Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park Reviews

Traveling Phoenix to San Diego so Yuma a great place to stop for lunch and Yuma Prison great place to stretch your legs. Fascinating history and scenic promontory overlooking Colorado River. $12 admission for 2. Museum section on the life history of some of the prisons who stayed there the highlight for us.

This is a very informative museum. The staff is very friendly and helpful. They joke that you may not get back out. The views from this location are also amazing.

Life was not easy here & this museum does a great job of telling what it was like to be incarcerated here. There is a lot to see here & much of the original prison remains. What I really appreciated is that I am a disabled veteran & this is one of the few places I have been that give admission discounts to disabled veterans. Thank You!

This was well worth the stop. Entry fee for adults is either $9-10, depending on your age. Small parking lot. Prior to entering the park, there is a parking lot for RV's on your left. The grounds are beautiful. Has a small gift shop and bathrooms. Stunning to see the harsh conditions for prisoners who lived there from 1876 to 1909. You see a number of buildings - a very informative museum with pictures and histories of some of the male and female inmates who lives there plus prison cells and also a dungeon.

Interesting little spot. We were looking for a place of interest to stretch out legs and eat lunch on a road trip, and this fit the bill nicely. Reasonable price and very interesting, and it didn't take up a lot of time. There are picnics tables inside and in a park nearby as well.

My wife and I found it to be very interesting. We got in with the guided tour so we received a little more of the history that we would have missed just reading each display. It is completely run by volunteers.

Our tour guide was exceptional. His ability to recall names and dates is truly amazing. Of course, since we had no knowledge about the prison before we took the tour was non-existent so any information was more than we had before. This park is truly worth the time and nominal cost. Highly recommend this park.

We toured the territorial prison (1876 era). We stayed at La Fuente Suits. Very clean, friendly staff. 2 free drinks during happy hour for each. Had a beer in old town Yuma at the Birdcage saloon. Fished on the Colorado River. Drove to the Border wall to take some photos. Visited Marth's Date Farm. Missed Arizona Market Place.

We really enjoyed reading all the history of the prison, inmates and workers. So interesting to see what conditions they had to survive in. The museum is air conditioned but you will be outside for the tour of the cells which can be quite hot in July when we went, that is the only downside but can help understand how all who were there had to endure the unbearable heat.

Back in the day this isn't the place to vacation at. Old territorial prison. Life was hard & ruff. Fun to go through educational

Awesome place to visit for all ages! Great displays! try to catch the docent’s tour, the gentleman we had told some great stories (although it got a little too long towards the end but it’s free so you can just drop out whenever you want to).

My wife and I went here a couple of days ago while we were staying in Yuma in our RV. This is a well preserved historical place and museum. Our visit took about an hour and worth going out of your way to see when in Yuma.

Most interesting and informative! A LOT of history here and a must see if in Yuma!! You will be very glad to took the time to visit.

Please update your site for TripAdvisor! There are summer hours in effect and no mention of it at all. Wasted my time driving there. FYI fellow trippers, it is CLOSED TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY June till October.

Had family from out of town and did the visit to the Yuma territorial prison, our family was pretty amazed with the artifact room and all the personal stories from the inmates that makes the tour more personal, unbelievable how thick the oxigen gets inside the cells and patio area, this is a amazing tunnel to our past, a must do when in Yuma

This is a very well-done historic park. There are plenty of signs, photos, audio and a video to make you feel what life was like there. Conditions were crowded. "The Dark Hole" (a hellish solitary confinement room) was so horrifying I couldn't go inside more than 2 feet. It is said to be haunted by many tortured Spirits. If you don't believe in such stuff, walk deep into the "Dark Hole" and stand there for a few minutes. You'll probably come out believing, or at least wondering! This historic park is well worth going to.

Not that many building to tour, but the museum is very interesting. Also, the views from the prison tower are beautiful.

You will be so glad you made this trip. The museum staff is extremely accommodating and knowledgeable, the mapped self-tour is first rate and the quantity and quality of artifacts is remarkable. Pictures, stories and possessions abound, and the main building also offers an an architectural site plan and a theater. When you've absorbed all of the details, you venture into the actual cell blocks which are chilling. The punishment severely outweighed the crimes in most cases! One man murdered a man and was incarcerated, then a 16-year-old girl stole a horse and received a longer sentence. This prison was called "The Hell-Hole" for good reason. Even on a lovely 80º day, the cells and the "dark room" (solitary confinement) were unbelievable: hot, dank and suffocating. It really is a valuable museum, displaying the real events and circumstances of the old west, as opposed to the polished-up Hollywood versions we've all seen. We spent an hour and a half on site, then climbed the guard tower for the most panoramic view of Yuma. Adults are $8.00 with senior and children's discounts, and it is money well spent. Don't miss it!

Stopped by here last week for the first time. Super nice employees. We received a short overview from one before we got started with our tour. Very lovely park. Good work!

Pros: this is the actual prison that was used back in 1800's -- women as well as men were imprisoned and it was known as one of the toughest prisons in the West. One can walk into the HOLE -- darkest place you could imagine. Guided tours available, or self tour. Gatling guns, photos, lots of history. The nearby Indian tribe of Cocopahs are the only Indian tribe to defeat a fort -- the history is written there also
Cons: Go on a cool day -- this is an exposed location and HOT in summer.
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The Sunrise question below is strange -- but it actually would be a good place as the prison is on top of a hill.

The park was a little smaller than you may have seen portrayed. Most of the actual prison is gone, won't take long to visit. There's enough to give you goosebumps though! We spent a good deal of time in the museum part, really done well with lots to read and see on display. Don't forget to visit the prison cemetary. The staff was very friendly and helpful.

Worth visiting for a bit. Gives you a nice history of the old West in this region. Much of the original grounds are gone, but the museum has photos to give you a good sense of the layout. Also histories of some of the inmates as well as their jailers. Most of the site is outdoors as you overlook the Colorado and what is now a refurbished wetland area. You can walk into osme of the cells. The short movie in the museum is worth watching. And I always though the Earps were good guys until I read a little about them here. To get here you'll need to find Prison Hill Road. After, you can park down in the park and explore the river area a bit. Don't forget to visit the cemetery area below the parking.

Exactly as it was and how scary is that? Just like when it opened. Great educational visit and the opportunity to have your picture taken as a prisoner!

This place is definitely worth the $10 admission fee. The video and museum were very informative and touring the cells, yard and other buildings was interesting. An interesting piece of Yuma’s history. Highly recommend.

Very interesting to see how the prisoners of yesteryear were housed and treated. What a change. Great visit and worth the time to stop by.

During a visit to Yuma we visited this old prison. It was interesting and informative about the crimes that landed people behind bars. The museum was very interesting and you could actually step inside some of the cells. You could read about the various prisoners and their crimes. It was worth the admission. Many cowboy movies have been filmed at the prison.

This park is soooooo cool it shows all the history of the prison. Great way to teach your kids not to be fooling around

We really enjoyed this visit. It is not large but the museum is laid out nicely with easy to follow information. We were scared out of the Dark Cell which was unsettling on its own by tiny bats just hanging around. Would recommend to everyone.

This was my second visit to Yuma Territorial Prison and just like the first time... I Loved It! on this trip we got to meet 2 vary nice employees who told us a lot of vary interesting facts about the prison. i love how free roaming this attraction is. no need to rush its all at you own pace. aside from the Dark Cell being a must check out spot. the view from the prison is amazing. so much history inside. trust me i will be visiting again :)

Excellent visit, we enjoyed the rich history of the prison. So much care has gone into preserving the prison for everyone to enjoy.
You should plan at least 1 hour or more to enjoy reading why the inmates were arrested. Adultery? WOW! The Incorigable inmates, lol

Been to lots of prisons, this one was not worth stopping for me. The kids might like it though. Most interesting part was the collection of posters describing famous outlaws

Interesting mixed history up until closed in 1909; got the nickname Hell Hole due to the oppressive heat .... visit on a hot day and you'll understand why

I have visited here three times. I always learn something new. Staff is helpful and the grounds are immaculate. I especially enjoy reading about the women prisoners.

You are met by and informative staff member with a map, a brief introduction of the history and what you are about to see. The museum and grounds are well preserved and history documented. Worth the time it takes.

We walked here along the cycle path by the river. We were here at 09.00 in October and it was already stifling in the cells, I can't imagine what it was like 6 to a cell in high summer. The museum has a collection of original artefacts and the punishment cell is very creepy.

Made famous all around the world due to a couple of movies but worth a visit if you are in the area. Greeted by some guys who sounded like they were really enjoying the job they were doing. Its not a big site so you can do it all in less than 2 hours. Very little shade unless you are in one of the cells.
Easy to find and a very reasonable entrance fee. Glad we did it.

