A 16-year-old girl who is relatively new to the Verde Valley has taken to embracing a big part of its history.
For the last two weeks, Sabrina Wilson has been coming to Fort Verde State Historic Park as an historical interpreter and volunteer at the park.
Visitors can find Wilson there twice a week decked out in the clothing of a woman from the 1880s — big hats and bonnets included.
“I love history,” Wilson said. “The more of it you know, the more prepared you are for the future. You have to learn from the mistakes of the past.”
Wilson said she’s been having a great time at the remains of the old 19th century U.S. Army post trying to help learn and help teach others about the history of what took place there.
From France to Seattle, Wilson and her family, parents Jonathan and Muriel, have been around.
Wilson said that they took a fifth-wheel trip all around the United States.
The Verde Valley was just meant to be the halfway point on one leg of the journey, Wilson said.
It ended up becoming something a little more permanent.
“It’s a beautiful area,” Wilson said.
Wilson discovered the fort while looking to find something to send her grandparents back in Europe for Christmas.
The experience has been great, Wilson said.
To read the full story, see the Wednesday, Feb. 11, edition of The Camp Verde Journal.
