據碑刻文和《紅水縣志》載:明萬歷間,李汶(wen)總督三(san)邊,前城損壞。汶(wen)與(yu)田(tian)樂(le)議(yi)奏筑(zhu)(zhu)城,文臣方岳,荊州(zhou)俊,元戎孫仁(ren)等助成。復令參(can)將達云、蕭如薰(xun)相(xiang)度(du)地址。明萬歷丙午三(san)十(shi)四年冬(dong)月起工(gong),戊申三(san)十(shi)六(liu)年六(liu)月落成,乃(nai)曰永泰。雍(yong)正(zheng)二年,忠信公岳東美于(yu)(yu)(yu)城內東西街并(bing)北角,設五眼(yan)井,以作五臟,又(you)于(yu)(yu)(yu)北角設一大池(chi),曰甘露池(chi),合(he)諸井,并(bing)名六(liu)腑。由此而(er)知(zhi),該城始建(jian)于(yu)(yu)(yu)明代,清代曾補筑(zhu)(zhu)。城址保存較好(hao),對研(yan)究(jiu)明清兩代軍事防務和城建(jian)史、建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)技術及建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)思(si)想文化有(you)重要價值。
永泰(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)址位景泰(tai)縣(xian)寺灘(tan)鄉永泰(tai)村。是一(yi)座明清時期(qi)駐軍防務的(de)大(da)型土筑古城(cheng)(cheng)。城(cheng)(cheng)平面(mian)略似烏(wu)龜(gui),故(gu)又名龜(gui)城(cheng)(cheng)。東西長520米(mi)(mi)(mi),南北(bei)(bei)寬500米(mi)(mi)(mi),占地面(mian)積30萬(wan)余平方米(mi)(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)墻黃土夾(jia)砂夯(hang)筑,高8—12米(mi)(mi)(mi),墻基寬6米(mi)(mi)(mi),頂寬5米(mi)(mi)(mi),夯(hang)層(ceng)厚0.12—0.14米(mi)(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)東、西、北(bei)(bei)三面(mian)筑有半圓形月(yue)城(cheng)(cheng),城(cheng)(cheng)門南開,寬4米(mi)(mi)(mi)。外(wai)筑甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng),形似龜(gui)頭。城(cheng)(cheng)四周有護城(cheng)(cheng)河,寬約6米(mi)(mi)(mi),深約2.5米(mi)(mi)(mi)。距北(bei)(bei)城(cheng)(cheng)墻20米(mi)(mi)(mi)處筑大(da)墩(dun)(dun)1座,墩(dun)(dun)東北(bei)(bei)有小墩(dun)(dun)5座,呈一(yi)字形排列(lie)。城(cheng)(cheng)西有地下泉水(shui)串(chuan)流城(cheng)(cheng)內五井(jing)之(zhi)中,俗稱“五臟”。城(cheng)(cheng)內原有建筑無存,出土有石碑等(deng)文(wen)物。
介于高山(shan)(shan)(shan)、戈(ge)壁、黃(huang)河、沙漠(mo)、綠(lv)洲相交(jiao)匯的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)地(di)方(fang),得天獨(du)厚的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)地(di)理優勢(shi),給這座古(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)留(liu)下了非常寶貴(gui)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)人(ren)文(wen)生態遺產。從(cong)永(yong)(yong)(yong)(yong)泰城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)所處的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)位置(zhi)來(lai)看,它是(shi)(shi)蘭州北(bei)部(bu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)戰(zhan)略屏障(zhang),從(cong)這里(li)向東渡過黃(huang)河,經高平(ping)(固原)、平(ping)涼、涇陽等地(di)可(ke)以抵達長(chang)安。向西(xi)沿古(gu)(gu)驛(yi)道經寬(kuan)溝、裴家營、大(da)靖營等地(di)可(ke)以抵達絲路重鎮武威(wei)。永(yong)(yong)(yong)(yong)泰城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)周邊都是(shi)(shi)一馬(ma)平(ping)川的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)戈(ge)壁灘(tan),當(dang)地(di)人(ren)把永(yong)(yong)(yong)(yong)泰城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)北(bei)面的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)荒灘(tan)稱之為永(yong)(yong)(yong)(yong)泰川、草窩灘(tan),南面是(shi)(shi)山(shan)(shan)(shan)大(da)溝深的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)老虎山(shan)(shan)(shan),東西(xi)兩面則是(shi)(shi)絲路古(gu)(gu)道和長(chang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。由于明(ming)代(dai)中央政府防(fang)守(shou)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)重點是(shi)(shi)北(bei)方(fang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)瓦剌(la)、韃靼等蒙古(gu)(gu)部(bu)眾(zhong)。因而,永(yong)(yong)(yong)(yong)泰城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)就選在了面臨平(ping)川,背靠大(da)山(shan)(shan)(shan),進(jin)可(ke)攻(gong),退(tui)(tui)可(ke)守(shou)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)地(di)方(fang)。站在永(yong)(yong)(yong)(yong)泰城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)上(shang)就能看到,永(yong)(yong)(yong)(yong)泰城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)北(bei)面一馬(ma)平(ping)川,是(shi)(shi)排兵布陣的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)好(hao)地(di)方(fang);后面則是(shi)(shi)山(shan)(shan)(shan)大(da)溝深的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)老虎山(shan)(shan)(shan),是(shi)(shi)退(tui)(tui)守(shou)隱蔽的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)好(hao)去處。敵軍進(jin)則無險可(ke)倚,我軍退(tui)(tui)則有(you)山(shan)(shan)(shan)可(ke)藏,可(ke)謂是(shi)(shi)占盡地(di)利。