Guard tower footings

Phoenix history lesson! These are the last structures that remain of a World War II-era prisoner-of-war camp. Camp Papago Park was a large camp in an area that now consists of housing, a National Guard installation, softball fields and a park.

On Dec. 23, 1944, 25 German POWs tunneled out and fled. They planned to escape to Mexico. Most were captured within a few weeks; the last was captured Jan. 28. Most didn't get out of Maricopa County. It was the largest Axis POW escape in the U.S.

These footings are from a guard tower. The last of the buildings here were removed in 2005.

Read more about the Great Papago Escape here.