We always wanted to stop here, and this year our Dtar Parks Annual Pass made it worth while and “free.” We wandered for about 45 minutes, enjoyed learning about the inmates and those attached to the prison. It was a nice break in driving, but I would not have paid full price for my family of four.

A glimpse into prison life with actual cells etc. Learned a few things and enjoyed the short visit and museum, good for two hours.

The prison was a good stop. You can go inside the old cells. The museum is very informative. It doesnt take too long to vist we were there about an hour, but you could stay longer if you want to read all the displays.

Educational and interesting. Hard to believe prisoners could stay there rspecially in the hot Yuma summers. If you can take the tour, it explains a lot more about prison

We really enjoyed this. The history of the prison and the history of Arizona. The staff is fully educated on everything and able to answer questions. Even enjoyed the gift shop. Bought a couple unique tees not found anywhere else. Looking forward to going back.

We really liked the Prison. It was interesting to read about the history of the area and the various inmates. They’ve done a good job of restoring and preserving what is left of the original prison.

Fun to visit, but I would not want to live here. Visited several times last year to do research for my newest book. Always discovered something new and interesting. Took my visitor in May, and enjoyed the place again.

This is a really well presented historic museum, all the more impressive since it is supported by the community in Yuma who rescued it from ruin.

The central museum is well laid out and provides great history on the prison, the inmates, the staff and the area.

We visited in the height of summer in very hot temperatures, but the prison covers a small area so it was easy to walk around and the main museum building has air con.

Overall, well worth a visit, highly recommended.

A must see if you are in the area! Full of so much history..probably of more interest to adults than children but truly worth the visit!

I highly recommend this spot! It is chocked full of history and interesting displays. It is easy to get around for those in wheelchairs. Not only is the prison history fascinating, but also it’s uses post prison! The area also provides a nice place to walk along the river. A fun gift shop tops off the visit! Don’t miss this place!

This place is awesome. $10 per person to enter. Has a great little gift shop. Plan a few hours to walk around and read everything. We managed it in 1.5 hrs but it was tight. be sure you check out the dark cell with the flashlight they provide. It's kinda fun to fill out their little questionnaire while you go through the museum main building. You get a tiny little key (to the prison) once you come back to the gift shop at the end of your exploring, if you answer the questions.

We enjoyed our trip to the museum. There is quite a bit of history in the museum. The grounds were well kept and it is a self-funded tour.

There is alot to see and read about and I would recommend stopping if you are in the area.

Nicely Done!! $6 admission for seniors. Took the self-guided tour and had a BLAST! I learned a lot! We had plenty of time to bum around here. We found this very interesting and informative. I highly, highly recommend! I had pictured cells dug into the cliffs with metal doors installed. Maybe when first prisoners were held, afterwards cellblocks were built. To tell the truth I would not have wanted to be here! I was surprised to learn that most crimes for imprisonment were robbery, adultry, and robbery. A few vicious murderers. Also, I was surprised to learn of the escapes (only 1 successful-never to be seen again) A very interesting place that I highly recommend!

When visiting Yuma, you've got to check this out! Lots of awesome exhibits and learning about its history is fun for the whole family!

Great museum in old jail. Lots of exhibits and old cells are fascinating. Good view of the two bridges. Spent a good hour herd and enjoyed treading about its history and the co Vicks lives

It’s worth the stop. A very well maintained attraction, true to its history. Be sure to walk up the little hill to the cemetery. We eventually went to Tombstone AZ and there were references of outlaws sent to this prison.

The interactive displays in the main museum. There is so much history and artifacts to see. There's one cell that's open and full of bats if you dare enter. The prison is also believed to be haunted.

Nice little museum. Offers retail and reinactments and easy walking self touring. Access is easy off the interstate.

Very enjoyable couple of hours, especially for students of the Old West! Well done, interesting and authentic.

My husband and I are fulltime residents, living in the "Foothills" East of Yuma. The prison is interesting, with some colorful history not only about the prison but info on the Yuma and Colorado River area. Wheelchair access, site is mainly concrete but some areas of dirt.

We love to explore various historical places. We watch Ghost Adventures snd try to go places theyve gone. This prison is worth the visit snd has character Cant imagine being an inmate here back in the day.

This is a very interesting afternoon visit. Don’t plan on spending more than two hours. They have done a good job at presenting a Wild West Prison experience. It is not very interactive, but lots to look at. The staff are all extremely helpful and friendly. It is a self guided tour, so you need to pay attention or you will miss something. It’s not the type of place for multiple visits, but if you are in Yuma and have a few hours it is well worth the effort.

Planned to spend only an hour but was so interesting that we spent over 2. The pictures and stories of the inmates was very interesting as well as to see the cells they stayed in. There is much to read which gives you a great history lesson on the people who spent time there along with the non inmates. Be sure and stop at the prison cemetery on the way out or in.

Enjoyed visiting this site. It was very informative, clean, well maintained. There is a short movie that is worthwhile to watch. The exhibition of articfacts is very good to read up on. Too bad the railroad took 1/3 of the jail. I would recommend a visit.

I love this this place it shares the history of how we came to be the awesome place we are today! I have gone several times and always see something new each time.

Neat place to visit. Educational. Next to the Colorado River and Gateway Park. Nice visit. It has an easy on-off from the highway exit. Probably the best known attraction in Yuma.

The Territorial Prison is worth to visit . There is an interesting Museum and Souvenirshop .
The Prisonlife must be very hard for the Prisoners , 6 Peoples in a Room , in Summertime very hot and a Container for the Toilet .

Love to visit and see the history of the region. Views from tower are excellent to survey the nearby area

Very interesting and an eye opener of our History in America. Great educational visit. Enjoyed being able to self tour and verbiage was easy to understand. Seeing the cells was a little creepy and the photos were really neat. The dark cell!

We visited en route to Tuscon and it was a pleasant surprise. The museum is interesting with good and informative displays on live in the prison filled with live stories on the prisons. Interesting to us, being Danish, was the story about a dane who moved to the States, married two women and for that reason ended up in jail for a few months. It was interesting to see the cells, could imagine how hard it must have been. Staff was friendly and very knowledgeable.

We walked to the prison from Gateway park. Visited the exhibits and got a guided tour. The tour guide was excellent for entertainment but we still had people wandering off and holding up the group. I honestly wonder if the best thing we could do is build more and utilize these for current prisoners to make going to prison a truly horrible experience and perhaps cut down on crime. I would not make this visit in July or August. The indoor exhibits would be fine but I believe the tour would be hell.

Great museum and historical site. Interesting AZ history and lots of old pics and firearms collections. Great views of the Colorado River and surrounding area.

The history behind all the prisoners,guards and such was neat to read about. I can imagine how hot it must have been we were there when it was 23 C degrees.

The prison is unique. We have been there many times. One of the interesting things we have read there was a horse thief was penalized more than a murderer.

Visited in December, 2019. We are from Tucson so we know how hot Yuma can get. We made a winter run to see the town and historical locations. We also came equipped with audio and video surveillance for a bit of ghost hunting. We spent a couple of hours going thru everything. The indoor museum also has a lot to see. Take your time there and feel the vibe. You will notice that right away when you walk thru the old cell area. Also if you have the time and it is the right time of year, go out a bit from Yuma and drive around near the romaine lettuce fields, interesting to see how they are grown and the wildlife around it.

Fascinating interactive tour! Despite the heat, it was such an enriching experience to learn about the history of not only the prison, but the people and influences it had on the area. A must see!

A must visit for some historical context of the area. Hats off to the pioneers who settled this extremely challenging environment. Can be seen in 30 minutes, but stay longer to fully appreciate. The admission fee is well worth it. Nice gift store and helpful personnel.

Really great place to visit. Tells great story on some history and why people were jailed and how our new laws have become so complex. Need about 1 hour for the entire tour. Hard to believe prisoners lived this way but they were prisoners !

Love the entire tour! It’s so interesting to see this and to think about the many who actually spent time here!

Visited the Yuma Territorial Prison. Nice layout and museum set up nicely. Had visited in the 1960’s and it was much better than I remembered.

This place was also interesting.They complain now days of how small the cells are. These cells are so small, don't know how they could move around. You need to listen to the different things they have there. They give you a lot of history.

Wow we learned some very interesting things about this prison. Men & women there. How the prisoner helped build this prison. The people of Yuma helped keep this historical prison alive. Yay to them. Worth the trip to see it. The grounds are well kept. The store has a lot of interesting books & memorabilia. There are stairs to the guards post.
The Colorado River runs along side of the prison. They have a beautiful wet lands. And California is across the River. A beautiful mission across the way.

