• Guard Tower is the prison’s most iconic and photographed landmark.
• Tallest historic structure offers scenic 360-degree views of the surrounding Yuma East Wetlands, Ocean-to--Ocean Bridge, and Prison Cemetery.
• Round rock foundation served as the prison’s water reservoir. Wooden deck was added later to keep water from evaporating beneath the Sonora Sun, eventually becoming the Main Guard Tower.
• Stairs climbed by 55,000+ museum-goers each year
• Picturesque spot for wedding ceremonies, marriage proposals, and sunrise Pilates.

**Engraved plaque displayed at Guard Tower October 2026-September 2029, social media recognition**

• Museum’s most popular exhibit!
• Visitors come from around the world to step inside the dark cave in the company of bats.
• Prisoners remained in the Dark Cell for days, weeks, or months, depending on the infraction.
• Inmates who committed infractions such as fighting, gambling, or talking after curfew did time in the dreaded Dark Cell.
• Today, the Dark Cell is a rest spot for California Leaf-Nosed Bats.

**Engraved plaque displayed near Dark Cell October 2026-September 2029, social media recognition**

·  Granite cells stood the test of time, while most wooden and adobe structures in the cell block burned, eroded, or were scavenged over the years.

·  Under the instruction of engineer David Neahr, inmates undertook the unhappy labor of constructing their own prison quarters.

·  Early prisoners took pride in their handicraft construction of cells, adding fine detail into the rock archways of cells #1 and #2.

·  A second story was added to the cell block, the site of a state-of-the-art hospital overlooking the cemetery below.

· Hospital and library facilities served citizens of Yuma as well as the inmate population!

**Engraved plaque displayed near Inmate Cell Block October 2026-September 2029, social media recognition**

·  Museum was built atop the foundation of the prison mess hall, where prisoners ate their three daily meals.

· The museum’s first curator, Clarissa Winsor was named Yuma County’s “Man of the Year” in 1961 for her work to preserve the prison and collect artifacts related to the area.

· Today, the museum is still filled with artifacts, displays, and interactive elements to educate and enlighten all of Yuma’s citizens and visitors from across the globe.

**Engraved plaque displayed near Prison Museum October 2026-September 2029, social media recognition**

· Prison’s last remaining adobe structure and quintessential icon of the site.

· Security checkpoint for all people and material that passed through the eighteen-foot-high walls entering the prison.

· Site of the infamous Gates Riot, the deadliest day in the prison’s history.

**Engraved plaque displayed near Sally Port October 2026-September 2029, social media recognition**

·104 inmates were buried in the cemetery by the time of the prison’s closure in 1909.

· Most died from natural causes; tuberculosis, or consumption as it was known at the time, was the most prominent.

· Wooden markers sit on grave mounds and a plaque inscribed with the names of the deceased honor the memory of those eternally incarcerated in the prison cemetery.

**Engraved plaque displayed near Prison Cemetery October 2026-September 2029, social media recognition**

• Historic prison expansion featuring additional inmate cell blocks
• Includes the exercise yard where prisoners spent their limited recreation time
• Offers visitors a unique look into daily prison life during Arizona's territorial days
• Located within one of Arizona's most iconic historic landmarks
• Seen by more than 55,000 visitors annually

**Engraved plaque displayed in New Yard October 2026-September 2029, social media recognition**

• The Prison Entry garden offers a welcoming first impression, blending historic ambiance with natural beauty just steps inside the Yuma Territorial Prison grounds.
• Thoughtfully landscaped pathways and native desert plantings frame the entrance, creating a peaceful transition from the outside world into the historic site.
• From key vantage points within the garden, guests are treated to sweeping, picturesque views of the Yuma East Wetlands, showcasing the restored river habitat and vibrant wildlife corridor along the Colorado River.

**Engraved plaque displayed near Park Entry October 2026-September 2029, social media recognition**

• The Scenic Bridge Overlook provides a striking vantage point where history and landscape converge above the iconic Ocean to Ocean Bridge, one of the earliest automobile crossings of the Colorado River.
• From the overlook plaza, visitors experience sweeping, uninterrupted views of the Colorado River as it winds through the Yuma valley, framed by desert horizons and riparian greenery.
• The space serves as a prime interpretive location, highlighting the significance of early transportation routes and Yuma’s role as a historic river crossing point.
• The Colorado River Overlook Plaza offers a gathering space for reflection, photography, and storytelling, where guests can take in both the engineering legacy of the bridge and the natural beauty of the river corridor.

**Engraved plaque displayed near Scenic Bridge Overlook October 2026-September 2029, social media recognition**

· Theater is built on the site of the prison’s kitchen.

