Navajo Springs, AZ

C.S. Arizona: Navajo Springs

Dec 28, 1863

After the Texas Column's retreat back to Texas the Union needed to reestablish its presence in the New Mexico Territory, but the territory had been permanently split between New Mexico and Arizona, consequently a new government for the new territory of Arizona was dispatched from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The new government arrived at Navajo Springs via the Santa Fe Trail on December 28, 1863 in the midst of a snowstorm.

Because they could not start drawing pay until they were in the territory and had assumed their office, the government was sworn in on the spot with John N. Goodwin assuming the office of governor. Chief Justice William Turner performed the ceremony, Champaign toasted the deed and everyone at long last drew their pay.

The Old Navajo Springs is on reservation property and is not open to visitation. There is a very old monument on the site, you can see a picture of it on the tomjonas website listed at the bottom of the page. There is a new monument in Navajo on the freeway on ramp.

These following pictures scan from west to east.

These pictures were taken from the freeway, it is the best place to see the site.

A local man, Mike, told me that he thought the old spring was in this area.

I've been plowing through maps and I think the spring was center of this picture, but I'm not really sure. The main thing is these pictures show the landscape that the Arizona Government was born in.