Fun place to visit, beautiful Park areas and photo ops.
Not far from small downtown Yuma also a must visit

It is hard not to be amazed when you visit this place. The history of the prison is hard to believe that this place was built by the people sent there for their crimes. There is guided tours on different days but most of the time the tour is self guided. The staff are helpful and answer any questions you might have.
Well worth a visit

If you're looking for something to do in Yuma, this is a must, especially if you enjoy history and nature! I actually went to Yuma JUST to do this, and I have no regrets. I spent over two hours there. There is so much more to see than just the jail cells. The museum is crammed with information. They have all the records on all of the prisoners, and I was quite surprised to see how many ladies had served time there. The prison is on the Colorado river. It offers information on the history, the local tribes, how they interacted with the Spanish, the building of the train and the awesome truss bridge that crosses the river. There is also information on Fort Yuma and the old mission that was built across the river. There's something for everyone and the fee is modest.

I'm went there to check it out with my family. 30 minutes and you are done. Self guided tour. 8 dollars per adult and 4 dollars for kids age 7 above. It was not that interesting or anything. They had a short film about saving the prison for tourism.

This is a great way to spend the afternoon and learn a little about Yuma's history and the southwest at the same time. Plan to spend a couple hours as there is a lot to absorb.

very interesting place to visit and a great tour was offered . our guide had great knowledge about history she is super . thank you

While visiting in Yuma I wanted to check out some of the local history. I had driven up to the prison on a previous visit but it was closed so I put it on my to do list this visit.
The Yuma community has slot to be proud of in the way this historic site has been brought back to share the history of this unique town.
It is extremely hard to imagine how hot it must have been for the prisoners and staff.
Although the prison had amenities, the terrain and local danger were huge obstacles to overcome.i especially liked the Individual histories of the inmates that was shared. The crimes that brought them to Yuma were numerous and interesting.
The grounds are well kept and it was a very interesting tour and experience.
Be sure to check it out when in Yuma.

My son needed extra credit for History so we came here. They were having some sort of event that day and charged us the event price, even though all we had no interest in it and told them so. That kind of annoyed me, but the visit was interesting; we learned things about Yuma we didn't know and lots about the prison. Obviously people use certain dark places as urinals, because one of the solitary cells stunk horribly. Overall it was a nice visit and my son really enjoyed reading and learning about Yuma history.

Well presented museum with numerous stories of life at the prison. The walk through the grounds and cell blocks was a true glimpse of what the Territorial Prison would have been like. Good view of the Colorado River from up on the hill.

My visit to the Yuma Territorial Prison was exceptional. Touring the prison yard and the adjacent museum was a delightful travel back into time. Well done!

If you are interested in history,bthis prison is very interesting. Both my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Brought our picnic lunch which was nice on their grounds. Staff were very friendly!

Located close to the Interstate 8 this museum is a great place for history buffs. The museum has some different buildings, some original and some renovated. The cell block gives a pretty good impression on the harsh life inside. The museum is informative and nicely displayed. All staff which we spoke were very friendly and welcoming.

We enjoyed our visit and recommend folks see it when in the area. Very interesting, historic buildings, that are in excellent condition. The grounds were very well kept.

...visited in 🇻🇳 Vietnam. I don't know, there you could really feel the horror just oozing from the walls in places like Son La, Con Dao, Hanoi,... There torture and humanity lived in me where I could still hear screams and feel pain coming from the walls. No, not here. This place is like really sanitized, or better yet maybe even romanticized. Great well curated displays inside and out for some interesting reading and artifacts to look at.

We really enjoyed this place. It is clean, very well kept, easy to read information and friendly staff. We took lots of great pics with the photo ops. We went at 10am in February and the weather was perfect. Highly recommend for a casual, laid back activity.

Great piece of history but the prices keep going up. Currently the price of admission is $8. I still think that is reasonable and like I said it's a great place for some history.

So much history. Very well put together. Great knowledgeable guides. Can't imagine being a prisoner here. Would make you think twice about committing a crime.

Our group had some time so we wandered over to the YTP to nose around. Very interesting displays, including jail cell (six prisoners!!) that you could view and enter.

Travel back in time and get a feel for the reality of prison life in the old west days. Staff was great and helpful with information and the self guided tour worth the time.

A history lesson from the past that was sad and interesting to see and hear. Those were some hard times and then to have to build the prison that you would spend time in was unreal. You really need to see the prison in person to appreciate the gravity of the crimes, people and the sentences. Very nice exhibits and short film to view. Probably not a place for everyone to visit but if you are interested it is worth it. One of a kind from way back when.

This is a step back in time. You get a look at how brutal prisons were back in the early 1900's. Its a great place to take the whole family including the children

We spent the day doing tourist things in Yuma and the historic state prison was on the list. It’s very well worth the time to walk around and read the history of the jail and it’s inmates. We especially liked the colourful stories of the female inmates. The preserved jail block and cells are very real and allows you to see back in time.

The gem of Yuma. State and community has done an excellent job maintains and adding exhibits. A lot of interactive displays.

This is an interesting stop better when guided through with a tour guide. It gives you a better understanding of the times. We would take friends there, staff not the friendliest.

We spent about an hour to 1 1/2 hours at this historic site. It was very interesting and they have really kept it up nicely. I enjoyed reading about the different prisoners who were incarcerated there, especially the women. The dark cell was really creepy and the lookout had a great view of the surrounding area. If you do go to this museum be sure to go on a cool day or early morning because it could get really hot.

Definitely worth the visit. So much history here. Make sure you watch the movie it has a ton of info.

This is worth the visit if you find yourself in Yuma. There is a lot of history, but is self guided, with lots of exhibits and reading about artifacts and such. They have lots of pictures and info about the prisoners that were there - men and women. Also interesting to see what it was really like as the cells and such have been maintained. Also was the high school for a period of time in the early 1900’s, so that was interesting as well.

And absolutely amazing place to see. It is a self-guided tour so you can take all the time you want looking at the buildings the cells, the dark room and especially in the museum area. The museum area has a lot of artifacts and what is really interesting is the information on the various prisoners. If you get a chance make sure you take a couple hours and look at this place.

The introduction movie was very informative and set the displays up for better understanding. There were very positive comments about the leaders and a favorite was the talent of the inmates on display.. This prison cared about the city of Yuma. The cistern covered lookout is one example. The cells are so small.

The COVID-19 pandemic has this park closed at the moment. We walked around the area and visited the old cemetery with no names on the grave sites. Despite the pandemic they should open up the prison and allow only a certain number of people inside at a time.

We had a great visit to this superb Territorial Prison State Park. The grounds and museum were awesome!

Also the theater with the film of the prisons history was a great feature.

Very happy we made the stop to visit this site and the beautiful parks next door.

Definitely worth seeing when visiting Yuma, particularly for history buffs!

Yuma Prison is one of the best curated state park museums I have seen. The exhibits are clean, engaging, and very informative. There is plenty of space to wander and soak in the experience. Would highly reccomend for all ages.

Interesting and informative. The docent really knew his stuff. Lots of antidotes about the history of the prison. Well presented but due to large group the microphone wasn’t up to the job at times. Had to stand close to hear. There was a re-enactment event that caused the admission prices to differ from the information we had.

A very interesting place to visit worth the entry fee and a good amount of information. It’s good to walk around and poke your head into the cells just to understand better how awful it must of been but it’s history so it’s worth your while. A great museum also with many photos and articles of the day! It also has a nice river view and a small gift shop.

Loved visiting the old prison and reading all the history. Film shows history. Lots of good displays. Self guided tour.

We had a delightful story teller as our guide. He was very detailed, but kept us interested and excited to hear more. We were taken through the prison the cells, the compound, and felt as if we may have actually experienced this. The people of Yuma take great pride in this landmark of their history. I am so thrilled we went! The Gila and Colorado rivers and a railroad all played a part in the history of this site.

A short, very informative film tells you about the building of this historic prison, details on many of the inmates and how the prison developed - and declined -over the years. You then have a better understanding while you walk past the well-detailed items on display and then take a self-guided tour around the cells and dark room. The prison has been restored to a really high standard. The staff are charming and informative. A real gem in Yuma and worth a visit.

Great place to visit if you like learning about the history of an area. I visited here many years ago and I must say the upgrades made since then are impressive. This is a great museum with lots of information about the people who served time here long ago. There is an entrance fee, but it is worth it!

We visit Yuma at least once a year for a collectibles event, which takes place in early February. The event is actual hosted in the same area as the Territorial Prison, and last year we decided to go take the tour. Its a great look into what life was like back in the 1800's. If you have ever been to Yuma in the summer, I can't imagine what it would have been like to be a prisoner! It takes 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete the tour.

