Tag: Arizona

Arizona, located in the southwestern region of the United States, is renowned for its diverse landscapes and cultural richness. Home to iconic natural wonders such as the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona offers a dramatic and varied terrain that ranges from arid deserts to pine-covered mountains. The state’s climate is typically characterized by hot summers and mild winters, with the southern parts being desert-like while the northern regions experience a more temperate climate. Arizona is also rich in Native American history, with numerous tribes such as the Navajo, Hopi, and Apache having deep roots in the region. The state’s cities, including Phoenix and Tucson, blend modern urban life with a strong appreciation for the natural environment and cultural heritage. Arizona’s economy thrives on tourism, technology, and agriculture, making it a dynamic and multifaceted state.

Benson Stage Robbery – March 15, 1881

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The Benson stage robbery (more precisely, the attempted robbery of the Kinnear & Company stagecoach bound from Tombstone to Benson) occurred on the night of March 15, 1881, in the Arizona Territory. This violent incident resulted in the deaths of stage driver Eli “Bud” Philpot (sometimes spelled Philpott) and passenger Peter Roerig (or Roerig). It played a significant role in escalating tensions between the Earp brothers (lawmen aligned with order in Tombstone) and the outlaw faction known as the Cochise County Cowboys, contributing to the chain of events that culminated in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881.

The San Francisco Examiner. (August 9, 1896). Bud Philpott, Driver 1881 - Wyatt Earp Account. Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 15, 2024, from https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-bud-philpott/46029106/
The San Francisco Examiner. (August 9, 1896). Bud Philpott, Driver 1881 – Wyatt Earp Account. Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 15, 2024, from https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-bud-philpott/46029106/

Background and Context

In early 1881, Tombstone was a booming silver mining town plagued by lawlessness. Stagecoach robberies targeting Wells Fargo shipments were common, as the region saw frequent smuggling, cattle rustling, and highway robbery across the U.S.-Mexico border. The Kinnear & Company stage line operated between Tombstone and Benson (a railhead on the Southern Pacific Railroad), often carrying valuable bullion or express shipments.

The stage in question departed Tombstone on March 15, 1881, driven by the popular and well-liked Bud Philpot, with Bob Paul (a former lawman and candidate for Pima County sheriff) riding shotgun as the Wells Fargo messenger. The coach reportedly carried a significant Wells Fargo treasure box (rumors ranged up to $26,000 in silver bullion, though the exact amount is debated). Passengers included Peter Roerig and others.

The Attempted Robbery and Murders

The holdup occurred after dark on a moonless night along the road between Contention City and Drew’s Station (near the San Pedro River, several miles north of Tombstone, closer to Benson). Three masked men (armed with rifles) stepped out and commanded the stage to halt.

  • Bob Paul refused, shouting something to the effect of “I hold for no one!” (or “I don’t hold for anybody!”), and raised his shotgun to resist.
  • A shootout erupted immediately.
  • One robber fired first, striking Philpot (who was driving) through the heart or chest, killing him instantly. Philpot slumped forward, and the horses bolted in panic.
  • Paul fired both barrels of his shotgun at the attackers but without apparent effect in the chaos and darkness.
  • A passenger, Peter Roerig (an older man riding on top or inside), was also fatally shot and died shortly after.
  • The stagecoach careened onward uncontrollably as the team ran away, eventually stopping or being brought under control. The robbers fled without securing the treasure box or robbing the passengers fully—the attempt was largely botched.

The incident shocked the community, as Bud Philpot was widely respected and not seen as a target of personal grudge.

Immediate Aftermath and Investigation

A posse was quickly organized, including Virgil Earp (then acting as deputy U.S. marshal and Tombstone’s chief of police), Wyatt Earp, Morgan Earp, Bob Paul (who survived), and others (including Bat Masterson in some accounts). They tracked the robbers and captured one suspect, Luther King (who had reportedly held the horses or reins during the attempt). King confessed that the main robbers were Bill “Billy” Leonard, Harry “The Kid” Head, and Jim “James” Crane—all associated with the Cowboy faction (a loose network of rustlers and outlaws including the Clantons and McLaurys).

