News


Jan
28
2025

Yuma state parks admitted over 60K visitors in 2024

Yuma state parks admitted over 60K visitors in 2024

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  •  Updated 
  • The Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area admitted more than 60,000 visitors to its state parks in fiscal year 2024, provided public tours to nearly 4,000 people and generated support from 70 volunteers across all of its educational and community event programs.

    Executive Director Cathy Douglas attended the Jan. 14 Yuma City Council work session to provide an update on the Yuma Crossing accomplishments from Oct. 1, 2023, through Sep. 30, 2024.

    Yuma Crossing encapsulates seven square miles in and around the city of Yuma, responsible for maintenance and operation of 400 acres of restored wetlands along three contiguous miles of the Colorado River, in addition to the operation of the Colorado River and Yuma Territorial Prison state historic parks.

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Jan
25
2025

Wild West Days

Wild West Days

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  •  Updated 

The Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park hosted its inaugural Wild West Days event on Saturday, Jan. 25, drawing over 1,000 visitors for the museum's most-attended single-day event in recent memory. Jay Walker hosted a day of Wild West shootout reenactments, live music performances, a Victorian runway show, a mustache and beard contest and much more. "We're just so excited that Yuma showed up for this event," Yanna Kruze, prison manager, said.

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Jan
23
2025

Experience the Wild West at the Yuma Territorial Prison

Experience the Wild West at Yuma Territorial Prison

Have you ever wanted to take a trip back in time to the Wild West? The Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area has you covered, hosting Wild West Days, the first event of its kind, on Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park.

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Nov
21
2023

For Immediate Release: Yuma Crossing NHA awarded funding from the National Park Foundation

Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area

Sarah Halligan

Sarah.Halligan@yumaaz.gov

928-373-5190

 

 

Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Receives Grant to provide an all expenses paid field trip to Yuma’s two state historic parks and Yuma East Wetlands.

 

 

Yuma, AZ November 13, 2023 – Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area has received an Open OutDoors for Kids grant from the National Park Foundation to provide all-expenses paid field trips to Yuma County’s 3rd and 4th grade students.

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Sep
14
2023

One more week to Vote

One more week of voting for Best Haunted title

 

Community members have one more week left to vote for the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park as the Best Haunted Destination in the nation.

As of Friday, the Territorial Prison ranked No. 2, behind Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum in Las Vegas, in the USA Today 10Best contest.

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Sep
14
2023

Territorial Prison vies for Best Haunted title

Territorial Prison vies for Best Haunted title

Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park is once again vying for the title of Best Haunted Destination in the nation.

The historic prison has previously held the No. 1 and 2 spots in the USA Today 10Best contest. The Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area, which oversees the state park, is asking community members to help the prison regain the title.

To vote, go to www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-haunted-destination-2023. The Heritage Area invites supporters to vote multiple times a day from different devices to secure the top spot again.

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May
19
2023

A New Cemetery Sign Brought to You by Gila Ridge High School Students

A new cemetery sign – brought to Yuma by Gila Ridge welding students

 

Four Gila Ridge High School welding students – Darin Soto, Cole Lancaster, Wallace Fulford and Sergio Martinez – and their instructor, Michael Young, had very important business to attend to Thursday morning: the unveiling of their entrance sign for the Yuma Territorial Prison Cemetery.

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Mar
10
2023

SPECIAL REPORT: Treasures of the Desert Southwest – Yuma Territorial Prison State Park

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA/KECY) - Another Treasure of the Desert Southwest was Arizona’s first state prison and now serves as a local museum.

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Dec
29
2022

Congressional legislation ensures long-term stability for Yuma Crossing

Congressional legislation ensures long-term stability for Yuma Crossing

Legislation approved by the U.S. Congress ensures the long-term stability of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area.

On Thursday, the House of Representatives approved the National Heritage Area Act (S. 1942) with a bipartisan vote of 326-95.

This action followed the unusual vote of “unanimous consent” by the Senate requiring no objections from any of the 100 senators.

This legislation will replace a patchwork of individual funding authorizations with a program that creates clear criteria for designation and accountability, fiscal stability through a 15-year renewal of the program and a commitment to protect private property rights.

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Dec
27
2022

CONGRESS ENACTS LANDMARK LEGISLATION TO ENSURE LONG TERM STABILITY FOR YUMA CROSSING NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA

For Immediate Release:

December 27th, 2022

 

CONGRESS ENACTS LANDMARK LEGISLATION

TO ENSURE LONG TERM STABILITY FOR YUMA CROSSING NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA

 

Contact:

Sarah Halligan

Marketing & Communications

Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area

Sarah.Halligan@yumaazgov

O – 928-373-5190

 

Press Release

 

On Thursday, December 22, 2022, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly   approved the National Heritage Area Act (S. 1942) on a bi-partisan vote of 326-95. This action followed the unusual vote of “unanimous consent” by the Senate requiring no objections from any of the 100 Senators.

 

This legislation was championed by Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Congressman David McKinley (R-WV) in the House and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) in the Senate.

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