Near Gila River in Pinal county, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Gadsden Purchase

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 27, 2010

1. Gadsden Purchase Marker

Inscription. The Gila River north of this site marked the international border of the United States and Mexico from 1848 to 1854. James Gadsden negotiated to purchase 38,000 sq. miles of "wild country" for $15 million in gold. Amended to $10 million for 29,640 sq. miles, the Gadsden Purchase maintained southern railroad and wagon routes but preserved Mexico's link to Baja, California. Today the Gadsden Purchase comprises 24 percent of Arizona's total land area.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Political Subdivisions • War, Mexican-American. A significant historical year for this entry is 1848.

Location. 33° 2.509′ N, 111° 47.101′ W. Marker is near Gila River in Pinal county, Arizona. It can be reached from Interstate 10 at milepost 181. Marker is located at the eastbound rest area. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Casa Grande AZ 85122, 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. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Gila River Indian Reservation (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Gadsden Purchase (approx. 1.2 miles away); a different marker also named Gila River Indian Reservation (approx. 1.2 miles away); a different marker also named Gadsden Purchase (approx. 1.2

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miles away); Dedicated to Ira H. Hayes USMC (approx. 3½ miles away); Honoring Native American Women Veterans (approx. 3½ miles away); Dedicated to the Memory of Matthew B. Juan (approx. 3½ miles away); Military Order Purple Heart of the U.S.A. (approx. 3.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gila River.

More about this marker. There is an identical marker to this marker about 100 feet to the left of this marker.

Sacaton rest area on I-10 easttbound at milepost 181. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 27, 2010

2. Sacaton rest area on I-10 easttbound at milepost 181.

The Gila River Indian Reservation Marker is on the brick wall and the two Gadsen Purchase Markers are at the far right and on the other side of the ramada in the photo.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 27, 2010

3. Gila River

View is to the west from the Gila River Bridge on Arizona highway 587 at milepost 223.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 3,056 times since then and 182 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 28, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.