據碑刻文和(he)《紅水縣志》載:明萬(wan)歷(li)間(jian),李汶總督三(san)(san)邊,前城(cheng)損壞。汶與(yu)田樂議(yi)奏(zou)筑(zhu)城(cheng),文臣方岳,荊州俊(jun),元戎孫仁等(deng)助成。復(fu)令參將(jiang)達云、蕭如薰(xun)相度地址。明萬(wan)歷(li)丙(bing)午三(san)(san)十四年冬月(yue)起工,戊申三(san)(san)十六年六月(yue)落(luo)成,乃曰(yue)永泰。雍(yong)正(zheng)二年,忠信公(gong)岳東美于城(cheng)內東西街(jie)并(bing)北角,設(she)五眼井,以作五臟,又(you)于北角設(she)一大池(chi),曰(yue)甘露池(chi),合(he)諸井,并(bing)名六腑。由此而知(zhi),該城(cheng)始建(jian)于明代,清代曾補筑(zhu)。城(cheng)址保存較好,對研究明清兩代軍(jun)事防務(wu)和(he)城(cheng)建(jian)史、建(jian)筑(zhu)技術及建(jian)筑(zhu)思想(xiang)文化有重要價值。
永泰(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址位景泰(tai)縣寺灘鄉永泰(tai)村。是(shi)一座(zuo)明清(qing)時期駐軍(jun)防務的(de)大(da)型土筑古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)平面(mian)略似烏龜(gui)(gui),故又名龜(gui)(gui)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。東(dong)(dong)西(xi)長520米(mi),南(nan)北寬500米(mi),占地(di)面(mian)積(ji)30萬余(yu)平方米(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻黃土夾砂夯筑,高8—12米(mi),墻基寬6米(mi),頂寬5米(mi),夯層(ceng)厚0.12—0.14米(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)(dong)、西(xi)、北三面(mian)筑有(you)(you)(you)半圓(yuan)形月城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門南(nan)開,寬4米(mi)。外(wai)筑甕城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),形似龜(gui)(gui)頭(tou)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)四周有(you)(you)(you)護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河,寬約6米(mi),深約2.5米(mi)。距(ju)北城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻20米(mi)處筑大(da)墩(dun)1座(zuo),墩(dun)東(dong)(dong)北有(you)(you)(you)小墩(dun)5座(zuo),呈一字形排列。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)西(xi)有(you)(you)(you)地(di)下泉水串流(liu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內五(wu)井(jing)之中,俗稱“五(wu)臟(zang)”。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內原(yuan)有(you)(you)(you)建筑無(wu)存,出土有(you)(you)(you)石碑等文(wen)物。
介于(yu)高山(shan)、戈壁、黃(huang)河、沙漠、綠洲(zhou)相(xiang)交匯的地(di)(di)(di)(di)方,得(de)天獨厚(hou)的地(di)(di)(di)(di)理(li)優(you)勢(shi),給(gei)這座古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)留(liu)下(xia)了非常寶貴的人(ren)文生態遺產(chan)。從永(yong)(yong)泰(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)所(suo)處的位置來看(kan),它是蘭州北部(bu)的戰略(lve)屏障(zhang),從這里(li)向東渡過黃(huang)河,經(jing)高平(固原)、平涼、涇陽等(deng)地(di)(di)(di)(di)可(ke)以抵達長安(an)。向西沿古(gu)驛道經(jing)寬溝、裴家(jia)營、大(da)靖(jing)營等(deng)地(di)(di)(di)(di)可(ke)以抵達絲路(lu)重鎮武威。永(yong)(yong)泰(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)周邊都是一馬(ma)平川(chuan)(chuan)的戈壁灘(tan),當(dang)地(di)(di)(di)(di)人(ren)把永(yong)(yong)泰(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)北面(mian)的荒灘(tan)稱(cheng)之為永(yong)(yong)泰(tai)川(chuan)(chuan)、草窩(wo)灘(tan),南面(mian)是山(shan)大(da)溝深的老虎山(shan),東西兩面(mian)則(ze)(ze)是絲路(lu)古(gu)道和長城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。由(you)于(yu)明代中央政府防守(shou)的重點(dian)是北方的瓦剌(la)、韃靼等(deng)蒙古(gu)部(bu)眾。因而,永(yong)(yong)泰(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址就選在了面(mian)臨(lin)平川(chuan)(chuan),背(bei)靠大(da)山(shan),進可(ke)攻(gong),退可(ke)守(shou)的地(di)(di)(di)(di)方。站在永(yong)(yong)泰(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)上就能看(kan)到,永(yong)(yong)泰(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)北面(mian)一馬(ma)平川(chuan)(chuan),是排(pai)兵布(bu)陣(zhen)的好地(di)(di)(di)(di)方;后面(mian)則(ze)(ze)是山(shan)大(da)溝深的老虎山(shan),是退守(shou)隱蔽的好去處。敵(di)軍(jun)進則(ze)(ze)無險可(ke)倚,我(wo)軍(jun)退則(ze)(ze)有山(shan)可(ke)藏,可(ke)謂是占盡地(di)(di)(di)(di)利。