I loved touring this prison. The stories of the inmates and the prison itself gave oneself a feel for what life was like back then. The darkroom was very errie with a haunting like feeling.
Make sure to check out the cemetery when you visit

The Yuma Territorial Prison is an interesting spot to visit in Arizona’s southwest corner. Very nicely done, it offers a look into the days of Arizona old west justice from 1876 to 1909. You can walk the grounds and venture into cramped prisoner cells and even the Dark Cell. With preserved artifacts and pictures, stories and a movie of the inmates, staff and guards, you can learn about the people that came through the prison doors. This prison housed men, women and children. A worthwhile site to visit when in Yuma.

Impressing to see how the prison was and was managed during it’s existence. Wonderful stories of prisoners and very nice to see this historical site

The entire experience was excellent. IF you are visiting Yuma, in my opinion, this is a must see attraction. Glenn Ford and the movie The 3:10 To Yuma remain with me dating back to 1957. The weather was warm but what do you expect in Yuma in late April. Fun and enjoyable visit.

We really enjoyed this museum visit. Thinking about you more in the summer, and being in prison, does not sound like fun. There’s no question this was no picnic for the inmates. A lot of the space has been re-created but you still get a sense of what it was like back in the day. The cell blocks remain which gives you an Interesting look at what prison life could’ve been like in the old west. Lots of good exhibits to read and kept us entertained for a couple hours. The scene below of the wetlands of the Colorado are also beautiful.

Put this on your list of "must see" Yuma attractions. It is informative, the gun show was enjoyable, and the access to historical items was inspiring.

An interesting self-guided tour of the prison. The museum gave excellent information about the lives of certain prisoners and why they ended up in prison. Not much is left of the original prison but the cells outside and the inner courtyard showed the conditions these people lived under. Worth the side trip to see it.

Very informative and entertaining. I learned so much! I had no idea about the prison and the amenities that they had considering the times. I was impressed with the information about the women prisoners. It is interesting to hear the stories and the guide was great with his stories. Very professionally done. I would definitely suggest to others!

It brings you a clear perspective of hoe absolutely horrible it was to have been i jail back then! No rights for the convicted!!! Great educational museum!

this was informational and a place well preserved.
Gals in shop were very nice and held my hat in shop for me as it was very windy that day!
Black cage was eerie as there are NO lights in cave!
A must read on the female inmates!!!

Husband and I stopped in last month and had an excellent tour. The guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining although he was a bit "scripted" from doing the same tour over and over. All in all it was a great way to spend a couple of hours and learn some history!

The prison is Yuma's top tourist attraction for a reason. The illustrated and easy-to-read exhibits do a fine job profiling both well-known and lesser known inmates, explaining the miserable life of prisoners including women, and describing efforts to improve conditions. Visitors can walk through an actual cell block and enter a number of cells.

Lots of history, shows how the wild west treated prisoners. Worth the admission fee. Easy to get to for those driving.

We stopped by on a Sunday afternoon. There was ample parking and it was not too crowded. There is no charge to park.

The cost was $8 for an adult, $6 for a senior. We did the self guided tour. It is a good place to learn a little bit of Arizona/Yuma history. There was a short movie in the museum that was definitely worth watching, then we visited the old cells where the prisoners lived. A visit really gives you an idea of what a tough place this was to be incarcerated in.

There is a small gift shop too.

The lady inside museum, loved how she explained what ,where about prison.was a great adventure that I would recommend to everyone.very interesting and memorable

Excellent historical site from Arizona's days before statehood. Much of what you see is actually from the period and with a good docent, this is a great way to learn about the history of both this prison as well as the area around it. Don't overlook the prison cemetery that you will pass on the way up to the prison.

Plan to spend some time in the museum as the pictures on the walls are part of the story.

The exhibition is small - especially compared to other prisons I have toured. That being said, it is presented very well and the exhibits are well thought out. The short movie is informative. The view from the lookout over the wetland and Yuma was worth a look. The solitary confinement cell was my favorite part of park. The staff working at the park were eager to assist and make your experience better. Great job.

We checked out the Territorial prison in Yuma Arizona today it was awesome lots of history there huge bell to ring very friendly people in the gift shop highly recommended.
Cool recordings inmates inside the cells.
There was a show that was fun entertaining.

Nice museum highlighting former inmates and history. The Yuma High School was once located on this site. First place to have electricity in Yuma County. You can tour some of the original cells and imagine what it must have been like to be there.

Supposing an inmate succeeds at escaping and befuddles the skilled bounty-hunting Indian trackers; he's not home free by a long shot. Mexican troops rounded up escapees and put them to miserably hard service. No way out of this, no end of term, just nothing but being worked to the bone until the end of this pathetic life.

Seeing the conditions the inmates lived in, the penalties of the dark room and "the cage" made us wonder how any of them served their terms and kept their sanity. An ancestor of our Arizona famous son Jeff Flake was an inmate here; he married a second wife (with the consent of his first wife) but he still was imprisoned and would not renounce his Mormon faith.

The inmate art was absolutely remarkable; such works of art. An inmate mastered the assembly of "thorns" (this tree only grows in AZ here and in the Holy Land) and created a frame of exquisite beauty from those thorns. Free time was rare but the inmates apparently made good use of it.

The prison operated for 33 years (1876-1909) and housed 3,069 prisoners, of which 29 were women. That must have raised a commotion of mammoth proportions. One woman was in for murder: her brother told her not to dance "like that" and she shot him dead. And the rest have stories of equal scariness.

We watched a video at the prison on how Yuma (sleepy little backwater Yuma) got this plum of a contract. There was a meeting (maybe governors or some high level) and they decided to locate the prison in Phoenix. The whole lot of them left for lunch, except for a Yuma man. He stealthfully crept up to the podium and crossed out Phoenix, inserting Yuma in place. Upon the party's return, they just passed it without a second thought or second look. And Yuma won!

Yuma High School occupied this prison site for their high school from 1910 to 1914. They were dubbed "the criminals" and took a liking to it: today, they still are called the "crims." They really play it up, stripes, chains, the whole nine yards. Humor is a good thing to have and notoriety is not always a bad thing.

The tour costs $6 each (senior citizen rate) and is so worth the fee. The grounds include a gift shop, grassy open space, prison cells, the cage for incorrigibles, and the dark room for solitary. Dorm rooms were otherwise very tight; some were stacked 6 to a room and others, 2 bunks to a room.

The cemetery holds the remains of 102 (more or less) inmates who died in custody. Their graves are marked with mounds of stones and nothing else. It lies a short walk from the prison itself. No markers or headstones, just these stone mounds. Sadness and solitude were our impressions.

The prison is listed on the United Sates register of Historic Places which means that this site is "worthy of preservation for their (sic) historical significance." We second that.

The prison is on a hill over the Colorado river. Very interesting displays, tours. The museum is filled with period artifacts. I gave it 4 stars because they don’t honor America the Beautiful pass. Cost is $9.00 each

We were passing through Yuma and decided to make the stop to check this out. Having recently finished a book about Pearl Hart, who was housed here for robbing a stage coach, made it that much more interesting. Much of the prison remains and they do a wonderful job through audio at the cells in telling the 'story' of the inmates. You can see it all in less than an hour (though you could easily spend more time) so even if you're just passing through it's an interesting place to stretch your legs and check out some real western history.

Was a very interesting tour. Was amazed at the conditions the prisoners, men and women had to endure. Not a place you would ever want to be locked up in. Our guide was great at explaining all the history. Of you like western folklore you would like the tour. A visit to the guard shows a great view of the Gila river and surrounding area. Worth the $6.00 (senior) entrance which helps maintain the Prison for future generations to enjoy.

This a great historic place. The information that they provide on the history of the prison is excellent.
The views are awesome.

We enjoyed our stop here. Admission at $6 for seniors was very reasonable. This museum is very clean, lots of great information and short video presentation. The actual prison is very interesting.

Very interesting be sure to watch the movie, very informative, the guys in the give shop very nice and funny

Great place to visit for an hour or so. Very reasonable entrance, $8.
Fascinating bits of history, personalities, regime, escapes etc. Loved it :)

Great little gift shop that doesn’t over charge. The park is small compared to many prisons we have visited yet it is 100% neat and tons of reading information. Lots of history included and you will be surprised by the level of female prisoners.

Absolutely worth seeing. It really shows the history of Yuma and makes you feel like you are walking on to a movie set or back into history. I loved reading about the inmates and knowing just a tad about their backgrounds and why they were there. It really brings the old west to reality. There are also great views from here.

If you're looking for something to do in Yuma, this is a must, especially if you enjoy history and nature! I actually went to Yuma JUST to do this, and I have no regrets. I spent over two hours there. There is so much more to see than just the jail cells. The museum is crammed with information. They have all the records on all of the prisoners, and I was quite surprised to see how many ladies had served time there. The prison is on the Colorado river. It offers information on the history, the local tribes, how they interacted with the Spanish, the building of the train and the awesome truss bridge that crosses the river. There is also information on Fort Yuma and the old mission that was built across the river. There's something for everyone and the fee is modest.

