Yuma Historic Park

December 15 (Friday)

Today we went to the Yuma Historic Park beside the Colorado River in downtown Yuma. The cost was reasonable ($6 adult/ $5 Senior). The Historic Park is a collection of historic Army buildings from the early era of the region. This spot was chosen as a distribution point for Army supplies heading to forts across the Southwest. The proximity to the Colorado River meant that steamships could come up river from the Gulf. Soon the railway came meaning the distribution of freight to and from the Yuma base was more efficient.

The displays showed us a large range of history for the area. Steamship era, railway era, early automobile, the farming era.

Steamships were coming to Yuma (formerly Arizona Crossing) since the early 1850's.

We each got a turn at steering! :-)

The pivot bridge moved to allow steamers to pass.

The railway came through about 1880. With it came tourism and a swanky hotel.

The top line on the menu states that 'if  you desire an additional helping, your waiter will be glad to serve it without charge'. Now that's a deal!

Notice their motto. 'Free meals every day the sun doesn't shine.' I wonder how often they paid out on this?

With the popularity of the automobile, the railway declined. The roads weren't without their share of issues. The sand dunes west of here called for innovation. The 'plank road'.

Actual sample of the plank road.

The above displays are housed in the old Quartermasters warehouse. The warehouse was used to store materials offloaded from the steamers. They were then distributed to Army outposts all over the southwest.

The original US Army Quartermasters Warehouse

Quartermasters office and residence.

Adobe covered brick

Various equipment used in the office and by the Army.

Telegraph office. Used by Army signalman.

Model of the entire operation. The Office and residence are in the foreground. The warehouse is on the right. The corrals at the back. The building in the front center is the water reservoir. Shown below.

Water reservoir.

The residence was on one end of the building. Some QM's brought their families and others did not. The pictures of the residence were taken through glass so there are some reflections and discoloration of the pictures

Living room

Dining room

Master bedroom

Child's room

Kitchen

Kitchen table

Servants quarters

 The Corrals building has been converted into offices and a Tea Room with Gift Shop. Interesting is the Gift Shop is in the old vault that stored the munitions in the Army days of it's use. I think that is very appropriate. Too bad the vault was open the day we were there! :-)
We did stop for a slice of very good home-made pie from the tea room.

The view in......

......the view out into the tea room.

There were fruit trees on the grounds as well. This was a grapefruit tree.

Loaded with grapefruit.

Good sized grapefruit!

After the Army was done with this facility it was used by various Government Departments including Customs and the Bureau of Reclamations responsible for water management.

Water is a big deal around these parts. Without it there would be nothing but desert. Damming of the Colorado River has always been controversial. Interesting that every drop of the River is now used by man. No water actually makes it to the end of the river.

The siphon is an engineering marvel! The All American Canal is on the California side of the Colorado so to get water to the Arizona side they send the water under the River and back up into Arizona. 

The 'siphon' as it comes up on the Arizona side of the Colorado.

The main canal downstream from the siphon outlet.

This guy came to say hi. I believe it is a Vermillion Fly catcher, but he seems too brightly colored. Next guess is a Scarlet Tanager, but the black band on his head and dark beak says Flycatcher.

A decent sunset. Later that evening we were treated to a parade of golf carts and buggies all decorated and light with hundreds of lights. They paraded through the RV Park. It was very entertaining. I didn't get any worthwhile pictures though.

………Our View From Here!