good-times-rollin: 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 Historic 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.