Had been 20 years since been there and it was nice, they have updated and cleaned up great was fun. Can not complain

Great informative visit. The cell showed a lot about now the prisoners were treated. The film was great. The signs explained a lot too. We enjoyed the visit.

If you enjoy the paranormal this is a must-visit, especially during Halloween. The prison is a gothic reminder of the old west, the guard tower oversees the City of Yuma. The exhibits and miniatures are amazing. The prison is preserved and you're allowed to enter the "Dark Cell" where the worst of the worst were confined to.

Certainly basic tourist spot that provides a perspective of jail time in the past. No frill, interesting stories about inmakes of the past .

I figured this would be a decent way to kill some time and would be a cool little park. However I left pretty disappointed. It costs $8, which was a little high for what was there. A lot of remodeling. And it just overall wasn’t much there or anything really worth paying for or seeing.

This is definitely a must see for anyone interested in understanding the early history of Arizona and Yuma. You take a self-guided tour around numerous buildings including the cell blocks and a great deal of artifacts from inmates. You can go at your own pace and will leave better understanding what prison life and the impacts of the environment both in prison and in the surrounding area, must have been like. Bravo to the community for ensuring this history lives on!

Looks like someone's collection of antiques thrown into an exibit that they charge you 15.00 to see. Online description doesn't tell you they want to charge 75.00 per person to take you into the mine. Beware the last 9 miles getting there is all dirt and rock roads, no pavement.

Great History at this site. We spent about an hour going through the facilities. The staff had great insight and history to what happened here, etc. Seeing the conditions back then in prisons were a eye opener for sure!

The Yuma Territorial Prison State Park tells its story very well. One can imagine what life there might be as both cells and the dark cell can be entered. There is a movie and interesting displays about the history, the people and prison life. Though life there was very hard, the prison had electricity before many of the people of Yuma did. The prison also had a library for the prisoners, a prison band and adequate medical care.

The view and the breeze from the guard lookout is refreshing so if you can get up there (no handicap access), it’s worth it.

Wonderful place to visit. Very informative. Very few steps other than the steps leading to guard tower.

Staff was friendly, venue was well laid out and plenty of explanatory signs. Nice museum. Occasional tours included if desired. I visited here many years ago and the current arrangement is much improved.

Very interesting and extraordinary friendly staff. Well worth a visit when in Yuma or if you're just driving past on your way to/from San Diego. Easy to find, right next to the freeway. Highly recommended!

Very well presented historic park. We took the guided tour and "Smoky" our tour guide was excellent. Allow a minimum of an hour or more.

Being a history buff I really enjoyed the experience of seeing the prison and learning about its past, good and bad. Grounds are buildings are in excellent condition and the fellow at the gift store was very accommodating and answered all our questions. Would recommend the tour to anyone.

It was very interesting to see the actual prison cells and the solitary confinement cell. Lots of information on prison life there. Definitely worth seeing.

Very well done! Interesting and informative way to spend an hour or two. The Yuma Territorial Prison park is a must-see for children and adults, men and women visiting Yuma. In addition to the special experience of seeing an old prison up close and learning about a slice of Yuma's history (along with learning about some characters and prisoners), visitors can also enjoy scenic views from the park grounds.

Visitors should note that there is no hot food or much in the way of outdoor shaded seating at the park. The premises do include an air-conditioned building with well-researched and engaging exhibits plus a small movie theater with seats.

We had a good visit. It was low key and not real busy. The museum itself was well set up. It gave you some back story to some of the people incarcerated here sonny years ago.
See our video on YouTube at Coolest Life.

The Yuma Territorial Prison State Historical site is well worth a visit. It was interesting learning about the history of the city and its historic prison. It is crazy to imagine the prison in Yuma during the summer and the conditions both prisoners and guards were exposed to.

Interesting to see how they were looked after and that movies were filmed there. It’s a very cool point of interest

Always a great place to take out of town friends! Walk through the recently upgraded timeline engraved in gorgeous granite. Sit for a spell to educate yourself watching the video on the prisons history. Take your own mugshots as a souvenir. Check out the view from the observation tower.

We used to have an RV in Yuma and every time we had visitors we took them to visit the Yuma Territorial Prison. It's a fantastic one-half day visit. Be sure to take a guided tour. Great in-depth information and stories. A great historical site.

Interesting visit. The way this prison is presented today is very different than it was presented in the 60's-70's when it was penal. The solid metal cell in the courtyard, fully exposed to the harsh sun and cold winter, has been cut off at ground level so you don't see inhumane treatment It presents as a mild/humane incarceration vs penal incarceration of the day. I guess it is ok to rewrite history so it becomes acceptable for today's standards.

Great! Loved it! ....and the price of admission won’t Break The Bank-only $8 each! The museum inside the entrance was nice, very informative, and entertaining! The cells are ORIGINAL, and you can go inside and feel a little of what these inmates felt, being incarcerated there-and after over 150 years, it’s all well kept and very interesting! Good Job Arizona!

This park has a very colorful history. Stroll through the museum, as there are many interesting displays. If time permits take the narrated tour, as the docent will explain the history in detail, which makes the entire experience much more interesting.

This prison was one of the first west of Texas. You don't really get a feel for what the 3000 + male and 26 female inmates had to deal with. Once you visit you realize how remote and difficult this site is. They did have the first power plant in the area. You did not want to be in prison in 1876..

It's a shame that some of the prison buildings and the grounds have been destroyed/leveled to build a new bridge. But what had survived is really interesting. You can poke your nose into some of the cells and walk into the solitary confinement cell. A gruesome reminder of what life in prison must have been like way back then.

We had a friend come for a visit and decided to take her to the Prison because she loves history. She was very pleased with out choice. It is a very interesting place and the grounds are so well kept. You can spend as much or as little time as you wish for a very enjoyable visit.

I gave this a rating of 5 because of the historical content. I am very interested in Arizona history and this place is full of it. I thought it was good value for the time spent.

We were so glad we decided to visit whilst in Yuma..what an excellent museum, so clean and tidy, well thought out and the friendliest staff. I especially liked the true stories of some inmates, a fascinating insight to their lives. Don't miss this if you are close and have a couple of hours.

If your free for 2 hours or passing through please stop it’s worth a visit fascinating just watch out for bats in solitary block. Staff were knowledgable thanks guys

Was NOT expecting more than a little walk around outside park like "thing" but boy was I pleasantly surprised. You MUST do the small fee that allows you to go to the prison cells and the museum itself. It is so interesting and there are artifacts galore, lots of info on prisoners and it's fascinating the things that folks in the 1800s were even arrested much less put in jail for. All I know is if people could still be put in jail for adultery, we'd need a lot of jails haha. Allow an hour or two.

The historic prison in Yuma is a must see site if visiting Yuma, It is not a guided tour and may not appeal to younger children, I imagine a real history buff or someone fascinated with the early western times would be the most appreciative of this historic setting, The tour is 8.00 dollars for adults and 4.00 dollars for children. You enter through the gift shop where you purchase tickets.
My husband and I enjoyed walking and discovering the prison immensely. We took the time to enjoy all the information provided at each exhibit and gained a real insight into the beginning and end of the Yuma Prison. We learned what famous prisoners where sentenced there and how prison life was so many years ago.
The entire area except for the guard tower is handicap and wheelchair accessible. The guard tower does have several stairs to walk up if you are wanting to view it from the inside. I am unable to do stairs, so we did not see this one part. The entire area is concrete and level which is easier for walking. Don't forget to keep in mind while touring this historical place that at one time it was not surrounded by what you see today. It was just desert and a piece of the Colorado river.

They have remodeled the visitor museum. It is a totally new experience. The history is right there for you. A beautiful learning time for the whole family.

A must see for anyone interested in Western history. You not only see interesting buildings but also I interesting stories on some of the inmates, and other events which effected the prison.

To begin you start and end in the gift shop. The first part is an observation point with local history. You can do a 30 minute guided tour or they give you a map and go at your own pace. We choose the latter. Different cells have prerecorded stories. Make sure to see them all. Great time lots of detail went into making this real. I could almost feel the desperation of the people I interred there. You need to go!

The heat was unbearable for the prisoners here. But it also had amenities like a library and things other prisons lacked. Museum and displays were great. Lots of interesting information and facts. Well worth the admission.

A real piece of western history! We took the tour and and was surprised and enlightened about the history of the prison! The story was very interesting. Prisons are necessary and this was a good example of the past. There are some great photo opps... I love'ed the one with my wife behind the bars and mine with the prison suit on!

There is not much really left of the old prison, but the museum was full of interesting memorabilia, and facts about those that had been imprisoned there.

