Fort Tuthill was named after General Alexander M. Tuthill. A distinguished industrial surgeon in civil life and member of Arizona's constitutional convention General Tuthill served as a Colonel commanding the 1st Arizona Infantry later designated as the 158th Infantry, Brigadier General Commanding the 79th Brigade 40th Division A.E.F., Brigadier General Commanding the 89th Brigade 45th Division, Major General commanding the 45th Infantry Division, and Adjutant General of Arizona from 1936 to 1952.

Constructed in 1929, Fort Tuthill was considered one of the finest National Guard Training facilities in the U.S. The Fort served as the permanent field-training site for the 158th Infantry Regiment of the Arizona National Gaurd.

In an effort to preserve the Fort Tuthill's rich military heritage we have restored one of the Fort's original buildings. The building presents the appearance of a Regimental Headquarters, and houses the Fort Tuthill Military History Museum.
Museum displays trace the history of the 158th from it's organization in 1885 as the 1st Regiment Arizona Volunteers through the Spanish American War, Mexican border service, WW I and WW II until deactivated in 1968. A large number of the museum displays focus on the Regiment's outstanding combat record in the South Pacific while operating as the 158th Regimental Combat Team, "Bushmasters". General Douglas McArthur paid tribute to that organization when he stated, "No greater fighting combat team has ever deployed for battle."

Several of the displays also illustrate the history and distinguished combat record of the 45th Infantry Division, "Thunderbirds." The Division served with distinction in WW II and the Korean War. These two famous fighting units have close ties, as the 158th Infantry was a part of the 45th Division from 1923 until reorganization of the Division in 1941. As a result of the reorganization the 158th was separated from the 45th Division and began it's journey to the South Pacific Theater.

It is interesting to note the two units selected to spearhead the invasion of Japan in WWII were the 158th Regimental Combat Team and the 40th Infantry Division. These two National Gaurd units were to land at D -4. Army Headquaters estimated casualties of 50 to 75% could be expected. Fortunately, the units were not required to carry out this mission.