據碑刻(ke)文(wen)(wen)和《紅水縣志》載:明(ming)萬歷間(jian),李汶總督三(san)(san)邊,前城(cheng)損(sun)壞。汶與田樂議(yi)奏筑(zhu)城(cheng),文(wen)(wen)臣方岳(yue),荊州俊,元戎孫仁等助成(cheng)。復令參(can)將達云、蕭如(ru)薰相度地址(zhi)。明(ming)萬歷丙午三(san)(san)十(shi)四(si)年(nian)冬月(yue)起工,戊申三(san)(san)十(shi)六(liu)年(nian)六(liu)月(yue)落成(cheng),乃曰(yue)永泰。雍正(zheng)二年(nian),忠信公(gong)岳(yue)東美于(yu)城(cheng)內東西街并北(bei)(bei)角(jiao),設五(wu)(wu)眼(yan)井,以(yi)作五(wu)(wu)臟,又于(yu)北(bei)(bei)角(jiao)設一大池,曰(yue)甘露池,合(he)諸井,并名六(liu)腑。由此而(er)知,該城(cheng)始建于(yu)明(ming)代(dai),清代(dai)曾補筑(zhu)。城(cheng)址(zhi)保(bao)存較好,對研究明(ming)清兩代(dai)軍事防(fang)務和城(cheng)建史、建筑(zhu)技術及建筑(zhu)思想文(wen)(wen)化有重(zhong)要價值(zhi)。
永泰(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址位景泰(tai)縣寺(si)灘(tan)鄉永泰(tai)村。是一(yi)座明清時期駐軍防務的(de)大型土(tu)筑古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)平(ping)面略似烏(wu)龜(gui),故又名龜(gui)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。東(dong)西長(chang)520米(mi)(mi),南北(bei)寬(kuan)500米(mi)(mi),占(zhan)地(di)(di)面積30萬余平(ping)方米(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)黃(huang)土(tu)夾砂夯筑,高8—12米(mi)(mi),墻(qiang)基(ji)寬(kuan)6米(mi)(mi),頂寬(kuan)5米(mi)(mi),夯層厚(hou)0.12—0.14米(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)、西、北(bei)三面筑有(you)半(ban)圓形(xing)月城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)南開,寬(kuan)4米(mi)(mi)。外筑甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),形(xing)似龜(gui)頭。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)四周有(you)護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河,寬(kuan)約(yue)(yue)6米(mi)(mi),深約(yue)(yue)2.5米(mi)(mi)。距北(bei)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)20米(mi)(mi)處筑大墩(dun)1座,墩(dun)東(dong)北(bei)有(you)小墩(dun)5座,呈一(yi)字形(xing)排列。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)西有(you)地(di)(di)下(xia)泉水串流城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內五(wu)井之中,俗稱“五(wu)臟”。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內原(yuan)有(you)建筑無存,出土(tu)有(you)石碑等(deng)文物。
介于高山(shan)(shan)、戈(ge)壁(bi)、黃(huang)河、沙(sha)漠、綠洲相交匯(hui)的(de)(de)地(di)(di)(di)方,得(de)天獨厚的(de)(de)地(di)(di)(di)理優勢,給這(zhe)座古(gu)(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)留下了非(fei)常寶貴的(de)(de)人文生態遺產(chan)。從永泰(tai)(tai)(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)所處的(de)(de)位(wei)置(zhi)來看(kan),它是(shi)(shi)蘭州北部的(de)(de)戰略(lve)屏障(zhang),從這(zhe)里向(xiang)(xiang)東渡過(guo)黃(huang)河,經高平(ping)(固原)、平(ping)涼(liang)、涇陽等(deng)地(di)(di)(di)可(ke)(ke)以(yi)(yi)抵(di)達長安。向(xiang)(xiang)西沿(yan)古(gu)(gu)(gu)驛(yi)道經寬(kuan)溝、裴家營(ying)、大(da)靖營(ying)等(deng)地(di)(di)(di)可(ke)(ke)以(yi)(yi)抵(di)達絲(si)路重(zhong)鎮武威。永泰(tai)(tai)(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)周邊都是(shi)(shi)一(yi)(yi)馬平(ping)川的(de)(de)戈(ge)壁(bi)灘,當地(di)(di)(di)人把永泰(tai)(tai)(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)北面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)的(de)(de)荒灘稱之為永泰(tai)(tai)(tai)川、草窩(wo)灘,南(nan)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)是(shi)(shi)山(shan)(shan)大(da)溝深的(de)(de)老虎山(shan)(shan),東西兩面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)則(ze)是(shi)(shi)絲(si)路古(gu)(gu)(gu)道和長城(cheng)(cheng)。由(you)于明(ming)代中央(yang)政府防(fang)守的(de)(de)重(zhong)點是(shi)(shi)北方的(de)(de)瓦剌、韃靼等(deng)蒙古(gu)(gu)(gu)部眾(zhong)。因而,永泰(tai)(tai)(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)址就選在(zai)(zai)了面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)臨平(ping)川,背(bei)靠大(da)山(shan)(shan),進可(ke)(ke)攻,退可(ke)(ke)守的(de)(de)地(di)(di)(di)方。站在(zai)(zai)永泰(tai)(tai)(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)上就能看(kan)到,永泰(tai)(tai)(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)北面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)一(yi)(yi)馬平(ping)川,是(shi)(shi)排兵布陣(zhen)的(de)(de)好(hao)地(di)(di)(di)方;后面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)則(ze)是(shi)(shi)山(shan)(shan)大(da)溝深的(de)(de)老虎山(shan)(shan),是(shi)(shi)退守隱蔽的(de)(de)好(hao)去處。敵(di)軍進則(ze)無險可(ke)(ke)倚,我軍退則(ze)有山(shan)(shan)可(ke)(ke)藏,可(ke)(ke)謂是(shi)(shi)占盡地(di)(di)(di)利。