King was taken to Tombstone but escaped (or was allowed to escape) from Sheriff John Behan‘s custody before further interrogation. The other three suspects evaded capture at the time; Leonard, Head, and Crane were later reported killed in separate incidents (some in Mexico or during other crimes), though details vary.

Rumors swirled that Doc Holliday (Wyatt Earp’s close friend and a known gambler/dentist with a checkered past) was involved, due to his prior acquaintance with Bill Leonard from New Mexico. Holliday was arrested briefly in July 1881 on a complaint from his common-law wife Big Nose Kate Elder (who later recanted, claiming coercion during a drunken quarrel), but no charges stuck, and evidence was circumstantial.

Wyatt Earp, working informally as a detective for Wells Fargo, helped trace the suspects and later testified that he believed the three named men were guilty. Wells Fargo offered a substantial reward (up to $6,000 total, dead or alive), which Wyatt reportedly discussed with Ike Clanton in a secret deal: Ike would betray the robbers for the reward money, but the plan fell apart when Ike felt betrayed (believing Wyatt had shared details with Doc Holliday).

Role in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

The Benson stage incident became a flashpoint in the growing feud:

  • The Cowboys (including Ike Clanton, Billy Clanton, Tom McLaury, Frank McLaury, and others) resented the Earps’ pursuit and interference in their activities.
  • Ike Clanton later claimed (during the post-O.K. Corral hearing) that the Earps and Holliday had actually orchestrated the robbery themselves to cover up involvement, and that the Cowboys (who knew the “truth”) were targeted to silence them. This was part of the defense narrative portraying the Earps as corrupt.
  • Wyatt denied any involvement and stated the Cowboys were protecting the real robbers (Leonard et al.), using their ranches as hideouts.
  • The failed deal with Ike Clanton created personal animosity: Ike believed Wyatt had double-crossed him, leading to threats and drunken confrontations in the days before October 26, 1881.
  • Broader suspicions of Earp corruption (fueled by Sheriff Behan, who opposed the Earps politically) tied back to the stage robbery rumors, heightening tensions.
  • The incident exemplified the lawlessness the Earps sought to curb, while Cowboys viewed the Earps’ posse actions as overreach or personal vendettas.

These accumulated grudges—stage robbery fallout, reward disputes, arrests of Cowboy associates (e.g., Frank Stilwell and Pete Spence in a later robbery), and threats—directly led to Ike Clanton’s all-night drinking and arming on October 25–26, culminating in the confrontation near the O.K. Corral where Virgil Earp (with Wyatt, Morgan, and Doc) sought to disarm Ike, Billy Clanton, and the McLaurys.

The Benson stage robbery thus served as a key precursor: it linked the Earps to Wells Fargo interests, spotlighted Cowboy involvement in crime, fueled mutual accusations of corruption, and created the personal betrayals and fears that exploded seven months later in the famous gunfight.

In historical accounts, the event underscores the blurred lines between law enforcement, vigilantism, and outlawry in frontier Tombstone, contributing to the legend of the Earps as defenders of order amid chaos.

Galeyville Arizona

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Galeyville, Arizona, was a short-lived silver mining boomtown in the Chiricahua Mountains of Cochise County, Arizona, during the early 1880s. It exemplifies the rapid rise and fall characteristic of many frontier mining camps in the American West, fueled by mineral discoveries, speculation, and the lawless reputation of the surrounding region.

Founding and Boom Period

John H. Galey (February 4, 1840 – April 12, 1918)
John H. Galey (February 4, 1840 – April 12, 1918)

The town originated in late 1880 following the discovery of promising silver-lead ore deposits in the area. John H. Galey (sometimes referred to as John Galey), a prospector and oil man originally from Pennsylvania (with some sources noting Texas connections), located rich silver veins and gave the settlement its name. The community quickly took shape as miners, merchants, and opportunists rushed in.

