Quartzsite

Quartzsite was originally known as Tyson's Wells. Charles Tyson found water here in 1856 and built a fort on the site as defense against Mojave Indians. It was also used as a stage station on the road from Ehrenberg to Prescott.

Later the place was renamed "Quartzite" after the rock, but was misspelled by the post office and became "Quartzsite."

Hadji Ali lies under a pyramid shaped marker in the local cemetery. He was one of several camel drivers imported from the Middle East along with about 80 camels in 1856-57 by the U.S. Army. It was hoped that the beasts would improve transportation and communication in the Southwest. Although they showed some promise, the Army abandoned the project during the Civil War. Most of the camels were turned loose on the desert, terrorizing stock and wild animals for many years; none have survived to present. All the other camel drivers, homesick for their native lands, sailed home. Hadji Ali, whose name soldiers changed to "Hi Jolly," stayed in Arizona and took up prospecting.