Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area

Cocopah RV Resort

Yuma, AZ

February 28, 2025 

Sunrise at Cocopah...the lettuce that was growing here when we arrived on the 10th was cut, plowed, reseeded and watered the next day.  I took this photo on the 15th and tiny sprouts of alfalfa appeared a few days later.  I love these fields !

National Heritage Areas are places where historic, cultural, and natural resources combine to form cohesive, nationally important landscapes.   In 2000, Yuma Crossing was the first site designated by an Act of Congress as a National Heritage Area west of the Mississippi.  

The Yuma Crossing NHA covers 21 square miles and boasts two state historic parks...Yuma Territorial Prison and Colorado River, riverfront parks connected by  lighted multi-use walks, and interpretive plaza that tells many stories of the Yuma Crossing, 400 acres of restored wetlands, and historic downtown districts including Main Street and Brinley Avenue.  

    

Photo taken 2014

In 2014 we visited the Territorial Prison, better known as The Hell Hole, which opened in 1876 when the first seven prisoners were the very men forced to build their own cells.

This visit we checked off the second historic park, Colorado River Quartermaster Depot SHP, and a delightful patio lunch.  

Also, the Gateway Park which is the location of the  Ocean-to-Ocean Bridge and a leisurely walk with historic kiosks in the East Wetlands. 

And twice, we walked the historic downtown areas. 

Small boutiques, pottery row, eateries, pubs, and bakeries, and history make for a few hours of leisurely fun.   

The Brown House built in 1893 was used as a boarding house which catered to Southern Pacific Railroad men on layover between Los Angeles and Tucson. C.L. Brown bought the property in 1907 for his family home and lived there until 1943. 

To complete this National Heritage (and beautiful) Area, we visited Pivot Plaza and the West Wetlands as well.

Pivot Plaza :

Pivot Plaza should have been our first stop in Yuma...it is a great interpretive plaza with kiosks full of stories, and history, and information.  

First off, there is a large scale map showing the city's paved and lighted multi-use trails which stretch for about 10 miles along the riverfront and East Main Canal.  The three cultural influences on Yuma are highlighted...the Quechuan and Cocopah Tribes, Spanish and American.  Kiosks explain why Yuma was the only natural crossing point on the Colorado River for many miles.  Because the river is more narrow and more shallow in Yuma, Yuma was established as the first city on the Colorado River.  

It is also of interest that Pivot Plaza is located own the site where the first railroad train entered Arizona in 1877.  It preserves one of the few remaining artifacts of Arizona's first rail line...the concrete pivot on which the rail bridge turned to allow steamboats to pass.  

And you can't help but notice the restored 1907 Baldwin steam locomotive when there.  

West Wetlands : 

What a fun morning we had visiting the West Wetlands with Carol and Ronnie.  This wetlands is divided into two sections...the Upper Bench and the Lower Bench.  The first phase of construction was focused on the Upper bench which included roadways, a duck/fishing pond, playground, picnic Ramadas, restrooms and lighted multi-use pathways.  

I was thrilled to finally see a female Ring-necked duck here.  What a beautiful bird she is.

Northern Mockingbird

Mallard

Lucy had such a great time...hugs with Carol

and walks with Ronnie.

Since 2017, the focus has been on the Lower Bench including trails and trailhead parking, an outdoor environmental classroom, and restoration of over 36 acres of bank line and riparian habitat.  

  

I read that since 2000, over 200,000 native trees and grasses have been planted in the National Historic Area with more being planted every year. 

While walking in this beautiful area, it is hard to believe that it was once hobo camps and a landfill.  Kudos to Yuma for having the insight and motivation to see a better future for their city.  And congratulations to Yuma for being chosen to host the  33rd International Waterfront Conference in 2018...one of the smallest cities to ever be chosen.  

On the way back to the RVs, we made a couple of stops.  Most folks might stop to smell the roses, but in Yuma, we stop to smell the celery.  A field of celery being harvested has the freshest scent...a crisp and fresh green veggie aroma.  I read the leaves have a more pronounced celery scent than the stalks.

   

The next stop was to check out the billy goats...just look at those ears

and what sweet faces they have.

Back at Belle, Lucy crashed (and so did Joe and I)... 

and isn't picky when it comes to finding a spot to flop.

Recognize these feet?

How about these plumes ?

These beautiful birds were hunted nearly to extinction for their plumes in the late nineteenth century which sparked conservation movements and some of the first laws to protect birds.

The Great Egret is one of my favorite birds...so graceful, pristine, and elegant.  

The Great Egret is the symbol of the National Audubon society, one of the oldest environmental organizations in North America, and was founded to protect birds from being killed for their feathers.

They hunt in classic heron fashion, standing immobile, or wading through wetlands without making a single splash in belly-deep water.  I am always happy to photograph these stalking birds and even more excited to catch them doing their morning stretches.

 

Great Egrets fly slowly but powerfully...with just two wingbeats per second their cruising speed is around 25 MPH. 

In real time, we returned home on March 1.  We have definitely had better travel days as the high winds and dust storms made for a slow...but safe...ride home.  

It's fun to take a break and go on a vaca, but there's really nothing like being back home.  It has been a busy few days...unpacking, laundry, grocery shopping, feeding the birds and watering plants, and a haircut for me.  

The view from the kitchen window at dusk.

I do have another post from Yuma to write so stay tuned for that. 

Until next time, 

West Wetlands trail

HAPPY TRAILS !

