3/29 to Yuma (We Missed the 3:10)

We made a short stop in Yuma, AZ as we were making our way to Southern California.  We arrived March 29.  The weather was already getting very warm--in the 90's--and the wind was ever-present.  From all indications, snowbirds had already started their return to northern climes.

For the most part, folks that were still there are likely full-time residents, and live in manufactured homes--some maintained, others not so much.  And as you can see from the picture above, the park wastes no water on vegetation of any kind.  The feel was rather lonely and depressing, and we were glad to move on after our short visit.

Downtown Yuma is small, but clean.

On the day we were there, they were holding some kind of festival--not sure what the theme was--so there were a lot of people milling around.  We were treated to some street performances, including some belly-dancing, followed by a heart-wrenching country song by a 6-year old little girl.  We had lunch at Lutes Casino, reportedly THE place to go when in Yuma.  It's no longer a casino, having been converted to a restaurant, and is decorated very eclectically.  They're famous for their combination hot dog/hamburger.  HeM tried one.  After lunch, he reached for the Tums bottle.

The main tourist attraction for us was the Yuma Territorial Prison Museum.  The prison was opened in 1876, and operated for 33 years.  Most of the buildings that are represented in the prison model below still exist.

The picture above is a combination water tank and guard tower.  All water used by the prison was pumped from the Colorado River which runs right next to it.  It was held in the water tank, which was covered by the guard tower to reduce evaporation.

The prison earned the reputation of 'Hellhole'.  The hot, dry climate was barely bearable.  Interestingly enough, most deaths were due to tuberculosis.  We had always heard that Arizona was the place to go to recuperate from TB in those days.

In actuality, the prison was very progressive, and the prisoners were treated with many amenities not found in most prisons of the time.  Prisoners had jobs within the prison--cooking, laundering, blacksmithing, etc.--keeping their time occupied.  They had electricity and forced ventilation.  They had access to a library.  They even had a prison band.

It was clearly still a prison, though, and the incorrigibles were punished with solitary confinement, and in the worst cases, the Dark Cell.

After Yuma, we continued west to San Diego.