Preserving Place,
Empowering Community
A Cornerstone of Buffalo Soldier
History in Arizona
2025 Groundbreaking
On January 30, 2025, the Naco Heritage Alliance (NHA) reached a critical milestone. Working with our partner Durazo Construction Corporation we took the plunge and broke ground, formally beginning Phase One of the rehabilitation of Camp Naco. We were honored to be joined by a color guard with members of our local VFW and American Legion, as well as numerous NHA board members, City officials and council members, and many dedicated supporters of the Camp Naco project. We could not have reached this point without the support of State of Arizona’s Governor’s Office and the Mellon Foundation.
Joining us at this historic moment were (First Photo - from left to right) Demetria Warren, Southwest Association of Buffalo Soldiers (SWABS) President, Jeremy Fricke, Naco Heritage Alliance Executive Director, Margaret Hagen, Naco Heritage Alliance Board Chair, Nathalia Untiveros, Deputy Director, Southern Arizona Office of the Governor, Bisbee Mayor Ken Budge, City of Bisbee City Manager Steve Pauken, Charles Hancock, SWABS member, JD Durazo, Durazo Construction, Mike Normand, Camp Naco Construction Project Manager, and Rosendo Arrieta, Naco Heritage Alliance Vice President.
NHA Executive Director Jeremy Fricke explains that "The Naco Heritage Alliance sits in a unique position—physically and historically—to tell the story of boundaries and borders. More than a century ago, Camp Naco was home to the Buffalo Soldiers. But they were not the only ones to pass through this land. Indigenous communities have walked these grounds. Latine communities have built their lives here. And today, just a few blocks away, the border wall stands as a reminder of the complex realities we face.
But imagine with me—imagine that Camp Naco becomes a place where the stories of all the peoples of the borderlands are honored. A place where history is preserved, where the arts and culture thrive, and where the local communities of Naco and Bisbee will find a resource they can be proud of. A place that uplifts the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers while also serving as a space for dialogue, education, and celebration of the vibrant cultures that have shaped this region."
For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Jeremy Fricke at jfricke@bisbeeaz.gov
Date: Saturday, March 22, 6 PM Event Address: Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum Join us for a Question & Answer session and book signing with Buffalo Soldier author and military historian John Langellier, Ph.D. In 1881, the first Buffalo Soldiers arrived in Arizona pursuing elusive Apaches. Over the following decades, African Americans from the Tenth U.S. Cavalry and Twenty-Fourth and Twenty-Fifth Infantry added to the laurels won by the Ninth U.S. Cavalrymen. For more than six decades, Black soldiers served with honor, from campaigns against determined Native Americans to facing dangers along the turbulent border as the Mexican Revolution raged. During the dark days of World War II, they prepared for combat against foes both abroad and at home. All the while, they faced an ever-present, persistent enemy: racism. Author John P. Langellier brings to life the rich history of Buffalo Soldiers in the Copper State. Registration is required for this event, as there are a limited number of spaces available. Register HERE
Register for the lecture HERE
Camp Naco Meet and Greet with Executive Director Jeremy Fricke Wednesday, December 18, 4-6pm Meet our first Executive Director Jeremy Fricke (pronounced Frik-ē) in the Bisbee Council Chambers, 915 S. Tovreaville Rd. Informally connect with Jeremy beginning at 4 followed by a project status presentation at 5pm. Light refreshments will be provided.
Camp Naco Fireplace Chat Bill Cavaliere - The Chiricahua Apaches November 9, 2024, 2-4pm Camp Naco, AZ Registration is now closed, capacity has been reached. Bill Cavaliere will present a Q and A on the topic of the Chiricahua Apaches next month. Following the discussion, Becky Orozco will guide a walking tour through historic Camp Naco, likely the last one before construction begins! Bill is the author of The Chiricahua Apaches: A Concise History, an overview of the entire history of this particular tribe of fascinating Native Americans covering their arrival in the southwest, their culture, their notable people, their many conflicts and battles, and where they are today. Their story is one of perseverance and tenacity, of courage and sorrow, and of triumph and tragedy. A fiction writer could not have come up with a more unbelievable story; one filled with action, interesting people, emotion, and uncanny twists of fate. Bill Cavaliere is an independent researcher who retired after 28 years in law enforcement, during which time he was sheriff of Hidalgo County, New Mexico. Prior to this, he was employed with the US Forest Service in the Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona. He is currently president of the Cochise County Historical Society and sits on the board of directors of two other historical societies as well. He is currently working on a biography on Naiche, the last chief of the Chiricahua Apaches.
AZ Humanities grant Camp Naco and the Naco Heritage Alliance are excited to announce we have been awarded a 2024 Arizona Humanities (AZ Humanities) Grant of $10,000. This AZ Humanities grant will support the development of the Camp Naco Immersive Experience Mobile Application (app) that will amplify and increase accessibility to the multiple, layered historical narratives of Camp Naco. Camp Naco primarily embodies the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers while simultaneously touching on histories associated with the Mexican Revolution, Chiricahua Apaches, and Paleo-Indian peoples. This mobile app will be one platform of a larger interpretive plan implementing adaptive technologies to provide immersive experiences to a greater diversity of audiences. Find out more about AZ Humanities at AZHumanities.org.
Saturday, September 28, 2pm - Register HERE
Useful Links
Contact info
(520) 432-9031
info@CampNacoAZ.org
Temporary Office Location:
915 S. Tovreaville Road
Bisbee, AZ 85603
Mailing Address:
PO Box 655, Naco, Arizona 85620
Camp Naco is located at 2118 W. Newell St. Naco, AZ 85620
