove through the old housing area and by the VA hospital first to ask questions. We stopped at the canteen for soda and grabbed a free old book outside of the library next door. A sweet experience since we were career military. We almost didn't come here but we were driving by. Next visit to Prescott we'll head over to the cemetery. Entire visit is about 1 hour with adjacent parking. Know the building number before you try to find it and understand when they are open and closed.

As I had a sight-seeing tour around Prescott the feeling that I should find something more about the history of this place out. Then there came the suggestion to go to Fort Whipple. I thought it to be just a small exhibition or something like that but actually it was a nice museum offering lots of information related to the past 3 centuries. Everything was informative and well though-out. Certainly grab a photo-camera with you to capture the Victorian architecture.

Helped some of my ham radio friends with a Heliography demo here as this was the starting point for a large signal mirror route around the Southwest many years ago. Lot of history in the old fort but not to easy to travel around as it is a working hospital now.

Fort Whipple captured our attention on our first visit back in 2007. We've been back numerous times bringing visitors along with us. A great look back at fort life during the frontier days.

I had scarcely heard of this place before I visited it, just having the impression that some kind of historical information could be found in the VA center. Lo and behold, what do I discover but a very good museum, with many exhibits, covering the late 19th, early 20th Centuries in this region; also, numerous historical buildings over 100 years old. Only the very pretty museum building may be entered, but walking tours of the whole area are allowed. There are several reasons to visit Prescott; I discovered one more. It is free, but as usual, donations are gratefully accepted.

Fort Whipple is a terrific place to reflect on the historical 1800s in Prescott, Arizona. I go to the VA hospital at the same location, as I am a Vietnam veteran. Every time I visit the hospital or just take a drive around Fort Whipple I think about the soldiers and families who protected the settlers during the Indian wars. I think about the Native Americans who had to give up their land and livelihood. There is a wonderful history and artifacts Museum that offers a taste of the old West.Among the many historical stories about Fort Whipple, is a fact based one about a colonel's daughter named Carrie Wilkins who mesmerized all the young Fort Whipple Army officers of the 1870s. Some people believe areas of the four may be haunted. Given everything that happened in around Fort Whipple, I would not be surprised.If you are a photographer like me, you will enjoy photographing the old Victorian officers quarters houses. You will enjoy the great architecture in beautiful views.I recommend that you drive slowly around Fort Whipple initially to get a sense of the area. It is not that large. Then I suggest that you find the parking lot and walk around the officers quarters to appreciate the architecture and to visit the museum. There is a small cantina where you can purchase lunch and refreshments which I believe opens in the afternoon.There are so many other sites to see around Fort Whipple.

If you ever have the chance and you like history, check out this facility. Was amazed at the history and the staff there know all about it.

nice, easy, interesting museum and building. spend as much time or as little as you wish. Drive past the other old officer's houses and envision this military base in its hey day as part of the old west. Army stuff, maps, photos, memoirs, medical instruments (there's a VA hospital @ Ft. Whipple still) and you get to see the interior of one of the officer's houses (which the musum is in)

A converted 1905(?) officers quarters houses two floors of exhibits. First floor tells the story of Fort Whipple thru the late 1890's. Second floor continues the history or the fort and then as a Army hospital and then a VA hospital. Docent was very knowledgeable.