This place was so cool! Lots to look at as far as history. Our teenage children loved it! Lots of history to be known.

We really enjoyed this experience. The gift shop/entrance staff was fun & helpful. The museum had a nice blend of hands-on exhibits & interactive technology, side by side with actual artifacts & photos. I was really impressed with the biographies of the prisoners, especially those of the women & those of the Mormons imprisoned for polygamy. All very interesting. So much of the complex has been lost to time (deterioration, fire, urban improvement) but the part that remains (what has been restored or preserved) is totally worth the $10 admission charge. Places like this make learning fun.

Was very interesting - loved the historical significance; very clean; was well worth the $8 to see it

Visiting the Yuma Prison really provides a great visual description of how penal life was in the later years of the 1800’s. Plan on about 90 to 120 minutes for your prison museum visit.

Only cost us $4 each with military Id. Didn’t take long but for $4 well worth it. I found the stories very interesting. The grounds are very clean. Friendly staff. Amazing views. Think there were paths you could walk but didn’t.

I guess its worth a visit as there isn't too much to visit in this area other then the dunes with your dune buggy or grandma's place for the holidays.

The prison itself is very interesting. You may want to read up or watch available videos on its history and even about some of its supernatural residents to make it a little more interesting. It was especially interesting to note the connections with Tombstone esp. Sheriff Behan, of Tombstone, having become the Warden after leaving Tombstone after the great shoot out.
Recommend at least a couple of hours.

This place is beautifully set up. The historical society knows how to keep you engaged with their high quality displays and pieces of memorabilia. The views from the ground are very nice but when you climb the guard tower you have amazing vistas. There are descriptions of what you are seeing as well as photos of how the area looked in the past. Once you are through the museum, walking out into the actual jail cells is quite an experience. The imagination can clearly let you experience what it would have been like for the inmates. I recommend this for all ages however, there are the stairs to the guard tower and some uneven ground in the old prison area but I would consider both easy terrain if you take your time.

While in Laramie, four of us took a short drive to this historic prison site. We were the only ones there aside from 2 volunteers and the lady in the gift shop, which was great considering this is the year of Covid. The volunteer at the front gate gave us some interesting background on the site. We then entered to begin our self-guided tour. Wow, the interior was amazing and knowing the facts on prison life here made us wanting to learn even more. There were even 19 women incarcerated here within the time the prison was functioning as such. We then moved onto the Broom Factory, learning how that was built at the prison as a viable business where many of the prisoners worked. Butch Cassidy is the most famous outlaw to have been incarcerated here. If you're in the area, it's definitely worth a look-see.

Went here with friends. Price is fair for what you will see and learn. It was amazing to see how the prison was run and all the people that were locked up or worked there. Sad to know that it is not the complete prison but I am glad that someone had the foresight to preserve what was left. Visit here!!

Worth a visit definitely!!! Especially if you like history. Fascinating place altho sad in many respects.

Well maintained and interesting place. I am glad that Yuma has preserved this amazing piece of history. The Dark Cell (and bats!) was so neat. We did not take the tour, but enjoyed reading the informative placards and visiting with other visitors.

This is a fun place to explore. They have done a good job combining both the historical buildings from the prison along with information so you learn a lot. It's presented in a fun but historical way and their docents are really helpful and knowledgeable. A lot of it is also outside which is never a bad thing in this current climate.

If your in Yuma and are looking to learn a little Southwest history, a few hours spent at the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park is well worth the stop. Although some of the grounds were lost to the construction of the railroad, what is left is still worth the stop. What an insight into prison life in the 1800’s.

This was an enjoyable and interesting place to spend the afternoon. This place gives real insight to the way things were in early Yuma.

This was an excellent historical tour for all to enjoy. It was very interesting. You must see it if you come to Yuma. Kudos to the staff for keeping it so clean and nice.

It was an interesting stop. It took about 1-2 hours to go through it. Not sure it felt worth the admission price though.

Stopped here to stretch our legs on our journey between Tucson and San Diego. Is a really well maintained site with great interpretative signage. Loved reading the profiles of the superintendents, the guards and the prisoners- particularly the women. We spent just under an hour exploring.

I was very impressed with the fact that this facility is being kept up and is a museum and park. It is very nicely kept and there is a ton of information about the former prison. It's interesting to see the cells and to know people actually served time there. There is a gift shop that has some nice trinkets.

Visiting the prison provided a good history lessen. We learned a lot about Yuma and the lives of the prisoners. Being able to see the inside of the cells was eye opening.

Loved the museum, especially the displays of the various items the prisoners made by hand.

Definitely a place to visit.

The people of Yuma pitched in when the state of Arizona wanted to close the place and made it even better! They take pride in this place and it shows. Staff were very friendly. Grounds are well-kept. Displays were interesting--especially the "talking" cells. The "Hey, you there . . ." voice from one of the cells was clever and a little disconcerting. Made you feel for an instant that you were in a real prison. So, take some time and stretch your legs. This place is worth the small fee. Well done Yumans!

Had a great afternoon visit. Was really cool to see all the inside displays and tour the actual cells!

I wouldn't make a special trip to see it, but its an interesting way to spend a few hours if you are there.

What can I say? Yuma is not a place I’d chose to go on vacation. There isn’t a lot to see there (aside from a Naval base). However, if you do find yourself in Yuma, this is an interesting place to go. They do charge for admission and there is a small gift shop. There are bathrooms available at this location.

the prison is very interesting place / exspecially for history buffs / one word of caution check the schedual it has some unusual days that its closed / but ya very neat place

my husband and I planned a trip to Yuma to see the prision on recomendations from a friend. It was really interesting and my husband has some trouble walking but all surfaces are level and paved and museum is air conditioned. everyone very friendly we took a picinic there are several tables not too many in the shade though

This is a MUST see when in Yuma. So much history, lots to see, the gift shop is nice as well. A little hard to get to but well worth the trip!!

A place full of history with a great view of the territory between the states of Arizona and California good place to take photos

Very interesting place Spent about half a day there. Hard to imagine ever being locked up in a place like that. I know today’s inmates would sue the world over conditions as they were back in the day. Lots of history I loved the place

Lots to see and read. It is all very fascinating. Old graffiti inside the prison cells is interesting. You can see how some prisoners were moved around to different cells and what years they were where. Also stories and samples of the activities the prisoners did, like cribbage , lace making, horsehair weaving. We enjoyed the visit.

fascinating bit of history, esp the pics of the convicts. You can tell the crazy and the criminal. good history lesson here

We decided to stop here and check it out. We learned a lot and found it very interesting. Loved the museum where there were relics and info about the prisoners. Would recommend to anyone visiting the area.

It gave me an uneasy feeling walking around this place knowing that so many people were incarcerated here and many perrished on the premises.

We stopped in to tour the museum and was greeted by the most friendly staff. This is a museum that is well worth the stop. It is hard to imagine the way it was back then and to read the stories about how they ended up in the prison. The stories will bring chills up and down your spine. Men and women both were in the prison. Some of the women were quite violent and prison was the place to be. Well worth the tour.

There is a lot of history here. It was so fun to go to the museum (that is very well done with lots of information) and through the prison. Wow, this was a hard place to serve time. Great stories help you understand what this experience was like back in the late 18900s.

There is a short introductory video that can be watched in the main museum room. Also in this room you can see lots of displays of life in the prison when it was in operation. Going outside is where the cells are located and many of them you can walk inside. It’s not a very big area so it wont take long to see everything.

Great for family trips, show kids how it was when that was an active prison. Interesting to see who was locked up in the prison over the years it was open. Great trip to see history.

This was an interesting place. Very well done. It's really kind of half the prison as much was destroyed when they went to put the bridge in that crosses the river. But they did a really nice job with presentation and there is enough to see. Worth the stop.

Interesting history of this old prison. They have a short movie in their small theater that explains about the prison too

Great place to visit. Doesnt take much time at all. Very interesting reading. Worth the $. Bring water.

Hard to believe that some men did time more than once! This is a great place for the whole family and there are even guided tours if you want the most informed visit!

There was some interesting history here, but the first exhibit you are presented with, if you do things in the intended order is a timeline of significant events etched onto stones in right to left chronological order, with no explanation of why these events are significant or whom the people are whose names are depicted. Only later, when you watch the constantly looping film or read the exhibits in the exhibit hall, do you get any idea of what the timeline was about. There were no staff present aside from the admissions attendant when I visited, so no one to ask any questions of. The presentation of the history was, frankly, rather dry and boring, with few hints of why this site is even considered historically significant. I found the plaques outside the admissions gate describing the history of the Colorado River basin which the site overlooks to be more interesting than what was inside the gate.

