Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park

The Yuma Quartermaster Depot is a military supply facility with warehouses, officer housing, and storage buildings scattered across the desert landscape. The structures sit near the Colorado River and reveal how an army base operated during the 1800s.

Established in 1864, this supply center served army posts spread across five states and territories for about two decades. It lost military importance once the railroad reached Yuma, transforming how goods moved through the region.

The site brings together the stories of soldiers, settlers, and indigenous peoples who lived and worked in this frontier region. Walking through the buildings, you see how these different groups shaped daily life in the Arizona territory.

The visitor center offers guided tours through five original buildings showing how the depot operated during its active years. Plan time to walk the grounds and explore each structure at your own pace as you move between buildings.

The depot used a steam engine to pump water from the Colorado River and distribute it through pipes across the grounds. This was the first water system of its kind in the region and allowed the facility to operate during dry periods.