About the Naco Heritage Alliance

Naco Heritage Alliance - The Beginnings


To some passersby, the recent awards of 8.1 million dollars in grant funding to restore and rehabilitate the Camp Naco site may seem like an overnight success story.  And it is - as founding Naco Heritage Alliance member Rebecca (Becky) Orozco puts it - if you consider 22-years “overnight.” 


The long-running journey behind the Naco Heritage Alliance and the preservation of Camp Naco started in 2000, when Becky, who now serves on the Naco Heritage Alliance Board, began a grassroots effort to save the camp from destruction and demolition.  This campaign was continuously fueled by Becky’s educational background in (and passion for) archaeology and history combined with her family’s long-standing ties to Cochise County. 


One of Becky’s largest battles, and therefore subsequent largest victories, came in 2006. The property owner at that time had previously announced their intent to offload Camp Naco, causing Becky to engage in a multi-year endeavor to find a new owner.  Her attempts were stymied when several buildings on the camp were targeted by arsonists, causing extensive damage and the subsequent discovery of asbestos.  With next to no time to spare, Becky made a heart-felt plea to the community and convinced Huachuca City to purchase the property for $10, saving the site from destruction. 


Deborah (Debby) Swartzwelder Jones, a resident of Sierra Vista and retired from the U.S. Army as of 2001, says her life was changed by one history professor’s class assignment while she attended the University of Arizona South.  In 2006, Debbie began diving into her research project entitled Preserving Historic Camp Naco which ultimately inspired the nomination of the camp to the National Register of Historic Places.  Her contributions and the eventual listing of Camp Naco in the National Register of Historic Places on October 17, 2012 were invaluable to the project, as it brought national recognition to local effort. 


William (Bill) Doelle, President and CEO of Archaeology Southwest, first met Becky when he and other members of his team participated in a group tour of the Camp Naco site.  Years later, in 2006, Bill and Becky will both tell you with a drip of friendly banter that Becky “roped” Bill into the Camp Naco preservation effort, and Bill has been serving on the Board of Naco Heritage Alliance ever since.  Bill’s facilitation of the relationship between Archaeology Southwest and Naco Heritage Alliance has been significant in the growth and advancement of NHA. 


And with these three champions, Naco Heritage Alliance became official in 2008 when it was formed as a 501c3.  Today, Becky Orozco serves as Community Coordinator, Debby Swartzwelder Jones as President, and Bill Doelle as Treasurer. 

The parade grounds and barracks at Camp Naco

Advocating for Camp Naco:
Key Moments for Naco Heritage Alliance

2006 - Huachuca City steps in at the eleventh hour to purchase Camp Naco from VisionQuest for the price tag of $10, and takes on the responsibility and preservation of the camp. 


2008 - Naco Heritage Alliance is established as a 501c3.


2012 - Camp Naco is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 


2018 - The City of Bisbee purchases Camp Naco from Huachuca City for $10.


2022 - The collaborative project of the Camp Naco Story Map wins recognition as Arizona Geographic Information Council’s Best Story Map of 2022, Governor’s Award for Heritage Preservation and the James W. Garrison Grand Award, expanding awareness and education surrounding the camp. 


2022 - Camp Naco is identified as one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, bringing national attention to the urgency of the camp’s preservation efforts. 


2023 - Funding from the State of Arizona, Officer of Governor Doug Ducey, and Mellon Foundation (see below) allows the City of Bisbee, as the fiscal agent and property owner, to assemble a team to begin rehabilitation efforts and to drive the long-term sustainability of Naco Heritage Alliance and Camp Naco. 


Grant Funding

The following grants were instrumental in the preservation and stabilization of Camp Naco and provided the needed catalysts for all ongoing efforts:


2007 - Southwestern Foundation Grant Award for $17,500 for the rehabilitation of the Officer’s Club. 


2007 - Arizona Heritage Fund Grant for $86,700 to fund the site’s fencing and cleanup and to prepare a building condition assessment. 


Early 2000s - Cochise County provides $11,000 in cash contributions to complete fencing for the southern Officers’ Quarters after arson damage in 2010. 


2010 - Arizona Department of Environmental Quality awarded NHA with a grant in the amount of $37,000 for the stabilization of the Officer’s Club. 


2011 - Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Grant was awarded in the amount of $400,000 for asbestos removal for the entire site and stabilization of 10 buildings, including re-roofing and stabilization of structural elements on site.


2012 - Southwestern Foundation Grant was awarded to Naco Heritage Alliance in the amount of $15,000 to fund the research for nominating Camp Naco to the National Register of Historic Places. 


2014 - Southwestern Foundation Grant for $20,000 was awarded to help assist in building stabilization. 


2014 - National Trust for Historic Preservation through the Daniel K Thorne Intervention Fund provided $5,000 to fund a master plan for the sustainability of the camp’s long term future.


2015 - Bisbee Woman’s Club awarded $500 to NHA to assist in construction debris cleanup and Waste Management contributed two roll-off dumpsters for the effort.


2015 - Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. awarded $1,000 to assist with building stabilization. 


2021 - Arizona Humanities granted Naco Heritage Alliance $18,308.70 to create a story map for Camp Naco as a collaborative project between two University of Arizona students, two technology/video professionals and Camp Naco volunteers. 


2021 - Southwestern Foundation grants NHA for $10,000 for emergency stabilization. This funding was used to stabilize the adobe walls in the east quadrangle.


2022 - Arizona Preservation Foundation grants $500 to provide additional photographs for the Camp Naco story map. 


2022 - National Trust for Historic Places awarded $10,000 - matched by City of Bisbee funds - for emergency stabilization. This was also used for the east quadrangle stabilization.


2022 - State of Arizona, Office of Governor Doug Ducey, approved a $4.6 million grant as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for preserving and restoring the Camp Naco site.


2022 - Mellon Foundation provided Camp Naco a grant for $3.5 million to provide community outreach, board and program development, and long term planning for the continued restoration and community use of Camp Naco. 

The fireplace in the Officer's Club

Our Future

Thanks to funding support from the Mellon Foundation, the Naco Heritage Alliance is expanding its original mission to preserve Camp Naco and is now poised to create the organizational and financial capacity required to successfully sustain community programming, physical infrastructure, and grow its mission into the future. Stay informed and become part of Naco Heritage Alliance's future by subscribing to our Newsletter below.

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