Florence in Pinal County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Camp Florence

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, June 26, 2010

1. Camp Florence Marker

Inscription.
This memorial is dedicated to the men and women who served our county in war and peace and to a significant era of rich local history.

Camp Florence, an army training facility, once occupied the grounds now known as "Four Parks". Beginning in 1943 it housed Italian and German prisoners from WWII.

This bell hung in a stone chapel built by Italian prisoners. When the camp was dismantled, Jerry Thompson preserved the bell. His widow Marge donated the bell to the Florence Gardens History Committee in 2005.

May future generations be reminded of Camp Florence and it's role in History.

Erected 2009 by Florence Gardens History Committee.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Religion & Religious Structures • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1943.

Location. 33° 4.481′ N, 111° 22.818′ W. Marker is in Florence, Arizona, in Pinal County. It is at the intersection of North Illinois Street and Arizona Boulevard, on the left when traveling north on North Illinois Street. Marker is located in Florence Gardens, 55+ retirement community, off of AZ Hwy 79 on the north side of Florence. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Florence AZ 85132, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert,

in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area,

in the San Carlos Apache Nation,

and specifically in the Tohono O’odham Nation.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Bear Down (approx. 1.3 miles away); Poston's Butte (approx. 1.3 miles away); Chas. D. Poston (approx. 2.1 miles away); Carmen Michea House (approx. 2.7 miles away); Michea House and Lone Star General Store (approx. 2.7 miles away); Walker – Oury House (approx. 2.7 miles away); First Pinal County Courthouse (approx. 2.7 miles away); Levi Ruggles (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Florence.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, June 26, 2010

2. Camp Florence Marker

Camp Florence Bell image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, June 26, 2010

3. Camp Florence Bell

Credits. This page was last revised on June 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 4,406 times since then and 241 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 30, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.