By early 1881, Galeyville had grown into a functional mining camp. A post office opened on January 6, 1881, reflecting its brief official recognition. The town featured typical boomtown amenities, including saloons, a general store, boarding houses, and other businesses supporting the miners. A smelter was constructed to process ore from local mines, such as the Texas Mine, highlighting the focus on silver-lead extraction.

At its peak in 1881–1882, Galeyville attracted several hundred residents (exact population figures are not well-documented but typical of small camps numbering in the low hundreds). It benefited from the broader mining excitement in southeastern Arizona following discoveries like those at Tombstone (founded around 1879).

Reputation and Outlaw Association

Galeyville earned notoriety as a supposed haven for outlaws and rough characters during Arizona Territory’s turbulent years. Located in a remote area near the San Simon Valley, it was reportedly used as a base or hangout by members of the loosely affiliated group known as the “Cowboys,” including infamous figures like Curly Bill Brocius and possibly Johnny Ringo. Legends portrayed it as a rough-and-tumble place filled with gamblers, rustlers, and gunmen who lived on the edge of the law.

While popular accounts (including later books and articles) amplified these tales—sometimes describing it as the “outlaw king” Curly Bill’s headquarters—more scholarly examinations, such as Brooks White’s book Galeyville, Arizona Territory 1880: Its History and Historic Archaeology, separate myth from evidence. Archaeological and historical records confirm mining activity and some outlaw presence, but the town’s outlaw reputation may have been exaggerated over time, influenced by its proximity to Tombstone’s famous events (e.g., the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in 1881).

Decline and Abandonment

The boom proved fleeting. The ore deposits were not as extensive or rich as initially hoped, mining operations quickly became unprofitable, and excitement faded. The post office closed on May 31, 1882, after just over a year of operation—a clear sign of decline. By late 1882, most residents had departed, and the town was largely abandoned, with structures left to deteriorate. The smelter equipment was eventually relocated to Benson, Arizona.

Galeyville’s rapid collapse mirrored other Arizona mining camps dependent on narrow, high-grade veins that depleted fast without sustained development.

Legacy

Today, Galeyville is a classic ghost town with little visible remaining—no standing buildings, only scattered foundations, mine tailings, and archaeological traces in the Chiricahua Mountains. Its elevation is approximately 5,732 feet (1,747 m). The site is remote and accessible mainly by dirt roads, attracting historians, off-road enthusiasts, and those interested in Old West lore.

Galeyville’s brief existence (roughly 1880–1882) captures the transient nature of frontier mining: optimism sparked by discovery, a burst of activity, and swift abandonment when the riches proved illusory. Its association with outlaws like Curly Bill adds enduring appeal in Western history, though the reality was primarily that of a typical, short-lived silver camp in a lawless borderland.

Contention City, Arizona

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Contention City (also known simply as Contention) was a short-lived boomtown and ghost town in Cochise County, southeastern Arizona. Located along the banks of the San Pedro River approximately 10–12 miles northwest of the more famous Tombstone, it emerged as a key milling and transportation hub during the region’s silver mining rush in the late 19th century. Today, it is largely a ghost town, with only a few foundations and rubble remaining as evidence of its brief existence.

Mason's Western Hotel in Contention City, 1880
Mason’s Western Hotel in Contention City, 1880

Founding and Origins

The town’s name originated from a mining dispute. In the late 1870s, prospectors Ed Williams and Jack Friday tracked stray mules to a rich silver lode discovered by the famous prospector Ed Schieffelin (whose finds had sparked the Tombstone boom starting in 1877). A contention arose over ownership of the claim, leading to a division: Schieffelin retained part (named the Contention Mine), while Williams and Friday took the other (named the Grand Central Mine). This “contention” over the silver claim directly inspired the naming of both the mine and the subsequent town.

Contention City was established in late 1879 (with some sources citing early 1880) primarily as a milling site to process silver ore from the nearby Contention and Grand Central mines, as well as other Tombstone-area operations. Its strategic location on the San Pedro River provided essential water for the stamping mills—something lacking in drier Tombstone—making it ideal for ore processing. Several mills were constructed there, including the Contention Mill (with 25 stamps) and the smaller Sunset Mill, along with others to handle ore from up to six stamping operations in the district.

