good-times-rollin: 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.