Near Bowie in Cochise County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)

The Butterfield Overland Mail

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, January 8, 2017

1. The Butterfield Overland Mail Marker

Inscription. In 1857, the government awarded John Butterfield a contract to carry mail by stagecoach between St. Louis and San Francisco. The 2,800-mile route was to be traversed within 25 days. A year later, as the stagecoaches prepared to roll, Butterfiled charged his men, “Remember boys, nothing on God's earth must stop the United States Mail!” He did not reckon on future collisions with an embittered Cochise.

For over two years the Chiricahuas permitted the mail and passenger stages safe, if uneasy, passage through Apache pass. In exchange for gifts, they provided firewood for the stage station.

Butterfield had the Celerity wagon designed for the central segment of his route. Unlike the large Concord coaches used at both ends of the line, mule-driven, lighter Celerity could more easily negotiate the rugged mountains and rocky canyons of the Southwest.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Butterfield Overland Mail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.

Location. 32° 8.902′ N, 109° 26.959′ W. Marker is near Bowie, Arizona, in Cochise County. Marker can be reached from Fort Bowie Trail, 0.6 miles south of Apache Pass Road. Marker is located along the trail at

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the Fort Bowie National Historic Site. For most visitors access to the fort is via a 1.5 mile hiking trail of moderate difficulty. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bowie AZ 85605, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Stage Station Ruin (within shouting distance of this marker); Bascom-Cochise Meeting Site (within shouting distance of this marker); The Bascom Affair (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Post Cemetery (about 700 feet away); Parke Camp Site (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Chiricahua Apache Indian Agency (approx. ¼ mile away); The Battle of Apache Pass; July 15-16, 1862 (approx. 0.3 miles away); Mining Cabin (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bowie.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, January 8, 2017

2. The Butterfield Overland Mail Marker

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, January 8, 2017

3. The Butterfield Overland Mail Marker

Butterfield's Stage (Celerity) Wagon partly designed by John Butterfield. Sixty-six were employed. image. Click for full size.

By Gerald T. Ahnert via Wikipedia Commons, 2013

4. Butterfield's Stage (Celerity) Wagon partly designed by John Butterfield. Sixty-six were employed.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 13, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 13, 2017, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 853 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 13, 2017, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 4. submitted on March 12, 2020, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.