Early Yuma

Set against the backdrop of Yuma's notorious prison, this photographic history highlights the resilience of its early settlers—Quechan, Spanish, Mexican, and Anglo. It contrasts the outlaws' dread of "The Hell Hole" with the pride of Yuma's residents, who transformed the prison into a school after its closure. The narrative celebrates the vision and determination of those who turned a harsh landscape into a thriving river port and mining center, ultimately creating a flourishing community in the desert.