A Visit To The Yuma Territorial Prision

Yuma Territorial Prison State Park - Between 1876 and 1909, this penitentiary housed many of Arizona's most dangerous and notorious criminals. Famed in movies, literature and television, the remains of the prison are now Arizona's most visited State Historic Park. The cells, main gate and guard tower have endured as grim reminders of frontier justice. Museum exhibits document the story of the prison.

You just have to go to the old prison if you are in Yuma. It is the area's main attraction. The prison was built in 1876 and was made famous in western novels and cowboy movies. In the years after the prison was closed it was used as a location for filming movies about the French Foreign Legion. If you have seen any of those old black and white movies you have already seen Yuma Prison and did not know it. You can see what is left of the old buildings. Many of them were made of stone and have held up well. There is a museum there about the prison and a nature trail also.

Twelve cells were dug into the hillside in 1900 to relieve overcrowding - they formed so called New Yard. By 1907, the prison was severely overcrowded, and there was no room on Prison Hill for expansion. Convicts constructed a new facility in Florence, Arizona, and the last prisoner left Yuma on September 15, 1909. As you can see on my picture the external walls of the cells are painted in white nowadays.
 

Brief History:

On July 1, 1876, the first seven inmates entered the Territorial Prison at Yuma, and were locked into the new cells they had built themselves. A total of 3,069 prisoners, including 29 women, lived within these walls during the prison's thirty-three years of operation. Their crimes ranged from murder to polygamy, with grand larceny being the most common. A majority served only portions of their sentences due to the ease with which paroles and pardons were obtained. One hundred eleven persons died while serving their sentences, most from tuberculosis, which was common throughout the territory. Of the many prisoners who attempted escape, twenty-six were successful, but only two were from within the prison confines. No executions took place at the prison because capital punishment was administered by the county government.

Despite an infamous reputation, written evidence indicates that the prison was humanely administered, and was a model institution for its time. The only punishments were the dark cells for inmates who broke prison regulations, and the ball and chain for those who tried to escape. During their free time, prisoners hand-crafted many items. Those items were sold at public bazaars held at the prison on Sundays after church services. Prisoners also had regular medical attention, and access to a good hospital.

Schooling was available for convicts, and many learned to read and write in prison. The prison housed one of the first "public" libraries in the territory, and the fee charged to visitors for a tour of the institution was used to purchase books. One of the early electrical generating plants in the West furnished power for lights and ran a ventilation system in the cellblock.

By 1907, the prison was severely overcrowded, and there was no room on Prison Hill for expansion. The convicts constructed a new facility in Florence, Arizona. The last prisoner left Yuma on September 15, 1909. The Yuma Union High School occupied the buildings from 1910 to 1914. Empty cells provided free lodging for hobos riding the freights in the 1920s, and sheltered many homeless families during the Depression. Townspeople considered the complex a source for free building materials. This, plus fires, weathering, and railroad construction, destroyed the prison walls and all buildings except the cells, main gate and guard tower; but these provide a glimpse of convict life a century ago.

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Annual Special Events
Gathering of the Gunfighters - Second weekend in January
Fund Raising Dinner - February
Yuma Crossing Day - Last Saturday in February
Hard Ride to Yuma Prison - Mid April
Haunted Tours - Last Saturday in October
Evening Encounter - First Saturday in December
Old West Reenactments - Every Sunday, October through April
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Group-Use Facilities

Facilities: Historic site, Territorial Prison in operation from 1876 until 1909, water tank, guard tower, sally port (entrance gate) museum (display of artifacts and interpretation of prison, former staff and former convicts, cell blocks, caliche hill (south bank) new yard and cells.

Amenities: Picnic area, rest rooms, water, and vending machines.

Maximum Group Size: 1,000

Picnic Areas: Yes

Reservation Policy: Reserved not more than 6 months in advance; reservation fee of $10 paid immediately; fees paid two weeks in advance of special event.

Restrictions: No fires, no camping, no overnight.

Hours: 8:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. Evening hours by reservation only.

Group Use Fees: Non-commercial and commercial reservations are available for special events.

Please contact park personnel for fee information.

Admission onto historic site, museum, and cellblocks - group of 15 or more:

After Hour Fees: Fees vary. Please contact the park for more detailed fee information.

Contact Name and Phone Number: Park Manager – (928) 783-4771; FAX (520) 783-7442

Hotel Bookings: http://www.hotelrates.com