Contention City, Arizona, circa 1880. The Contention Mill - twenty-five stamps and thirty men - was one of three stamp mills that reduced the silver ore from the Tombstone mines.
Contention City, Arizona, circa 1880. The Contention Mill – twenty-five stamps and thirty men – was one of three stamp mills that reduced the silver ore from the Tombstone mines.

The town grew quickly to support mill workers and related activities. The Contention City Post Office opened on April 6, 1880, marking its official establishment. At its peak around 1882, the population approached 500, with amenities like saloons, hotels (such as Mason’s Western Hotel), and other frontier businesses.

Key Historic Events

Contention City, Arizona, 1880.
Contention City, Arizona, 1880.

Contention City’s history intertwined with the lawless and violent atmosphere of the Old West, particularly due to its proximity to Tombstone and involvement in events linked to the Earp brothers and the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (October 26, 1881).

  • March 1881: A stagecoach robbery (the Benson stage) occurred just outside town, heightening tensions in the region amid ongoing conflicts between lawmen and outlaws.
  • Post-O.K. Corral (1881–1882): After the gunfight, outlaw Ike Clanton attempted to have Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday tried for murder in Contention City, following a grand jury’s refusal to indict them in Tombstone after the Spicer Hearing. No trial ever took place there.
  • March 19, 1882: The day after Morgan Earp’s assassination in Tombstone (March 18, 1882), Wyatt Earp, Warren Earp, and others transported Morgan’s body to Contention City’s railroad depot for shipment to the family home in Colton, California.
  • March 20, 1882: Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday left their horses in Contention and arranged transport for the wounded Virgil Earp and his wife Allie to the railroad in Benson, as part of the Earps’ vendetta ride following the vendetta.
  • 1887: A notable shootout occurred between Cochise County Sheriff John Slaughter (with deputy Jeff Milton) and members of the Jack Taylor Gang (wanted outlaws including Manuel Robles and others). The confrontation left two outlaws dead after they fled Tombstone and were pursued.

A significant infrastructure milestone came in 1882, when the New Mexico and Arizona Railroad extended service to Contention City, establishing a depot there. This gave the town advantages over Tombstone (which lacked direct rail access until much later), supporting ore transport and passenger travel.

Decline and Abandonment

Contention City’s prosperity was tied to silver mining. The town’s fortunes declined sharply in the late 1880s due to multiple factors:

  • Flooding of the Tombstone mines following a major earthquake in Sonora, Mexico, in 1887, which forced mill shutdowns.
  • Declining silver prices and exhaustion of accessible ore.
  • Competition from other towns that offered services as mining waned.

The post office closed on November 26, 1888, and by 1890, the town was largely abandoned, with residents moving elsewhere. Unlike Tombstone, which endured as a county seat and later a tourist destination, Contention City faded rapidly.

Legacy

Contention City exemplifies the boom-and-bust cycle of Arizona’s mining towns. Though overshadowed by Tombstone, its role in processing silver ore, its railroad connection, and its tangential links to iconic Old West figures like the Earps and Doc Holliday give it lasting historical significance. Today, the site is remote and undeveloped, serving as a quiet reminder of the fleeting nature of frontier mining communities. Only scattered foundations, mill ruins, and occasional historical markers remain to mark where a once-thriving settlement stood.

John H. Galey

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John H. Galey (February 4, 1840 – April 12, 1918) was a pioneering American prospector, mineral developer, and oil industry innovator whose career spanned the Pennsylvania oil boom, various western mining ventures, and major contributions to early petroleum exploration across the United States.

John H. Galey (February 4, 1840 – April 12, 1918)
John H. Galey (February 4, 1840 – April 12, 1918)

Early Life and Oil Pioneering

Born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania (some records specify near Clarion), Galey entered the emerging oil industry shortly after Edwin Drake’s famous 1859 well near Titusville revolutionized petroleum extraction. Described by contemporaries and later publications like The Oil and Gas Journal as one of the “boldest of the early prospectors,” Galey was a persistent, fearless, and original thinker who initiated numerous ventures.