Colorado River Historic State Park

Cocopah RV Resort

Yuma,AZ 

February 22, 2025 

Sunset at Cocopah...walking Lucy 

Saturday's adventure was a history lesson and a yummy lunch at one of the points of interest in the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area along the Colorado River. 

The bluff overlooking the Colorado River...

Yuma began to experience the American westward movement in the mid 1800s when over 60,000 people crossed by ferry from Yuma on their way to California in search of gold.  A military post was established in Yuma in 1850 and the Colorado River Historic State Park is located on the bluff overlooking the river on the site of the U.S. Army Quartermaster Depot established in 1864.  The purpose of the park is to protect its historic structures and interpret the diverse history of the area. 

The Quartermaster Depot...front porch with the river below.  

The Depot  served as a storage yard and a military supply center for fourteen military posts in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Southern Utah, and West Texas.  There was a six month's supply of ammunition, clothing, and food at all times.  The supplies were brought from California by ocean-going vessels traveling around the Baja Peninsula and then north as far as the mouth of the Colorado River.  At this point, supplies were transferred to river steamboats and brought up the river to the Depot.  There sere several displays in side the Quartermaster's Office including uniforms and offices for the Quartermaster, and a military telegrapher from the Signal Corp. In 1873, the U.S. Signal corps operated Arizona's first non-private telegraph line from this office.  The telegraph stretched from San Diego, through Yuma, and on to Prescott and Tucson. But the most interesting bit of history to us was the Weather Station was also housed in this Depot.  

The Quartermaster's Office at the Yuma Depot became the first Signal Service weather station in Arizona Territory.  

Other points of interest include :

 the Water Reservoir

The Colorado River has always been a source of drinking water in Yuma. Prior to dams, the water carried  a large load of sediment.  Reservoirs forced the sediment to collect at the bottom allowing the clear water at the top to be siphoned off for drinking. The Army built this beautiful stone reservoir in 1865.

the Corral House

The adobe building, built in the early 1860s originally had an adobe corral all the way around it and thus named the corral house. From 1904 to 1951, it was somewhat modernized and housed the Bureau of Reclamation's Headquarters for the Yuma Project which was the first major irrigation project on the lower Colorado River.   The building provided both living and office space during that time.  

I peeked in one of the doors...it's been awhile since 1951...I know because I was born that year.  No one has occupied it since.

At the other end of the corral house is the Reclamation office. There are several rooms filled with photos, historical information and short videos about the Colorado River...the irrigation project, farming, and living in Yuma. This video was very nicely done.

 

the Quartermaster's House and Kitchen

Overlooking the once mighty Colorado River, this building may be Yuma's oldest home.  The living quarters are on the left with the detached kitchen on the right.  

President Roosevelt signed an order in 1902  dedicating this building to the Customs Service and  this home became a port of entry station for people and goods entering the U.S. via the river from Mexico.  It remained as the Customs House in Yuma until 1955.

The dining room and door to the kitchen...

The kitchen and laundry room...

The kitchen garden had veggies and herbs...

the Storehouse

Back in the 1800s this huge adobe building was used for storage brought in by steamboats.  Supplies were separated and organized and then dispersed to military posts by wagons.  Today it is a museum housing military and work wagons, old baggage carts from Southern Pacific Railroad, a mule drawn fire wagon complete with ladders and a bell and even a 1913 Model T Ford.  There are displays about steamboats and the Southern Pacific Railroad and how Plank roads were built over the sand dunes we drive by going to San Diego.  

Wagon wheel on a dump wagon...

The mule drawn fire wagon...

Army military wagon...

1913 Model T Ford on a plank road...

As you can tell, the storehouse was our favorite part of this very informative historic state park.  We are happy we went and checked off another great Arizona Sate Park.  Unlike other state parks we have visited, this park has a yummy Italian Restaurant.  It is located in the Corral House with inside and patio sitting.  

Although the cafe is inside the park, if you just want to enjoy a great lunch or dinner, you can ask at the park store when you enter for a voucher and not pay the park entrance fee which is $8.00 for seniors. 

Joe and I shared a Zucchini e Ricotta Pinsa.  Neither of us has had a Pinsa (pronounced Peens-ah) Romana before so I had to google it up.  It's described as "a cloud-like Pizza" that has crispy textures on the outside and a super soft and scrumptious inside.  And yes, we each had Tiramisu di Treviso which was absolutely melt-in-your-mouth delicious.  Mario is the owner and the chef of his little Italian cafe which has been in Yuma for three years.  It's definitely on our list of "let's go back there" places.   

Back at the park, Ronnie grilled burgers and we all chipped in with fixings and sides.  I love these meals and time spent with friends and it's been great to get to know Don and Jan better.  Still no friends photos, but Carol has a green thumb and travels with the prettiest flowers.  

And I always love seeing this lantern...we passed it on to Carol years ago.

Starlings were first brought to North America in the 1890s...in fact all the Starlings in North America descended from 100 birds let loose in Central Park in NY. They are now among the continent's most numerous songbirds.These common birds are great  vocal mimics and have up to 20 different bird species calls.   

Starlings turn from spotted and white to glossy and dark each year without shedding their feathers. They grow new feathers in the fall with bold white tips and by spring the tips have worn away.  That's pretty cool and I don't ever remember seeing a Starling with its spots.  

So pretty!  And so very fast...these birds with their short tails and triangular wings can fly up to 48 MPH.

Lucy is such a joy...a great little travel puppy !  

Meet and greet at the park.  

Picnics on the patio...

So until next time...

HAPPY TRAILS!