據(ju)碑刻文(wen)和《紅水縣志》載:明萬歷(li)(li)間(jian),李汶(wen)總督(du)三(san)邊,前(qian)城(cheng)(cheng)損壞。汶(wen)與田(tian)樂議奏筑城(cheng)(cheng),文(wen)臣(chen)方岳,荊州俊,元戎孫仁(ren)等(deng)助(zhu)成(cheng)。復令參將達云、蕭如薰(xun)相(xiang)度地址。明萬歷(li)(li)丙午(wu)三(san)十四年(nian)冬月起工(gong),戊申三(san)十六(liu)年(nian)六(liu)月落成(cheng),乃曰永泰(tai)。雍正二年(nian),忠信公(gong)岳東美于(yu)(yu)城(cheng)(cheng)內東西街并北角(jiao),設五(wu)眼井,以作五(wu)臟(zang),又于(yu)(yu)北角(jiao)設一大池(chi),曰甘(gan)露池(chi),合諸井,并名六(liu)腑。由此而知,該城(cheng)(cheng)始(shi)建(jian)于(yu)(yu)明代,清代曾補筑。城(cheng)(cheng)址保存(cun)較好(hao),對研究明清兩代軍事防務(wu)和城(cheng)(cheng)建(jian)史、建(jian)筑技(ji)術及(ji)建(jian)筑思想文(wen)化(hua)有重要價值。
永(yong)(yong)泰(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址位景泰(tai)縣寺灘鄉永(yong)(yong)泰(tai)村。是一座明清時期駐軍防務的大型(xing)土筑(zhu)古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)平(ping)面(mian)略似烏龜,故又名(ming)龜城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。東(dong)西(xi)長520米(mi),南北寬(kuan)500米(mi),占地(di)面(mian)積30萬余平(ping)方(fang)米(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)黃(huang)土夾砂夯(hang)筑(zhu),高8—12米(mi),墻(qiang)基(ji)寬(kuan)6米(mi),頂寬(kuan)5米(mi),夯(hang)層厚0.12—0.14米(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)、西(xi)、北三面(mian)筑(zhu)有(you)(you)(you)半圓形月城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門南開,寬(kuan)4米(mi)。外(wai)筑(zhu)甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),形似龜頭(tou)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)四周(zhou)有(you)(you)(you)護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河,寬(kuan)約(yue)(yue)6米(mi),深(shen)約(yue)(yue)2.5米(mi)。距北城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)20米(mi)處筑(zhu)大墩1座,墩東(dong)北有(you)(you)(you)小(xiao)墩5座,呈(cheng)一字形排列。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)西(xi)有(you)(you)(you)地(di)下泉水串流城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內五(wu)(wu)井之中,俗稱(cheng)“五(wu)(wu)臟”。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內原有(you)(you)(you)建(jian)筑(zhu)無存,出土有(you)(you)(you)石碑等文物。
介于高山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)、戈壁(bi)、黃河、沙漠、綠(lv)洲相交匯(hui)的(de)(de)地(di)(di)方,得天(tian)獨厚(hou)的(de)(de)地(di)(di)理(li)優(you)勢,給這座古城(cheng)留下了(le)(le)非常寶貴的(de)(de)人(ren)文生態遺產。從永(yong)泰城(cheng)所處的(de)(de)位置來看(kan),它是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)蘭州北部的(de)(de)戰(zhan)略屏障(zhang),從這里(li)向東渡過黃河,經(jing)高平(ping)(固原)、平(ping)涼、涇陽(yang)等(deng)地(di)(di)可(ke)以抵達長安。向西(xi)(xi)沿古驛道(dao)經(jing)寬溝、裴家營、大靖營等(deng)地(di)(di)可(ke)以抵達絲(si)路重鎮武(wu)威(wei)。永(yong)泰城(cheng)周(zhou)邊都(dou)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)一馬平(ping)川(chuan)(chuan)的(de)(de)戈壁(bi)灘,當地(di)(di)人(ren)把永(yong)泰城(cheng)北面(mian)的(de)(de)荒灘稱之(zhi)為永(yong)泰川(chuan)(chuan)、草窩(wo)灘,南面(mian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)大溝深(shen)的(de)(de)老虎(hu)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),東西(xi)(xi)兩面(mian)則(ze)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)絲(si)路古道(dao)和長城(cheng)。由于明代中(zhong)央政(zheng)府防守(shou)的(de)(de)重點是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)北方的(de)(de)瓦(wa)剌、韃靼等(deng)蒙古部眾。因而,永(yong)泰城(cheng)址就選在了(le)(le)面(mian)臨平(ping)川(chuan)(chuan),背(bei)靠(kao)大山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),進可(ke)攻,退(tui)可(ke)守(shou)的(de)(de)地(di)(di)方。站在永(yong)泰城(cheng)上就能看(kan)到,永(yong)泰城(cheng)北面(mian)一馬平(ping)川(chuan)(chuan),是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)排(pai)兵布陣的(de)(de)好(hao)地(di)(di)方;后(hou)面(mian)則(ze)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)大溝深(shen)的(de)(de)老虎(hu)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)退(tui)守(shou)隱蔽的(de)(de)好(hao)去處。敵軍(jun)進則(ze)無險可(ke)倚(yi),我軍(jun)退(tui)則(ze)有山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)可(ke)藏,可(ke)謂是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)占盡地(di)(di)利。