He reportedly drilled one of the first successful oil wells in the Pennsylvania fields around 1865. His expertise in locating and developing oil properties grew through the Pennsylvania boom, where he identified productive wells near Titusville and other areas. Galey also ventured into California during the post-Civil War gold mining era, appearing in photographs from San Francisco in those years. By the late 19th century, he formed a long-term partnership with Colonel James M. Guffey under the firm Guffey & Galey (later expanded), focusing on oil fields in Pennsylvania, Kansas, and Texas. This partnership applied anticline theory practically to oil prospecting for the first time in many cases, leading to significant discoveries.

Galey’s most famous later achievement came in partnership with Guffey and others when they backed the drilling of the Spindletop gusher near Beaumont, Texas, in 1901. This massive blowout produced tens of thousands of barrels per day and laid the foundation for the modern Gulf Oil Corporation, marking one of the greatest oil strikes in history.

Role in Cochise County, Arizona

In the early 1880s, amid the silver mining frenzy sparked by the Tombstone strikes (discovered in 1877–1879), Galey shifted focus to Arizona Territory. Drawn by reports of rich mineral deposits in southeastern Arizona, he prospected in the Chiricahua Mountains of what became Cochise County (organized February 1, 1881, from eastern Pima County).

In 1880, Galey discovered promising silver-lead ore deposits on the eastern slopes of the Chiricahuas, near Turkey Creek. He acquired claims, including one he named the Texas Mine (possibly reflecting optimism, irony, or prior ties to Texas ventures). Securing financial backing, he developed the property and laid out a townsite to support mining operations. The settlement, named Galeyville in his honor, emerged as a boom camp with saloons, stores, boarding houses, and a post office established on January 6, 1881.

Galey organized the Texas Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company (or similar entity) to operate the Texas Mine and process ore. He reportedly sold at least one claim or interest for a substantial sum (accounts vary, with one citing $100,000 to a buyer named Wessels in October 1880). Infrastructure included a smelter, though ore proved limited in extent and richness.

Galeyville peaked briefly in 1881–1882 with several hundred residents and a rough reputation, partly due to its remote location attracting outlaws like Curly Bill Brocius and Johnny Ringo (associated with the “Cowboys” near Tombstone). Historical sources emphasize Galey’s primary interest was underground mineral wealth rather than surface lawlessness; he likely viewed the camp as a practical supply hub for his operations.

The venture proved short-lived. The high-grade silver veins depleted rapidly, profitability declined, and most residents departed by late 1882. The post office closed May 31, 1882, and Galeyville faded into a ghost town. Galey moved on, returning to oil pursuits with Guffey & Galey.

Later Life and Legacy

After Arizona, Galey continued oil development, including ventures in Oklahoma (early 1900s), Mexico (Tampico area around 1911), and New Mexico. He remained active into old age, respected for his role in America’s petroleum expansion.

Galey died in Joplin, Missouri, on April 12, 1918, at age 78. His legacy endures in oil history through Spindletop and early fields, and in Arizona lore via Galeyville—a classic example of a transient frontier mining camp. Though the town’s outlaw myths have overshadowed details, records portray Galey as a driven prospector who briefly transplanted his mineral expertise from eastern oil fields to the silver hills of Cochise County.

Colorado Steamships

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The Colorado River, flowing from the Rocky Mountains through the arid Southwest to the Gulf of California, was a challenging waterway—shallow, swift, and prone to sandbars, floods, and shifting channels. Despite these obstacles, steam-powered vessels played a vital role in its navigation from the mid-19th century until the early 20th century. Primarily operating on the lower Colorado River (from the Gulf of California upstream to areas near modern-day Nevada), steamboats transported military supplies, miners, settlers, and freight, fueling the development of Arizona, California, Nevada, and parts of Mexico. They were the most economical means of moving goods across the desert until railroads supplanted them.

