據碑(bei)刻文和(he)《紅水縣志(zhi)》載:明(ming)萬歷間(jian),李汶總督三(san)邊,前城(cheng)(cheng)損壞。汶與田樂議奏筑城(cheng)(cheng),文臣(chen)方岳,荊州俊(jun),元(yuan)戎孫仁等(deng)助成(cheng)。復(fu)令參將達云、蕭(xiao)如(ru)薰相度(du)地址。明(ming)萬歷丙(bing)午三(san)十四(si)年冬月起工,戊申三(san)十六(liu)年六(liu)月落(luo)成(cheng),乃曰永(yong)泰。雍正二年,忠信(xin)公岳東美于(yu)城(cheng)(cheng)內東西街(jie)并(bing)北角(jiao),設(she)五眼井(jing),以作五臟,又于(yu)北角(jiao)設(she)一大池,曰甘露(lu)池,合諸井(jing),并(bing)名六(liu)腑。由此(ci)而知(zhi),該城(cheng)(cheng)始建于(yu)明(ming)代,清(qing)代曾(ceng)補筑。城(cheng)(cheng)址保存(cun)較好,對研究明(ming)清(qing)兩代軍事防務(wu)和(he)城(cheng)(cheng)建史、建筑技術及建筑思想(xiang)文化有重(zhong)要價(jia)值(zhi)。
永(yong)泰城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址位(wei)景(jing)泰縣寺灘(tan)鄉永(yong)泰村(cun)。是一(yi)座明(ming)清時期駐軍防務的(de)大型土(tu)筑(zhu)古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)平面略似烏龜,故又名(ming)龜城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。東(dong)西長520米(mi)(mi),南北(bei)寬(kuan)(kuan)(kuan)500米(mi)(mi),占地(di)面積30萬(wan)余(yu)平方(fang)米(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)黃土(tu)夾砂夯(hang)筑(zhu),高8—12米(mi)(mi),墻(qiang)基寬(kuan)(kuan)(kuan)6米(mi)(mi),頂寬(kuan)(kuan)(kuan)5米(mi)(mi),夯(hang)層厚(hou)0.12—0.14米(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)、西、北(bei)三面筑(zhu)有(you)半圓形(xing)月(yue)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門南開,寬(kuan)(kuan)(kuan)4米(mi)(mi)。外筑(zhu)甕城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),形(xing)似龜頭。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)四周有(you)護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河,寬(kuan)(kuan)(kuan)約(yue)6米(mi)(mi),深約(yue)2.5米(mi)(mi)。距北(bei)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)20米(mi)(mi)處筑(zhu)大墩(dun)(dun)1座,墩(dun)(dun)東(dong)北(bei)有(you)小(xiao)墩(dun)(dun)5座,呈(cheng)一(yi)字形(xing)排列。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)西有(you)地(di)下(xia)泉水串流城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內五井之中,俗(su)稱“五臟(zang)”。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內原有(you)建筑(zhu)無存,出土(tu)有(you)石碑等文物。
介于高山(shan)、戈壁、黃河(he)、沙漠、綠(lv)洲相(xiang)交匯(hui)的(de)(de)地(di)(di)方,得天(tian)獨厚的(de)(de)地(di)(di)理優勢(shi),給(gei)這座古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)留下了非(fei)常寶貴的(de)(de)人文生態遺產(chan)。從永(yong)泰(tai)(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)所(suo)處的(de)(de)位(wei)置來看,它是(shi)蘭(lan)州北(bei)部(bu)的(de)(de)戰略屏障,從這里(li)向東(dong)(dong)渡過黃河(he),經高平(固原)、平涼、涇陽等(deng)(deng)地(di)(di)可(ke)以抵達長(chang)安(an)。向西沿(yan)古(gu)驛道(dao)經寬(kuan)溝、裴家(jia)營(ying)、大(da)靖營(ying)等(deng)(deng)地(di)(di)可(ke)以抵達絲路(lu)(lu)重鎮武威。永(yong)泰(tai)(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)周邊都是(shi)一(yi)馬平川(chuan)(chuan)的(de)(de)戈壁灘,當地(di)(di)人把永(yong)泰(tai)(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)北(bei)面的(de)(de)荒灘稱之為永(yong)泰(tai)(tai)川(chuan)(chuan)、草(cao)窩灘,南面是(shi)山(shan)大(da)溝深(shen)的(de)(de)老虎(hu)山(shan),東(dong)(dong)西兩面則是(shi)絲路(lu)(lu)古(gu)道(dao)和長(chang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。由于明代中央政府防守(shou)的(de)(de)重點是(shi)北(bei)方的(de)(de)瓦剌(la)、韃靼等(deng)(deng)蒙古(gu)部(bu)眾。因(yin)而,永(yong)泰(tai)(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址就選在(zai)了面臨平川(chuan)(chuan),背靠(kao)大(da)山(shan),進可(ke)攻,退(tui)可(ke)守(shou)的(de)(de)地(di)(di)方。站在(zai)永(yong)泰(tai)(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)上就能(neng)看到,永(yong)泰(tai)(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)北(bei)面一(yi)馬平川(chuan)(chuan),是(shi)排兵(bing)布陣的(de)(de)好地(di)(di)方;后面則是(shi)山(shan)大(da)溝深(shen)的(de)(de)老虎(hu)山(shan),是(shi)退(tui)守(shou)隱蔽的(de)(de)好去處。敵軍(jun)進則無險可(ke)倚(yi),我軍(jun)退(tui)則有山(shan)可(ke)藏,可(ke)謂是(shi)占盡地(di)(di)利。