We went to prison

Yuma, Arizona: The State of Arizona doesn't "do" daylight savings time. I suppose this saves twenty minutes per year you won't spend resetting every clock in the house - but dang, it doesn't get light here until 7:30 in the morning!

Just as well. We both had many emails to answer, books & postcards to ship, and work to do this morning. Life isn't all fine dining and golf. Drats.

Sometimes you have to go to prison.

We have stayed in Yuma countless times and finally today we visited the Yuma Territorial Prison State Park. The prison opened in 1876 where the Gila and Colorado Rivers met in Yuma, Arizona. The prison was state-of-the-art (at the time) and held over 3,000 prisoners in 33 years of operation - including 29 women. If you are ever in Yuma, we encourage you to stop into the state park for a visit to the prison. Here are (again, way too many) photos of our day.

$4 fee to enter the park


The cell blocks


Inside a cell. Original mattresses were on wooden frames,
stuffed with straw and filled with bed bugs. Nice.


Would you pardon this prisoner?


Original cell blocks


The prisoners actually built their own walls


The women's area. At one time six women were detained.


Back view of the cell blocks. Note foundation ruins in the bottom of the photo.


Prison museum


Interesting display of the convicts. Photos were taken in front of a mirror, ensuring a profile image.


DT in the guard tower - built over the water cistern


The view from the guard tower. The puny little stream is the Mighty Colorado River -
about 20 miles before it reaches the Gulf of California

The prison offers free RV parking in a lot just south of the prison. Admission $4. No pets. Nice picnic tables over-looking the river. Gift shop and restrooms. Kids and adults would equally enjoy this park. The park shows a free film explaining the history of the prison in the museum. The video is a little hokey, yet interesting just the same.

After spending about 90 minutes touring through the Yuma Territorial Prison, we went to Old Town Yuma and walked around the shops and museums.

Old Town Yuma

Until my next update, I remain, your convict correspondent.

RV Park: The Palms RV Resort