As it’s only a few degrees cooler than Death Valley in Yuma, there aren’t any people wondering about in the city during the day and any outdoor sightseeing wouldn’t be very pleasant. We visited the Yuma Territorial Prison as soon as it opened at 9:00 but it was still blazing hot by then. The displays at the exhibits were very thorough and visitors get a pretty good idea about who the inmates were when the prison still operated. The air conditioned museum had plenty of stories behind some of the more famous inmates including a section about the female inmates. You can only enter two of the cells, but even from the outside you can easily get the idea how cramped the cells were. Because of the unbearable heat, we blitzed through the outdoor exhibits which also included the guard tower that was a good viewpoint of Yuma.

That‘s how my favorite postcard of the jail reads. This site is worth the available tours. It would be hard to get s feeling for this without the history.
This is a place worth visiting more than once. First I would come for the history. Then inwould explore the items made by the prisoners, for instance some intricate lace collars made by a male prisoner. Then I would come to read about the individual prisoners, especially women, to see what crimes had been committed and what the sentences were.
It was of particular interest that this prison got electricity and fans before the townspeople did and that there was some envy by the townspeople. Don’t miss this.

Very interesting and informative about early Yuma. If yu like history this is the pace. Discount for Vets.

Definitely enjoyed going, so glad we did! Great for all ages, 90% wheelchair accessible, a good bit of walking/standing but can go at your own pace. Very interesting if you enjoy anything about history.

Excellent place to visit. One of my passions is history, especially old west history. I love Arizona and love studying about its past. Yuma Territorial Prison is a big part of it. I recommend visiting if you are passing through. I've been there many times.

Nicely restored - lots of great information about prisoners, guards, etc. Cell blocks are originals. Guard tower was up a flight of steps. We didn't go up - don't know if there was an elevator. A lot of other history there in that same area. Next time we will plan better and spend more time.

Parking is free and close to entrance. Wife on wheel chair from a broken leg. It was easy to navigate property with her. Cost was low. Their is outside cell area that is nice. Inside is air conditioned. Got narrated tour for free. Nice piece of history.

Since I write Western books places like Yuma territorial prison are a must for me. It is well restored and I found the small museum attached to it interesting. I learned some new facts about well known faces of Tombstone´s history as eventually some of the utlaws and lad men ended up at Yuma prison on either side of the bars. The only thing that annoys is the modern highway next to it nevertheless it has an own spooky atmosphere and is bigger than expected.

We toured the prison with the guide who was very informative and interesting. Who knew that such a place could be so interesting!!

We found the prison to be interesting. The museum gave insight as to the life at the prison. It was informative as to the prison being innovative, back in the day...

It is a good place to walk, relax, take the children for a walk and share a good meal outdoors with the family.

We took young children, and they enjoyed many aspects of the facilities but lacked the attention span to allow time to be spent to read all of the historical details or take part in the tour

We were told in Yuma you must see the prison. It was very interesting. The cells were scary to look in - one could not imagine how crowded it was with six to each cell with a bucket for the facilities. We enjoyed the exhibits and displays and learned a little of the history. Interesting is the best description not fun but informative. Worth the visit we stayed under an hour.
They offer a military discount so I save $4.00 for each of our group of three people. Thank you Yuma!

Located overlooking The Colorado River, looking hopelessly at freedom the men and women who stayed here all had very different experiences. Some were minor, some were major, all were horrific.

While visitning, close the iron door and imagine yourself sharing with five other unwashed inmates. It is a impressive deterent to being sent there.

The museum has a very impressive and detailed display of life here and the gift shop has some unusual itiems.

The thing that I like best is the name of the high school, They are "The Criminals" which is a factual nod to the time that this place served as The High School.

All in all, a worthwhile visit,

Yuma has a surprising number of interesting and memorable places to visit. The Territorial Prison is one. Situated on the shore of the Colorado River, the well-maintained site offers near 360-degree views of the area. You can stroll by the open-air cell blocks. Entry (small admission fee) is through the museum that deserves some of your time.

Amazed at all the historical data available. The museum was fascinating. All photos of the inmates lots of women charge with adultery. Couldn't believe all the crafts these prisoners made during their incarcerations. It was really well presented. The entrance fee was very low we paid $6.00 each for seniors. The cells were available to look at.

A must see when you are in Yuma, if you are a history buff. A prisoners life was no picnic back then.

I first visited here in 1992 and gave brought many visitors here. In about 2010 the state was going to close this state park due to budget cuts. The city took over with private donations. It's amazing how the park has improved in that time. The entrance, the grounds, the displays have all improved. Very well maintained. Definitely worth the stop. Interesting and educationsl.

We had a guide which helped. Some interesting facts and worth about an hour of your time if you find yourself in Yuma and don't have anything else to do.

Wow, would not want to be jailed here. Very interesting museum. So glad it has been preserved. Lots of great info about the criminals of the day.

The hosts were very friendly. They had it set up in a way that it was easy to depict the life and times at the prison in its early days. They keep the grounds very well groomed. It is great attraction for the price.

I have heard about the Territorial Prison for years but have never had the chance to visit it. What an interesting place. The displays are well done and the entire museum is full of information and photos. Congratulations to the citizens of Yuma for the job they have done with this project.

Amazing to be able to walk through a true piece of history! It was about 112 degrees when I was there, but it was so worth the visit! If you miss the turn off to the Prison, you will cross over a 1 lane bridge, but you are able to see off to the right, a portion of the original prison wall from 1876.

As you pull into the parking lot, the prisoner cemetery is off to the right. Only stones are left, as the headstones have deteriorated over the years.

The museum is very interesting and full of artifacts from years gone by and you can watch a video of the prison's history. If you want to have a little fun while you're at it, you can take a little quiz on the prison's history. If you answer all the questions correctly, they give you a "key" to the prison! You would be amazed to see what some were imprisoned for!

You can have your "mug" shot taken, which I did! Hahahaha. Wear a hat, good walking shoes and watch your step because there are areas where the ground is a little uneven, and if it's hot make sure to bring water with you!

If you're brave, go into the "Dark Cell" and stand in there. I know I got a very creepy feeling in there!

So worth the visit. I visited in the heat of the summer, not the best time to visit, but if you get a chance to go there, you really should. The history of the Prision is very interesting.

Interesting history in a well laid out format. Very helpful staff and guides. The quartermaster museum is ten mins walk away under the bridge through the park.

The museum at the Yuma Territorial Prison is incredible! It gives a wonderful insight into the history of the Old West days.

Overall, this is an interesting way to spend an afternoon in Yuma. They've done a really nice job of preserving parts of the old prison and making it accessible and informative for modern visitors. The museum is filled with all kinds of artifacts and small exhibits where you can learn about inmates, guards, and administrators. There's also a short video for background on the prison.

My favorite part of the visit was wandering through the old cells and yards. Only a few are open to walk in, but it really gives you a sense of how cramped the conditions were.

The docents were friendly and engaged and it was fun way to spend about 90 minutes to 2 hours.

By a daring stunt from a Yuma business man, Legislation was passed so this prison was built in Yuma Az, right along the Colorado River. The history, and story of this prison is not to be missed. Women, teenagers and the rough crowd served time here. And yet, only one hanging. The prison is complete with 110 gravesites of prisoners who perished here.
Come in the morning hours in the summer, supa hot!. Don't miss the movie and enjoy the air conditioned museum as it was very well done.
We spent an easy 1 1/2 hours touring.
All of this history, for a nominal fee of $8 !!! for adults

Don’t miss this museum. Lots of history for the area. .......

The museum is well done. And cell blocks are well presented.

Our company was in Yuma for the week and decided to explore. This was a very interesting and engaging museum.

We were greater nicely at the entrance. Then encouraged to complete the trivia hunt as we explored the prison. There were an amazing amount of items to look at, explore, and learn.

The staff members in the museum were very polite and welcoming. There was a tour guide that offers tours based upon the hour. We elected to tour at our own pace. As we were leaving, we listened to the tour guide and clearly missed out on some Really great facts and details.

Highly recommend stopping by and checking this place out. You can make it as long as you want or as quick as you want.

I went in knowing and caring almost nothing about Arizona history and was totally fascinated. Exhibits are clear and very informative. The old prison buildings are cool and photogenic. Most importantly the staff was really kind, warm and welcoming -- it's an impressive place with a real hometown feel.

Well worth the stop. Walk through at your own pace. Nothing like it anywhere else. A great depiction of the areas more gruesome history.

The tour was great and to Learn the history of the prison and its guests was very interesting and was something I am glad that I didn't have to endure.

The spot is well maintained, oozed history and character, the staff were found to be helpful and friendly.

Liked the fact that it appears that the local people appeared to be responsible for it’s surviving and continued existence.

Afterwards, less than a mile away is the Prison Hill Brewery. Here you can talk over and consolidate your inside experience of those who had to pay their dues in a cool, unchained atmosphere, eat bar food and wash it all down with fine crafted brews.

