Yuma in Yuma County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Drinking Water Life in the Desert

Photographed By James Hulse, November 8, 2021

1. Drinking Water Life in the Desert Marker

Inscription. All water for the prison came from the river. Inmates dug a network of tunnels at the base of the hill which would fill with river water. From there water was pumped up into the 85,000 gallon granite-walled tank, also of inmate construction. In 1893, after continual pump breakdowns, prison officials and Yuma Water and Light came to an agreement: water was piped to the prison in exchange for electricity produced by the prison's electric dynamo.

The Guard Tower
A platform was built on top of the water tank, to limit evaporation. A roof was added, and it became a guard tower. As smaller towers were added to the wall, this guard stand was glassed-in and heated to provide sleeping quarters for guards. A catwalk extended to the top of the wall. After the prison closed, this tower served various functions, including a Civil Defense lookout during World War II.

Erected by Yuma Territorial Prison Park and Arizona State Parks.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Law Enforcement • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1893.

Location. 32° 43.654′ N, 114° 36.894′ W. Marker is in Yuma, Arizona, in Yuma County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Prison Hill Road

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and South Levee Road. The marker is located in the northern section of the Yuma Territorial Prison. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 220 Prison Hill Road, Yuma AZ 85364, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Crossing Into History (within shouting distance of this marker); Yuma East Wetlands Today (within shouting distance of this marker); Yuma East Wetlands (within shouting distance of this marker); Prison Labor (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Yuma East Wetlands (within shouting distance of this marker); View of the Prison from Across the River (within shouting distance of this marker); Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); "Indian Hill" (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yuma.

Also see . . . Yuma Territorial Prison.

The Yuma Territorial Prison is a former prison located in Yuma, Arizona, United States. Opened on July 1, 1876, and shut down on September 15, 1909. It is one of the Yuma Crossing and Associated Sites on the National Register of Historic Places in the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area. The site is now operated as a historical museum by Arizona State Parks as Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park. Source: Wikipedia

The Drinking Water Life in the Desert Marker in front of the Guard Tower image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, November 8, 2021

2. The Drinking Water Life in the Desert Marker in front of the Guard Tower

(Submitted on November 16, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The view of the marker and Guard Tower from the entrance to the prison image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, November 8, 2021

3. The view of the marker and Guard Tower from the entrance to the prison

Credits. This page was last revised on November 16, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 16, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 291 times since then and 68 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 16, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.