We’ve seen some interesting sites in our journeys, from more national parks than you can safely count on 2 hands, to little hole-in-the-wall museums. Yuma Territorial Historic Prison is on the list as one of the more memorable. We visited the Yuma Territorial Historic Prison as a field trip during the Fulltime Families West Coast Family Reunion.
What is The Yuma Territorial Historic Prison?
The most basic definition of the Yuma Territorial Historic Prison would be the site of the old Yuma Territory Prison from 1870 to 1900. However, those 30 years of operation saw a lot of history, innovation, and horrors.
The Yuma Territorial Prison was founded at a time of change when it came to prison administration. Instead of strict punishment and imprisonment, the wardens wanted to make prison a growth experience for the inmates, with hopes of rehabilitation. Due to this, the prison was built with a state-of-the-art medical facility, library, running water, and even had the first power generation plant in the area! The prison even sold excess power from its dynamo to Yuma.
A Place of Many Names and Uses
The Yuma Territorial Prison received several nicknames over its years of operation. Alcatraz of the desert, due to its (at the time) remoteness. Opponents in the town of Yuma called it the “country club on the river.” They perceived the library, medical care, and glowing lights as “luxuries” not befitting the prisoners. The prisoners, however, called it the “Hell Hole.” Even running water and reading lights can’t change the fact that you’re bunking with 6-8 other inmates, enduring Southern Arizona’s blistering summer heat, and working 10 hours a day on hard labor. They were sometimes punished for violating the rules by spending time in the dark room. The dark room was a special cell built back into the sandstone bluff. Prisoners would be chained to the floor, fed only once a day, and otherwise left devoid of light and contact for days at a time.
Due to overcrowding, the prison was eventually shut down, but its useful life was far from over. When the Yuma High School burned down in 1914, the old hospital was renovated and used to host classes until a new school was built. To this day, the Yuma High School sports mascot is “The Criminals.” Other groups leased buildings there until the Southern Pacific Railroad demolished about a third of the prison to make way for its rail lines. After that, it also served briefly as housing to hobos and even families during the great depression.
Today, it remains as a protected historic site. It is a very educational place to visit if you’re staying at the Imperial Dam LTVA or just passing through!