View showing steamboat Cochan on the Colorado River near Yuma, Arizona in 1900 - U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
View showing steamboat Cochan on the Colorado River near Yuma, Arizona in 1900 – U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

Early Attempts and the Birth of Steam Navigation (1850–1854)

The need for reliable transport arose after the Mexican-American War (1846–1848), when the U.S. Army established Fort Yuma at the confluence of the Gila and Colorado Rivers to protect emigrants heading to California during the Gold Rush. Supplying the isolated fort overland from San Diego cost up to $500 per ton. River transport from the Gulf of California offered a cheaper alternative.

Initial efforts used schooners and barges. In 1850–1851, the schooner Invincible and longboats reached only partway upriver. Lieutenant George Derby recommended shallow-draft sternwheel steamboats.

The first successful steamboat was the small iron-hulled Uncle Sam, a 65-foot tug with a 20-horsepower engine, assembled at the river’s mouth in 1852 by Captain James Turnbull. It reached Fort Yuma in December 1852 but later proved unreliable and sank.

In 1853–1854, George Alonzo Johnson, partnering with Benjamin M. Hartshorne and others, formed George A. Johnson & Company. They brought parts for the sidewheeler General Jesup from San Francisco, assembling it at the river mouth. The General Jesup carried 50 tons of cargo to Fort Yuma in five days, reducing costs to $75 per ton and proving commercial viability.

Mohave II at Yuma, Arizona, with Sunday school group embarked, 1876 - Unknown author - MacMullen, Jerry, Paddle-Wheel Days in California, Stanford University Press, 1944
Mohave II at Yuma, Arizona, with Sunday school group embarked, 1876 – Unknown author – MacMullen, Jerry, Paddle-Wheel Days in California, Stanford University Press, 1944

Expansion and Exploration (1855–1860s)

Johnson’s company built wood yards staffed by Cocopah Indians and added vessels like the sternwheeler Colorado (1855, captained by Isaac Polhamus) and others. By the late 1850s, steamboats regularly serviced Fort Yuma and emerging mining camps.

Exploration pushed limits:

  • In 1857, Johnson took the General Jesup to El Dorado Canyon (near Las Vegas).
  • The U.S. Army’s 1857–1858 expedition, led by Lt. Joseph Christmas Ives, used the 54-foot iron steamboat Explorer (built in Philadelphia and reassembled on the river). It reached Black Canyon but struck a rock; Ives deemed further navigation impractical at low water. Johnson later bought the Explorer and converted it to a barge.

Mormon leader Brigham Young sought a sea-to-Utah route via the Colorado. In 1864–1866, Anson Call established Callville (near modern Lake Mead) as a potential port. Steamboats like the Esmeralda reached it in 1866.

Boom Years: Mining Rushes and Competition (1860s–1870s)

The 1862 Colorado River gold rush near La Paz (Arizona) and later discoveries in Eldorado Canyon and elsewhere created explosive demand. Ports like Ehrenberg, Hardyville, and Aubrey emerged. Steamboats hauled machinery, food, and ore, often towing barges for extra capacity.

George A. Johnson & Company dominated initially but faced rivals like Thomas Trueworthy’s Union Line in the 1860s. Competition ended when Johnson’s company absorbed opponents. In 1869, it reorganized as the Colorado Steam Navigation Company (C.S.N.Co.), expanding the fleet with vessels like Cocopah, Mohave, and larger ones like the 149-foot Mohave II (1876) and Gila.

Key captains included Isaac Polhamus (“Dean of the Colorado River”) and later Jack Mellon. Ocean steamships connected San Francisco to the river mouth at Port Isabel, feeding river traffic.

Colorado II in a tidal dry dock in the shipyard above Port Isabel, Sonora - MacMullen, Jerry, Paddle-Wheel Days in California, Stanford University Press, 1944
Colorado II in a tidal dry dock in the shipyard above Port Isabel, Sonora – MacMullen, Jerry, Paddle-Wheel Days in California, Stanford University Press, 1944

Peak and Decline (1870s–1900s)

The 1870s marked the peak, with scheduled services and luxurious boats offering passenger excursions. The C.S.N.Co. monopolized trade, profiting immensely from military contracts, mining,, and Mormon supplies.

