洮州衛城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)位于臨潭(tan)縣(xian)新(xin)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)鎮(zhen)。據《衛城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)竣(jun)工碑》記載(zai),衛城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)筑于明洪武十二(er)年(1397),同時隍廟亦竣(jun)。洮州衛城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)坐(zuo)北(bei)(bei)面南,依山而(er)建(jian),平面呈不規則(ze)長方形(xing),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)總周長5400余(yu)米(mi),總占地面積2.98平方千米(mi)。衛城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)南城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)順河而(er)建(jian),其他三(san)面順山而(er)上(shang),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)三(san)分(fen)之(zhi)一位于山上(shang),東(dong)北(bei)(bei)高,西(xi)南低(di)。四周城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)及(ji)南門(men)保(bao)存較好,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)上(shang)有馬面16個、角(jiao)墩9個,東(dong)、西(xi)、北(bei)(bei)門(men)存甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)北(bei)(bei)和西(xi)北(bei)(bei)山頭(tou)有烽火(huo)臺。
洪武十二年(nian)(nian)(公元1379年(nian)(nian))西平侯沐英(ying)、大(da)都督金朝(chao)興于東隴(long)山(shan)之(zhi)南(nan)(nan)川(chuan)(chuan)筑城(cheng),得到(dao)了當地藏族(zu)土司頭(tou)人的大(da)力支持。全城(cheng)跨山(shan)連川(chuan)(chuan),因形就勢而筑,巍然屹立,氣勢雄偉。城(cheng)周實測為5430米(原載九里(li)),垣墻高9米以上(shang),東西南(nan)(nan)北設四座(zuo)甕(weng)城(cheng),并有敵樓。城(cheng)內外墩臺相(xiang)望,形成(cheng)警報通訊系(xi)統。明中葉(xie)后,在海眼池(chi)南(nan)(nan)筑垣墻和水西門甕(weng)城(cheng),成(cheng)為甘南(nan)(nan)現存(cun)大(da)的一座(zuo)古城(cheng)。
三國(公(gong)元(yuan)220-265年(nian)(nian)(nian))時期,在臨潭已有挑(tiao)陽(yang)、侯和(he)兩城(cheng),蜀(shu)將姜維(wei)與魏將鄧艾曾(ceng)戰(zhan)于(yu)侯和(he)。北(bei)(bei)魏(公(gong)元(yuan)420-532年(nian)(nian)(nian))置(zhi)洪和(he)郡,北(bei)(bei)周(zhou)(公(gong)元(yuan)572-581年(nian)(nian)(nian))改置(zhi)美相縣,隋(公(gong)元(yuan)581-618年(nian)(nian)(nian))廢(fei)郡置(zhi)州(zhou)(zhou),成(cheng)為挑(tiao)州(zhou)(zhou)治(zhi)所。唐貞觀八(ba)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(公(gong)元(yuan)749年(nian)(nian)(nian))移州(zhou)(zhou)治(zhi)于(yu)挑(tiao)陽(yang)川,原址乃為美相縣,屬挑(tiao)州(zhou)(zhou)管(guan)轄。天寶年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)(公(gong)元(yuan)742-756年(nian)(nian)(nian))并入臨潭縣(即今臨潭縣舊(jiu)城(cheng))。安(an)史之亂后沒干(gan)吐蕃,其后未見建制。故(gu)原城(cheng)址自(zi)唐天寶至明初,長達600多年(nian)(nian)(nian),被(bei)徹底(di)破壞。在實(shi)測城(cheng)址時,發現洮(tao)州(zhou)(zhou)衛城(cheng)是在原洪和(he)城(cheng)基(ji)礎(chu)上擴建改筑而成(cheng)的。
城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內有明、清時期城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)隍(huang)廟1座,1936年8月(yue),中(zhong)國工農紅(hong)軍(jun)(jun)第四(si)方面(mian)軍(jun)(jun)在(zai)朱(zhu)德(de)等(deng)率領(ling)下(xia)進駐新城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),在(zai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)隍(huang)廟成(cheng)立(li)臨潭縣(xian)蘇(su)維(wei)埃政(zheng)府(fu)(fu),并召開(kai)(kai)“洮州會(hui)議”作出了(le)四(si)方面(mian)軍(jun)(jun)停止西(xi)渡(du)的(de)重(zhong)大決定。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內街道布局基本尚存(cun)(cun)。隍(huang)廟建(jian)筑群座落在(zai)衛城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)中(zhong)心偏北的(de)臺(tai)地上,坐北朝南(nan),中(zhong)軸對稱,東西(xi)長51米(mi),南(nan)北130米(mi),現存(cun)(cun)主要建(jian)筑四(si)座:大殿、東西(xi)廡殿、山門樓臺(tai)和(he)(he)東西(xi)廊(lang)房(fang),為清代建(jian)筑。1936年8月(yue),紅(hong)四(si)方面(mian)軍(jun)(jun)在(zai)朱(zhu)德(de)、徐向前和(he)(he)李(li)先念指揮下(xia),攻克新城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),成(cheng)立(li)臨潭蘇(su)維(wei)埃政(zheng)府(fu)(fu),在(zai)隍(huang)廟召開(kai)(kai)了(le)著名的(de)“洮州會(hui)議”。1943年,由卓(zhuo)尼(ni)水磨川活佛(fo)肋巴(ba)佛(fo)和(he)(he)王仲甲領(ling)導(dao)的(de)甘(gan)南(nan)各族(zu)農牧民(min)大起義也爆發于(yu)此,威(wei)震西(xi)北。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內部(bu)分民(min)居保存(cun)(cun)較好,特(te)色鮮明。