We were 3 tourists and we liked it.

Recommended.

We stopped at the State Prison while on vacation in Yuma. It was interesting to see the jail cells and learn about the history of this place.

Everyone had a great time and enjoyed all they had to tell and show us. There was 45 of us so they put us in two groups; worked well.

A very small but perfect museum of the Historic Yuma Prison. Looks like they had a country club... however do NOT forget the 130 degree summertime squeltch! What a great find!

Lots of history there. Hard to believe that the prisoners had to sustain such hard times while serving their sentences. The facility has been restored and maintained in the same conditions as when prisoners were being held there. A must see location when visiting Yuma.

If you’re going by in Yuma Arizona, You must visit important historical site the Yuma territorial prison. Thank God the resident so Yuma Arizona saved this historical place.

Really interesting stop. We learned a lot about the prison and the local history.
The gentlemen working were very friendly, informative and helpful.
We were glad we made the stop.

I was on a cross-country trip taking in interesting sights along the way when I decided to explore the Yuma Territorial Prison as I passed through the town. It did not disappoint. It isn’t a large prison but has a lot of history. (It housed quite a few Mormon polygamists as well as survivors of the fight at the OK Coral.) I really enjoyed going through the exhibits and looking into and going into the cells. One cell is called the Dark Cell, where prisoners would be sent for extra punishment (kind of like solitary confinement.) it’s literally just a stone cave with no light and no facilities. Fascinating! This prison also housed some pretty tough female inmates, which is unusual. After going through the prison, I went to the overlook with beautiful views of the Colorado River. The staff was very friendly and well informed. I would recommend this attraction to anyone in the area.

Great stop. Lots of information and very educational. I had no idea women prisoners were held here. It took about an hour to look around. Definitely make time to see it.

Both our kids liked this tour — it is not very interactive or hands-on, but our tour guide, Bob, made it a delight because he was was affable and funny. The best part for me was the museum with all the photos and exhibits. The kids liked seeing the insides of the cells. There is a gift shop with reasonably priced trinkets. No food or refreshments on site, so don’t come hungry.

It’s a nice little museum and a slice of history. The exhibits were well done and the biographies of the characters were very interesting.

Taken a lot of company here they loved it we have been there about 14 times including the western days they have

Seeing the stark cell block and small cells that held up to six prisoners each in Arizona's 110-degree heat makes you appreciate how brutal it was to do hard time at the Yuma penitentiary. The view from the guard tower, built over a water storage tank, reveals what's left of the prison and offers views up and down the nearby Colorado River. I spent close to an hour in museum reading about life inside the prison walls and learning about famous prisoners like Pearl Hart, a woman caught robbing a stagecoach with an accomplice, Joe Boot. Go early if it's a hot day.

We enjoyed our stop at Yuma Territorial Prison and found it full of history, and even more so, lots of interesting personal stories. Very little of the original prison has survived and there are not many interactive displays to entertain children so maybe best suited to an older crowd.

Went for a second time with our adult kids. So interesting to see names of people we saw in old western movies that were imprisoned here at the Yuma State prison. Enjoy seeing the history and the movie.

This as a fascinating hour or so understanding the history of this prison, how it came to be built, prison conditions and how it has been restored. The prison was open from 1875 to 1909. The prison is located next to the Ocean to Ocean Highway Bridge — a Railway bridge that was built in 1915 and which has taken the land of about 1/3 rd of the original prison. The original watch tower overlooking the prison had been restored as has the entrance and approximately one and a half of the original prison blocks. The tiny cells held 6 prisoners each and when we went the temperature was 105f which was hot enough so I dread to think what is was like being locked up with 5 other people in one of those cells. The solitary confinement cell (the dark cell) is still there though without the iron cage inside. There is also a small museum which has an introductory 7 minute film, as well as pictures and artifices of the prison and the prisoners which we found very interesting. Overall a very informative 90 minutes

Our tour of the prison was well worth the entry fee of $6.00. Lots of history and the tour of the actual prison cells was sobering but interesting.

I enjoyed the visit. The 7 min video was informative. It was easy to walk around. Plenty of information in the museum. I would recommend. It took about 90 min.

The prison grounds and what is preserved at the prison shows visitors that life in prison is hard but a life in the Yuma prison was worst than normal. In the summer months temperatures in the inmates cells were over 140 degrees. So small cells the size of an average size bathroom would have as many as 8 to 10 people. The only toilet facilities were a bucket in the cells.

My wife and I, along with a few friends, visited the Yuma Territorial Prison Historical State Park on October 3rd, 2025, and we absolutely loved it. The museum is packed with fascinating history about the prison, its prisoners, and the many stories that shaped this place. You can really feel the weight of the past as you walk through the old cells and read about the people who once lived here.

The exhibits are well organized, informative, and engaging — it’s easy to spend a couple of hours exploring everything. The staff were friendly and clearly passionate about preserving the history of the prison. The views of the Colorado River from the grounds are also beautiful and worth taking in before you leave.

Overall, it’s a must-visit if you’re in Yuma. A great mix of history, atmosphere, and storytelling!

I loved visiting the prison and learning about its history. There are several stories about the prisoners there too which adds to the interest. Don’t miss the short film about the prison that puts you in the day.

Great visit. Outside display buildings with the exception of the museum. Good history of the prison described together with who the inmates were. Well worth a visit if you are in the area.

The State Prison is a great way to spend an hour or two in Yuma. The visit is self-guided after a brief intro by one of the staff on site. More than 3000 people were incarcerated at the prison over its 34 years of operation, including about 30 women. Crimes included everything from killing someone, to theft, to adultery. Many sentences for the women were cut short because of the difficulty in housing the women in a largely male facility. The grounds are very neatly kept, and the site offers some good views of the surrounding countryside. Access is very easy and there is good parking.

Great tour to learn about what prison life was like many years ago. Very well done. There is a lot of history in AZ.

If you find yourself in Yuma, this is a good place to take in some of the local flavor and history. It’s a self guided tour of a few remaining buildings of a territorial prison complex. The placards describe conditions in the prison and some of the personal stories of its inmates. Helps you feel connected to the frontier past of Yuma and to how significant the Colorado river was in its heyday. Definitely worth exploring this park.

My boyfriend and I went here in December. There wasn’t too many people there so we had the whole place to ourselves. If you are into history at all, this is a great place to spend 1-2 hours. They had a little skit put on when we were there as well.

The prison is a great place to take your family. So much history with a lot of stories of what it was like in the Wild West. Loved reading the bios of those who were in prison and what they did to get there.

I have been there a couple of times. A great place to take visitors of Yuma. A lot of history and interesting facts about life st that time. Excellent.

What an eye opening experience to the old west. The guide was great and added much to the visit. Very well maintained facility. If ever there was a place for Jeffery Epstein to serve the rest of his life -- this is it.......just know that he did NOT do himself in.......that is a fallacy.

Great place to visit. So much interesting history for Yuma. I had a great time and will return again.

Have been here before & now they are adding a model of area on the property. A piece of western history to see & learn about. Definitely a return visit will occur soon.

History a plenty. Great views of the Colorado river. If you'er lucky enough to be there when a rain storm you can see forever.

Carefully cared for site and a good value for the money. Can walk into cells and the guard tower as well as viewing many artifacts.

Let it be known that I'm not really into going to places like this... however I am very glad the wife and I did. You get a good overall history lesson of Yuma by reading all the signs that they have around the park. Great staff and well kept grounds. If in Yuma it's a must see.

This is a small area that you can visit quickly or spend as much time as you like with all of the information in the museum. We really enjoyed our visit there.

We were told this historic park was a good experience. Well, it was a great experience. They have done a lot of work, digging up the history of select inmates and the description of the artifacts.

Interesting history, you can even walk into the old cells and imagine what it would have been like for the prisoners.

If you're driving through or near Yuma, do take time to see the original Yuma prison. The film provides a nice historic perspective, some of the cells 'talk' about events of the time, and the museum provides facts about some of the men and women encarcerated there. The guard tower offers a beautiful 360 degree territorial view and is worth the steps. It's unfortunate more of historic Yuma wasn't preserved as well.

Our prisons are mansions compared to this one. Just cant imagine being in this back in the 1890's it gives a sense of what it was like being incarcerated at the turn on the century. Having to live with 6 people in a small cell would have made it difficult and if you did not behave you were sent to the "Dark Cell"...No thanks

Only a small part of the prison remains but still very interesting. Lots of interesting photos Hard to believe people really live in those cells even against their will go up the observation tower and look around. When finished there walk up and down the river you might get to see some folks living there

If you are in the Yuma, Az area, this is a MUST STOP! Its kept up by local residence and businesses. Nice movie inside as well as artifacts and pictures. You can also tour the cells.