Railroads spelled doom. The Southern Pacific reached Yuma in 1877, bridging the river. That year, Johnson and partners sold the C.S.N.Co. to Southern Pacific interests for a massive profit. Steamboats continued but focused on upper reaches and local freight.

Later vessels included the Cochan (1900, the last major sternwheeler) and Searchlight (1903–1909), hauling ore from Nevada mines.

End of an Era (1909–1916)

The 1909 completion of Laguna Dam (for irrigation) blocked navigation. Final operations involved limited freight and dam-related work. The last commercial steamboat, Searchlight, retired around 1916.

Attempts on the upper Colorado (e.g., Glen Canyon, Green River) were short-lived due to rapids and low water.

Legacy

For over 50 years, Colorado River steamboats connected isolated frontiers, enabling settlement and extraction in a harsh desert. They carried millions in gold, supplied forts and mines, and linked the Pacific to inland territories. Though overshadowed by railroads and dams, their era transformed the Southwest, leaving behind ghost towns, historic sites like Yuma Quartermaster Depot, and a romantic chapter in Western transportation history.

Colorado River Steamship Landings

The steamboat Mohave departing the landing in El Dorado Canyon.
The steamboat Mohave departing the landing in El Dorado Canyon.
Potholes, California, From 185918 mi (29 km)
La Laguna, Arizona Territory, 1860-186320 mi (32 km)
Castle Dome Landing, Arizona Territory, 1863-188435 mi (56 km)
Eureka, Arizona Territory, 1863-1870s45 mi (72 km)
Williamsport, Arizona Territory, 1863-1870s47 mi (76 km)
Picacho, California, 1862-191048 mi (77 km)
Nortons Landing, Arizona Territory, 1882-189452 mi (84 km)
Clip, Arizona Territory, 1882-188870 mi (110 km)
California Camp, California72 mi (116 km)
Camp Gaston, California, 1859-186780 mi (130 km)
Drift Desert, Arizona Territory102 mi (164 km)
Bradshaw’s Ferry, California, 1862-1884126 mi (203 km)
Mineral City, Arizona Territory, 1864-1866126 mi (203 km)
Ehrenberg, Arizona Territory, from 1866126.5 mi (203.6 km)
Olive City, Arizona Territory, 1862-1866127 mi (204 km)
La Paz, Arizona Territory, 1862-1870131 mi (211 km)
Parker’s Landing, Arizona Territory, 1864-1905
Camp Colorado, Arizona, 1864-1869		200 mi (320 km)
Parker, Arizona Territory, from 1908203 mi (327 km)
Empire Flat, Arizona Territory, 1866-1905210 mi (340 km)
Bill Williams River, Arizona220 mi (350 km)
Aubrey City, Arizona Territory, 1862-1888220 mi (350 km)
Chimehuevis Landing, California240 mi (390 km)
Liverpool Landing, Arizona Territory242 mi (389 km)
Grand Turn, Arizona/California257 mi (414 km)
The Needles, Mohave Mountains, Arizona263 mi (423 km)
Mellen, Arizona Territory 1890 – 1909267 mi (430 km)
Eastbridge, Arizona Territory 1883 – 1890279 mi (449 km)
Needles, California, from 1883282 mi (454 km)
Iretaba City, Arizona Territory, 1864298 mi (480 km)
Fort Mohave, Arizona Territory, 1859-1890
Beale’s Crossing 1858 –		300 mi (480 km)
Mohave City, Arizona Territory, 1864-1869305 mi (491 km)
Hardyville, Arizona Territory, 1864-1893
Low Water Head of Navigation 1864-1881		310 mi (500 km)
Camp Alexander, Arizona Territory, 1867312 mi (502 km)
Polhamus Landing, Arizona Territory
Low Water Head of Navigation 1881-1882		315 mi (507 km)
Pyramid Canyon, Arizona/Nevada316 mi (509 km)
Cottonwood Island, Nevada
Cottonwood Valley		339 mi (546 km)
Quartette, Nevada, 1900-1906342 mi (550 km)
Murphyville, Arizona Territory, 1891353 mi (568 km)
Eldorado Canyon, Nevada, 1857-1905
Colorado City, Nevada 1861-1905		365 mi (587 km)
Explorer’s Rock, Black Canyon of the Colorado, Mouth, Arizona/Nevada369 mi (594 km)
Roaring Rapids, Black Canyon of the Colorado, Arizona/Nevada375 mi (604 km)
Ringbolt Rapids, Black Canyon of the Colorado, Arizona/Nevada387 mi (623 km)
Fortification Rock, Nevada
High Water Head of Navigation, 1858-1866		400 mi (640 km)
Las Vegas Wash, Nevada402 mi (647 km)
Callville, Nevada, 1864-1869
High Water Head of Navigation 1866-78		408 mi (657 km)
Boulder Canyon, Mouth, Arizona/Nevada409 mi (658 km)
Stone’s Ferry, Nevada 1866-1876438 mi (705 km)
Virgin River, Nevada440 mi (710 km)
Bonelli’s Ferry, 1876-1935
Rioville, Nevada 1869-1906
High Water Head of Navigation from 1879 to 1887		440 mi (710 km
Soruce: Wikipedia

