據碑刻(ke)文和《紅水縣志(zhi)》載(zai):明萬歷(li)間,李(li)汶(wen)(wen)總督三邊(bian),前城(cheng)損壞。汶(wen)(wen)與田(tian)樂(le)議奏筑(zhu)(zhu)城(cheng),文臣方岳,荊州俊,元戎(rong)孫仁(ren)等助成。復令參將達云、蕭(xiao)如薰相度(du)地(di)址(zhi)。明萬歷(li)丙午三十四(si)年冬月起工(gong),戊申三十六年六月落成,乃曰永泰。雍正二(er)年,忠信公岳東(dong)美于(yu)(yu)城(cheng)內東(dong)西街并北(bei)角,設五眼井,以(yi)作五臟(zang),又于(yu)(yu)北(bei)角設一(yi)大池(chi),曰甘露池(chi),合諸井,并名(ming)六腑。由此而(er)知(zhi),該城(cheng)始建于(yu)(yu)明代(dai),清(qing)代(dai)曾補筑(zhu)(zhu)。城(cheng)址(zhi)保(bao)存(cun)較好(hao),對研究明清(qing)兩代(dai)軍事防務和城(cheng)建史、建筑(zhu)(zhu)技術及建筑(zhu)(zhu)思想文化有重要價值。
永(yong)(yong)泰(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)位(wei)景泰(tai)縣寺灘鄉永(yong)(yong)泰(tai)村(cun)。是一座(zuo)明清時期駐軍防務的(de)大(da)型(xing)土筑(zhu)古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)平面(mian)略似烏龜,故(gu)又名龜城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。東(dong)(dong)西長520米,南北寬(kuan)500米,占(zhan)地面(mian)積30萬余平方米。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)黃土夾砂夯筑(zhu),高(gao)8—12米,墻(qiang)(qiang)基寬(kuan)6米,頂寬(kuan)5米,夯層厚0.12—0.14米。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)(dong)、西、北三面(mian)筑(zhu)有半(ban)圓形(xing)月城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門南開(kai),寬(kuan)4米。外筑(zhu)甕城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),形(xing)似龜頭(tou)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)四周(zhou)有護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河,寬(kuan)約6米,深約2.5米。距北城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)20米處筑(zhu)大(da)墩1座(zuo),墩東(dong)(dong)北有小墩5座(zuo),呈一字形(xing)排列。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)西有地下泉水串流城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內五(wu)井之中,俗稱“五(wu)臟(zang)”。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內原有建筑(zhu)無存,出土有石碑(bei)等(deng)文物。
介于高山(shan)(shan)、戈(ge)壁、黃河(he)、沙漠(mo)、綠洲相(xiang)交匯(hui)的地(di)方(fang),得(de)天(tian)獨厚的地(di)理優勢,給這座古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)留下(xia)了(le)(le)非常寶貴(gui)的人文生態(tai)遺(yi)產。從永泰(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)所處的位置(zhi)來看,它是(shi)(shi)蘭州北部(bu)的戰略屏障,從這里向(xiang)東(dong)渡過黃河(he),經高平(ping)(ping)(固原(yuan))、平(ping)(ping)涼、涇陽等地(di)可(ke)(ke)(ke)以抵(di)(di)達長安(an)。向(xiang)西沿古(gu)驛道經寬溝、裴家營(ying)(ying)、大靖營(ying)(ying)等地(di)可(ke)(ke)(ke)以抵(di)(di)達絲路重鎮(zhen)武威。永泰(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)周邊(bian)都是(shi)(shi)一(yi)馬平(ping)(ping)川的戈(ge)壁灘,當(dang)地(di)人把永泰(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)北面的荒灘稱之為永泰(tai)川、草窩灘,南面是(shi)(shi)山(shan)(shan)大溝深(shen)的老虎(hu)山(shan)(shan),東(dong)西兩面則是(shi)(shi)絲路古(gu)道和長城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。由于明代(dai)中央政府防守(shou)的重點是(shi)(shi)北方(fang)的瓦剌(la)、韃靼等蒙古(gu)部(bu)眾。因而(er),永泰(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址就選在了(le)(le)面臨平(ping)(ping)川,背靠大山(shan)(shan),進(jin)可(ke)(ke)(ke)攻,退可(ke)(ke)(ke)守(shou)的地(di)方(fang)。站(zhan)在永泰(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)上(shang)就能(neng)看到(dao),永泰(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)北面一(yi)馬平(ping)(ping)川,是(shi)(shi)排兵布(bu)陣的好(hao)地(di)方(fang);后面則是(shi)(shi)山(shan)(shan)大溝深(shen)的老虎(hu)山(shan)(shan),是(shi)(shi)退守(shou)隱蔽的好(hao)去處。敵軍進(jin)則無險可(ke)(ke)(ke)倚,我軍退則有山(shan)(shan)可(ke)(ke)(ke)藏,可(ke)(ke)(ke)謂(wei)是(shi)(shi)占盡地(di)利(li)。