·  Décor and the video presentation serve as reminders that the prison’s heritage didn’t end when it ceased function as a penal institution.

·  The Yuma Prison served as movie set for classics like The Three Musketeers, The Badlanders, and Red River Valley.

**Engraved plaque displayed near Historic Theater October 2026-September 2029, social media recognition**

· The prison library was the brainchild of Madora Ingalls, superintendent Frank Ingalls’ wife. Madora petitioned organizations across the country for monetary and literary donations for the library.

·  Prison library was the largest library in the Arizona Territory.

·  Early prison management believed in rehabilitation through education; subjects taught included literacy, basic mathematics, and even music.

·  Citizens of Yuma could pay 25¢ for access to the prison library; this fee was reinvested in the library fund.

**Engraved plaque displayed near Library Exhibit October 2026-September 2029, social media recognition**

· Upon entry to the Territorial Prison, inmates would have hair trimmed and shaved to maintain hygiene standards.

· The longtime barber, Willard Travis, was a prisoner himself.

·  Travis was not a barber by trade before doing time. It could be attested he was handy with a blade though. His crime? Willard Travis attacked another man with a scalpel!

**Engraved plaque displayed near Barbershop Exhibit October 2026-September 2029, social media recognition**

• One of the Prison's newest and most immersive exhibits
• Used to house inmates who could not remain with the general prison population and required greater isolation
• Served as an alternative to confinement in the infamous Dark Cell
• Features a captivating holographic exhibit that brings the story of these inmates to life
• Provides visitors with a powerful glimpse into the harsher realities of prison life in Arizona's territorial days
• Located within one of the most intriguing and talked-about areas of the Prison
• Experienced by more than 55,000 visitors annually

**Engraved plaque displayed near Criminal Cell October 2026-September 2029, social media recognition**

• The Historic Bell Sponsor features a preserved, iconic bell that has been rung thousands of times by both visitors and guards, marking moments of arrival, departure, and daily life within the historic site.
• Serving as a hands-on heritage experience, the bell connects guests directly to the traditions and routines that once defined the prison environment.
• Each ring echoes the layered history of the grounds, symbolizing communication, order, and community interaction throughout the site’s past.

**Engraved plaque displayed near Historic Bell October 2026-September 2029, social media recognition**

· While the infirmary was initially dug into the caliche rock hill and seems rather primitive, the prison had modern facilities for the late 1800s.

· Accomplished doctors tended to inmates of Yuma.

· Prison hospital was eventually built atop the cell block where the facility would have more light and easy access to hot water.

· Inmates were not the only individuals treated in the prison hospital; ailing citizens of Yuma had access to the state-of-the-art medical care offered atop the hill.

· Dental hygiene was taken very seriously as the link between gum disease and heart disease was becoming apparent. A dentist was also routinely employed by the prison.

**Engraved plaque displayed near Infirmary Cell October 2026-September 2029, social media recognition**

· Women incarcerated in Yuma had their own cell block and private yard that faced west toward the town.

· Female inmates were allowed to wear dresses and skirts rather than striped denim uniforms.  No lace allowed!

· Frequently convicted of “Crimes of Passion,” the women of the territorial prison were reportedly some of the most troublesome prisoners.

· Yuma’s most famous inmate, Pearl Hart the Bandit Queen spent nearly three years in one of these cells after robbing a stagecoach near Globe, AZ.

**Engraved plaque displayed near Women's Cell October 2026-September 2029, social media recognition**

Show your support for the professionals who care for our community every day. As the sponsor of Healthcare Heroes Appreciation Day, you'll receive recognition for providing free one-day admission to the Yuma Territorial Prison for healthcare professionals and one guest, giving them a well-deserved opportunity to enjoy one of Arizona's most iconic historic landmarks.

Honor the men and women who serve our country. As the sponsor of Active Military Appreciation Day, you'll receive recognition for providing free one-day admission to the Yuma Territorial Prison for active-duty military personnel and one guest, giving them an opportunity to experience one of Arizona's most iconic historic landmarks.

Honor the brave men and women who protect our community every day. As the sponsor of Law Enforcement & Firefighter Appreciation Day, you'll receive recognition for providing free one-day admission to the Yuma Territorial Prison for law enforcement officers, firefighters, and one guest, offering them a chance to enjoy and explore one of Arizona's most iconic historic landmarks.

Honor those who have served our nation. As the sponsor of Veterans Appreciation Day, you'll receive recognition for providing free one-day admission to the Yuma Territorial Prison for veterans and one guest, giving them the opportunity to enjoy one of Arizona's most historic and treasured landmarks.