Colorado River Steamship Landings

Steamboats on the Colorado River

Gila Steamboat at the Yuma Crossing Arizona, 1873.
Gila Steamboat at the Yuma Crossing Arizona, 1873.
NameTypeTonsLengthBeamLaunchedDisposition
Black EagleScrew40 feet6 feetGreen River, Utah
June 1907		Exploded 1907
Charles H. SpencerStern92.5 feet25 feetWarm Creek, Arizona
February 1912		Abandoned
Spring 1912
Cliff DwellerStern70 feet20 feetHalverson’s Utah
November 1905		To Salt Lake
April 1907
CochanStern234135 feet31 feetYuma, Arizona
November 1899		Dismantled
Spring 1910
Cocopah IStern140 feet29 feetGridiron, Mexico
August 1859		Dismantled
1867
Cocopah IIStern231147.5 feet28 feetYuma, Arizona
March 1867		Dismantled
1881
Colorado IStern120 feetEstuary, Mexico
December 1855		Dismantled
August 1862
Colorado IIStern179145 feet29 feetYuma, Arizona
May 1862		Dismantled
August 1882
CometStern60 feet20 feetGreen River, Wyoming
July 1908		Abandoned
1908
EsmeraldaStern93 feet13 feetRobinson’s, Mexico
December 1857		Dismantled
1868
General JesupSide104 feet17 feetEstuary, Mexico
January, 1864		Engine Removed
1858
General RosalesSternYuma, Arizona
July 1878		Dismantled
1859
GilaStern236149 feet31 feetPort Isabel, Mexico
January 1873		Rebuilt as Cochan
1889
Major PowellScrew35 feet8 feetGreen River, Utah
August 1891		Dismantled
1894
Mohave IStern193135 feet28 feetEstuary, Mexico
May 1864		Dismantled
1875
Mohave IIStern188149.5 feet31.5 feetPort Isabel, Mexico
February 1876		Dismantled
Jan 1900
Nina TildenStern12097 feet22 feetSan Francisco, California
July 1864		Wrecked
September 1874
RettaStern36 feet6 feetYuma, Arizona
1900		Sunk
Feburary, 1905
St. VallierStern9274 feet17 feetNeedles, California
Early 1899		Sunk
March 1909
San JorgeScrew38 feet9 feetYuma, Arizona
June 1901		To Gulf
July 1901
SearchlightStern9891 feet18feetNeedles, California
December 1902		Lost
October 1916
Uncle SamSide4065 feet16 feetEstuary, Mexico
November 1852		Sunk
May 1853
UndineStern60 feet10 feetGreen River, Utah
November 1901		Wrecked
May 1902
Steamboats on the Colorado River 1852-1916 – Appendix A

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