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Bloody Tanks

Gila County · In the triangular island beside U. S. Highway 60-70 in front of the Rock Motel near the western edge of the town of Miami. · location approximate

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BLOODY TANKS An Indian waterhole at this site became known as Bloody Tanks after 24 Apaches were killed here in January, 1864, in reprisal for raids on Yavapai County settlers. A volunteer force led by King S. Woolsey thus served notice on the Tonto-Apaches that force would be met with bloody punishment.

Proposed in this 1958 book. We have not found independent confirmation that this one was cast. That 1997 list covers only state highway right of way, so it does not reach markers on city streets, on tribal land, or in state and national parks.

1958 text, presented as a historical document. It uses the period's terms for Native people. The book proposed 100 markers for Arizona's highways and records 14 as cast when it went to press.

Arizona still marks its history under the same law: the State Historical Advisory Commission approves a marker, the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records certifies that its text is authentic and historically correct, and the Arizona Department of Transportation erects and maintains the markers on state highway right-of-way. Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records ↗

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Marker data: Historical Markers in Arizona, Vols. I-II (Arizona Development Board, 1958), text by Bert Fireman

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