Old Yuma and Quartermaster Headquarters

We enjoyed a 2 hour walking tour of old Yuma and learned more of the history of Yuma and this area of the Colorado river. Why Yuma? It was the best area to cross the Colorado river for 1400 miles of river. The Indians showed the Spaniards the crossing and later the Gila trail from Santa Fe brought early pioneers, settlers and gold seekers who crossed the Colorado here at what was the beginning of Yuma. The Gila trail came right down main street of old Yuma.
Eventually a fort was built and then supplies would come the up the Colorado river to Fort Yuma. The Quartermaster headquarters managed all the supplies, payroll and shipping of supplies to all the forts in the southwest.

 

The oldest adobe building in Yuma

 

Part of the original wall from the sediment pools developed to supply clean water for drinking and to feed the steam engine locomotives that required clean water.

 

This steam engine used 12000 gals

 

Original pivot point where tracks would pivot and open a pathway for barges and paddle boats to maneuver to unload their supplies.

 

Saint Thomas Mission

 

The highway bridges that connected the oceans. First bridge over the Colorado that allowed traffic to travel from ocean  to ocean

 

Quartermaster headquarters

 

The safe where military payrolls were kept, gold from California being shipped to Washington. Now it's a cute gift shop with a very big door.

 

More cactus

 

Quartermasters office