據碑刻文(wen)和(he)《紅水縣志》載:明萬(wan)歷(li)間,李汶(wen)總督三邊,前城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)損壞(huai)。汶(wen)與田樂議奏筑(zhu)(zhu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),文(wen)臣方岳,荊州(zhou)俊(jun),元戎孫仁等助(zhu)成(cheng)。復(fu)令參將達云、蕭如薰相(xiang)度地址。明萬(wan)歷(li)丙(bing)午三十(shi)四年(nian)(nian)冬月起工,戊申三十(shi)六(liu)(liu)年(nian)(nian)六(liu)(liu)月落成(cheng),乃曰永泰。雍正二年(nian)(nian),忠(zhong)信(xin)公(gong)岳東美于城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內東西街并北(bei)角,設五(wu)眼(yan)井,以作五(wu)臟,又于北(bei)角設一大池,曰甘露池,合諸(zhu)井,并名(ming)六(liu)(liu)腑(fu)。由(you)此而(er)知,該城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)始建(jian)于明代,清代曾補筑(zhu)(zhu)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址保存較好,對研究明清兩(liang)代軍事防務和(he)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)建(jian)史、建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)技術及建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)思想(xiang)文(wen)化有重要(yao)價值。
永泰城(cheng)(cheng)址位景泰縣寺(si)灘鄉(xiang)永泰村。是(shi)一座明清時(shi)期駐軍防務的大型土(tu)筑(zhu)古城(cheng)(cheng)。城(cheng)(cheng)平(ping)面(mian)略似(si)烏龜(gui),故(gu)又名龜(gui)城(cheng)(cheng)。東西長(chang)520米(mi),南(nan)(nan)北(bei)(bei)寬(kuan)(kuan)500米(mi),占地(di)面(mian)積30萬余平(ping)方(fang)米(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)黃土(tu)夾砂夯筑(zhu),高8—12米(mi),墻(qiang)基寬(kuan)(kuan)6米(mi),頂寬(kuan)(kuan)5米(mi),夯層厚0.12—0.14米(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)東、西、北(bei)(bei)三面(mian)筑(zhu)有(you)(you)半(ban)圓形(xing)月城(cheng)(cheng),城(cheng)(cheng)門南(nan)(nan)開,寬(kuan)(kuan)4米(mi)。外筑(zhu)甕城(cheng)(cheng),形(xing)似(si)龜(gui)頭。城(cheng)(cheng)四周有(you)(you)護城(cheng)(cheng)河,寬(kuan)(kuan)約6米(mi),深約2.5米(mi)。距(ju)北(bei)(bei)城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)20米(mi)處筑(zhu)大墩(dun)1座,墩(dun)東北(bei)(bei)有(you)(you)小墩(dun)5座,呈一字形(xing)排列。城(cheng)(cheng)西有(you)(you)地(di)下泉水串流城(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)(nei)五井之中,俗稱“五臟”。城(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)(nei)原有(you)(you)建筑(zhu)無存,出土(tu)有(you)(you)石碑(bei)等文物。
介于高山(shan)(shan)、戈壁(bi)、黃(huang)河(he)、沙漠、綠洲(zhou)相交匯的(de)地(di)(di)方(fang)(fang),得(de)天(tian)獨厚的(de)地(di)(di)理優勢,給這座古城(cheng)留(liu)下(xia)了非常寶貴的(de)人(ren)(ren)文(wen)生(sheng)態遺產。從永(yong)(yong)泰(tai)城(cheng)所處(chu)的(de)位置(zhi)來看(kan),它是(shi)(shi)蘭州北部(bu)的(de)戰略屏(ping)障,從這里向東(dong)渡(du)過(guo)黃(huang)河(he),經高平(固原(yuan))、平涼、涇陽(yang)等(deng)地(di)(di)可(ke)(ke)以抵(di)(di)達(da)長安。向西沿(yan)古驛道經寬溝、裴家營、大(da)靖營等(deng)地(di)(di)可(ke)(ke)以抵(di)(di)達(da)絲路重鎮(zhen)武威。永(yong)(yong)泰(tai)城(cheng)周邊都(dou)是(shi)(shi)一馬平川(chuan)的(de)戈壁(bi)灘,當地(di)(di)人(ren)(ren)把永(yong)(yong)泰(tai)城(cheng)北面(mian)(mian)的(de)荒灘稱之為永(yong)(yong)泰(tai)川(chuan)、草(cao)窩灘,南面(mian)(mian)是(shi)(shi)山(shan)(shan)大(da)溝深的(de)老虎山(shan)(shan),東(dong)西兩面(mian)(mian)則(ze)是(shi)(shi)絲路古道和長城(cheng)。由于明(ming)代中(zhong)央政府防守的(de)重點是(shi)(shi)北方(fang)(fang)的(de)瓦剌、韃靼等(deng)蒙古部(bu)眾。因而,永(yong)(yong)泰(tai)城(cheng)址就(jiu)(jiu)選在(zai)了面(mian)(mian)臨平川(chuan),背靠(kao)大(da)山(shan)(shan),進可(ke)(ke)攻(gong),退(tui)可(ke)(ke)守的(de)地(di)(di)方(fang)(fang)。站在(zai)永(yong)(yong)泰(tai)城(cheng)上就(jiu)(jiu)能看(kan)到,永(yong)(yong)泰(tai)城(cheng)北面(mian)(mian)一馬平川(chuan),是(shi)(shi)排兵布陣(zhen)的(de)好地(di)(di)方(fang)(fang);后面(mian)(mian)則(ze)是(shi)(shi)山(shan)(shan)大(da)溝深的(de)老虎山(shan)(shan),是(shi)(shi)退(tui)守隱蔽的(de)好去處(chu)。敵軍進則(ze)無險(xian)可(ke)(ke)倚,我軍退(tui)則(ze)有山(shan)(shan)可(ke)(ke)藏,可(ke)(ke)謂是(shi)(shi)占(zhan)盡地(di)(di)利。