The prison closed due to overcrowding and all inmates were moved to a new prison in Florence in 1909. They takr Credit card but only on putchase of tickeys over $10. Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park A myth that nobody escaped from the prison is untrue - 26 successfully escaped. You can easily spend much more than an hour here! (866) 275-5816 | (602) 364-3700, Copyright 2023 VisitArizona.com | Privacy Policy. The Veterans of Foreign Wars leased the guard's quarters in 1931 and used it as their clubhouse until 1960. [citation needed]. Things To Do. On July 1, 1876, the first seven inmates entered the Territorial Prison at Yuma and were locked into the new cells they had built themselves. Overnight camping is permitted at Kofa National Wildlife Refuge and areas administered by the Bureau of Land Management. Yuma Territorial Prison | C-SPAN.org Today it is a much visited State Park. The first seven inmates moved into the facility on July 1, 1876. Yuma Arizona's #1 Tourist Destination with gift shop, museum, and interactive exhibits. Fun prison T-shirts, baseball caps, keychains, handcuffs, and books about the prison are available in the gift shop inside the Visitor Center. The school athletic teams became known as "The Criminals." Sitting on a bluff overlooking the Colorado River, three miles west of the confluence of the Colorado and the historic Gila River, stand the ruins of Arizonas famous Territorial Prison, and a short distance west are the remaining buildings that served as a part of the Yuma Quartermaster's Depot. Today at Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park walk through the actual strap iron cells and solitary chamber of Arizona Territory's first prison. Free shipping for many products! There is an interesting Museum and Souvenirshop . This park has modern, handicap accessible restrooms in the museum.