Yuma Territorial Prison

So the Yuma Territorial Prison is a State Park in Yuma Arizona, It is a prison that was literally built by the prisoners who were housed there. 

These are the dunes that are in and around Yuma.

This is the guard tower and water tower of the prison.

The Prison was built on a bluff overlooking the Colorado River.

This Mission is right across the river from the prison.

This is the original entrance to the prison.

The back of the prison.

This building is not original to the site, though it does have a long history, it sits on site of the mess hall among other things and now houses the museum.

This is a model of the prison grounds, sadly most of these buildings are no longer there.

Entering the cell block

Through the cells out the other side.

The metal bunks that were built to replace the old wooden ones because of a bed bug infestation.

A closer look at the metal doors.

The back gate out of the cell block.

The prison annex built to try and help the overcrowded that would eventually cause the prison to close.

Wooden bunks in this cell...

The dark cell, also known as solitary confinement.

An old barber chair.

The front of the cell block.

Foundations of the five cells that were used to house the trouble makers...

Part of the outer wall.

The prison operated from 1876 and closed 33 years later.  The buildings were then used by the local high school, as a hospital, a VFW, and by homeless families and squatters during the Great Depression. 

The railroads demolished part of the prison to expand their tracks a build a new bridge, however it is to be noted that the citizens have Yuma fought for preservation of the prison for many years, finally achieving it for certain when it became a state park in 1961, and that they again stepped up to the plate when the state was looking at closing it down in 2010 due to budget issues.