Yuma Territorial Prison
11/16/2005
11/16/2005
11/16/2005
We drove down to Yuma one day, just because we hadn't been there yet.
We figured we'd do a quick trip and tour the prison, have a look around the town, and see what else is in the area for future trips.
The original cells were dug into a cliff. They're small, but not much worse than Alcatraz.
Most of the materials were hauled away by citizens to build other structures after the prison closed, and more was destroyed by fires over the years.
Despite that the restoration has been done rather well, and it's a nice visit back into time.
This is the gate into the prison. It was built when they decided to make the prison a tourist attraction
The guard tower. Since the prison's closing it's been used for civic functions including meetings and dances
As you exit the visitor's center you enter the yard. Some of the buildings have been dismantled over the years, but these are the old cells
Looking down between the old cells
One of the gates out of the old cell block
One of the old transport wagons. No, we didn't see Clint Eastwood or Inger Stevens
The dark cell was used for "bad" prisoners. Inside is a cage where the prisoner stayed in darkness for days.
Rack 'em and Stack 'em
This gate leads from the old cell block into the yard of the new block.
The new cell block was also dug into a mound
The cells in the new block weren't much different that those in the old block