據碑刻文(wen)和《紅水(shui)縣志》載:明萬歷間,李汶(wen)總督三邊,前城(cheng)損壞。汶(wen)與田樂議奏筑(zhu)城(cheng),文(wen)臣方岳(yue)(yue),荊州俊,元戎孫仁(ren)等助成。復令參將達(da)云、蕭如(ru)薰相度地(di)址。明萬歷丙午三十(shi)四年(nian)冬月起工(gong),戊申三十(shi)六(liu)(liu)年(nian)六(liu)(liu)月落成,乃曰永泰。雍正二(er)年(nian),忠信公岳(yue)(yue)東美于(yu)城(cheng)內東西街并北角(jiao),設(she)五眼井,以作五臟,又于(yu)北角(jiao)設(she)一大池(chi),曰甘露池(chi),合諸井,并名六(liu)(liu)腑。由(you)此而知,該(gai)城(cheng)始建于(yu)明代(dai),清代(dai)曾(ceng)補筑(zhu)。城(cheng)址保(bao)存較好,對研究(jiu)明清兩(liang)代(dai)軍事(shi)防務和城(cheng)建史、建筑(zhu)技術及建筑(zhu)思想文(wen)化(hua)有重要價值。
永泰城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址位景泰縣(xian)寺灘鄉永泰村。是(shi)一座(zuo)明清時期駐(zhu)軍(jun)防務的大型土(tu)筑古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)平(ping)面(mian)(mian)略似烏龜(gui),故又名龜(gui)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。東(dong)(dong)西長520米(mi)(mi),南(nan)北寬(kuan)(kuan)500米(mi)(mi),占(zhan)地面(mian)(mian)積30萬余平(ping)方米(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻黃土(tu)夾砂夯筑,高8—12米(mi)(mi),墻基(ji)寬(kuan)(kuan)6米(mi)(mi),頂(ding)寬(kuan)(kuan)5米(mi)(mi),夯層厚0.12—0.14米(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)(dong)、西、北三面(mian)(mian)筑有(you)(you)半(ban)圓形(xing)月城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)南(nan)開,寬(kuan)(kuan)4米(mi)(mi)。外筑甕城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),形(xing)似龜(gui)頭。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)四周有(you)(you)護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河(he),寬(kuan)(kuan)約6米(mi)(mi),深約2.5米(mi)(mi)。距北城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻20米(mi)(mi)處筑大墩(dun)1座(zuo),墩(dun)東(dong)(dong)北有(you)(you)小(xiao)墩(dun)5座(zuo),呈一字形(xing)排列。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)西有(you)(you)地下泉水串(chuan)流城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內五(wu)井之中,俗稱(cheng)“五(wu)臟(zang)”。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內原(yuan)有(you)(you)建筑無(wu)存,出土(tu)有(you)(you)石碑(bei)等文(wen)物。
介于(yu)高山(shan)、戈壁(bi)、黃河、沙漠、綠洲相交匯的(de)(de)(de)地(di)(di)(di)方,得天獨(du)厚的(de)(de)(de)地(di)(di)(di)理優勢,給這座古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)留下(xia)了(le)非常寶貴的(de)(de)(de)人(ren)文生態遺產。從永(yong)泰(tai)(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)所處的(de)(de)(de)位置(zhi)來看,它是(shi)(shi)蘭州北(bei)部(bu)的(de)(de)(de)戰(zhan)略(lve)屏障,從這里(li)向東(dong)渡過(guo)黃河,經高平(固原)、平涼、涇陽等地(di)(di)(di)可(ke)(ke)(ke)以(yi)抵達長(chang)安。向西沿(yan)古驛道經寬溝(gou)、裴家營(ying)、大靖營(ying)等地(di)(di)(di)可(ke)(ke)(ke)以(yi)抵達絲(si)(si)路重鎮武威(wei)。永(yong)泰(tai)(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)周(zhou)邊都是(shi)(shi)一(yi)馬(ma)平川(chuan)的(de)(de)(de)戈壁(bi)灘(tan)(tan),當(dang)地(di)(di)(di)人(ren)把永(yong)泰(tai)(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)北(bei)面的(de)(de)(de)荒灘(tan)(tan)稱之為永(yong)泰(tai)(tai)川(chuan)、草窩灘(tan)(tan),南面是(shi)(shi)山(shan)大溝(gou)深的(de)(de)(de)老虎山(shan),東(dong)西兩面則是(shi)(shi)絲(si)(si)路古道和長(chang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。由于(yu)明代中央政府防守(shou)的(de)(de)(de)重點是(shi)(shi)北(bei)方的(de)(de)(de)瓦剌、韃靼等蒙古部(bu)眾。因(yin)而,永(yong)泰(tai)(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址就選在了(le)面臨平川(chuan),背靠大山(shan),進(jin)可(ke)(ke)(ke)攻(gong),退可(ke)(ke)(ke)守(shou)的(de)(de)(de)地(di)(di)(di)方。站在永(yong)泰(tai)(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)上就能(neng)看到,永(yong)泰(tai)(tai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)北(bei)面一(yi)馬(ma)平川(chuan),是(shi)(shi)排兵布陣的(de)(de)(de)好(hao)(hao)地(di)(di)(di)方;后面則是(shi)(shi)山(shan)大溝(gou)深的(de)(de)(de)老虎山(shan),是(shi)(shi)退守(shou)隱蔽的(de)(de)(de)好(hao)(hao)去(qu)處。敵軍進(jin)則無險可(ke)(ke)(ke)倚,我(wo)軍退則有山(shan)可(ke)(ke)(ke)藏,可(ke)(ke)(ke)謂是(shi)(shi)占盡地(di)(di)(di)利。