Yuma Territorial Prison State Historical Park

Awesome place lots of information we were lucky enough that they had a tour starting so that was even better he did an outstanding job!!!

This is a fine example of how this country prison system was years ago. It is well worth the visit. Very educational for all ages

Absolutely worth it if you’re a history buff or movie fan (or both). I really didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did – it’s a well-​run museum/​historical site, with a lot of history (it housed Pearl Hart and Pete Spence together with many other fascinating characters) and a lot of neat Hollywood detail (Beau Geste’s scarring opening scene was filmed here, as were several scenes in Star Wars and other movies). If you’re even remotely in the area, definitely pay a visit – it’s wonderful.

We spent an enjoyable couple of hours here on a windy Friday afternoon. The museum displays are very informative and reflect more on the people then artifacts, which we appreciated.
Our guide was great. He was a retired college professor who could tell a good story, interact with the group and keep the you moving.

Great place to take the family. Plan on staying for awhile. It is supposed to be haunted. Ghost adventure s filmed here. A lot of very interesting things to take in and see.

If you’re into the history, I recommend making a stop here. It’s quite reasonable for a $ 6 entry free to view the museum and part of the remaining prison. It was interesting to learn why the individuals had been sent there in the first place. I also enjoyed that you were able to enter some of the cells also!

Spur of the moment road trip from San Diego, ended up here. It was pretty cool for the kids to see the prison conditions way back when.
It doesn’t take long to see everything, maybe an hour but it was worth it.

Good time with the family, it’s hard to go to museums and historical places with two little ones but we lasted for a good amount of time. Museum is done beautifully and there is much to see around the grounds. We were able to go up to the guard tower and also we could go inside a few of the cells. There is also a movie you can watch but who are we kidding, not a chance with a 3 year old lol
I would come back for sure!

Recently traveled to Yuma to visit all the historical sites, this was one of them. Had a good time strolling through the site and learning about the prison and the inmates that were there and why they were there. There is a lot of history here. If you want the quick history watch the 8 minute video. If you want to learn more stroll through the exhibits and read the information. If stroll through the site, there is no need to watch the video. It was fun to go into the cells and courtyards and leaning about the daily life of a prisoner back in the day. If you have a friend you can get your picture taken like one of the prisoners (they have a prison shirt there — stripes and all).

First time here and I wasn’t disappointed one bit. I was surprised how small it was but everything gave good detail on how life was really like back then being locked up. I would come back again after few years to bring my family to experience what Yuma first prison was like.

This was so much fun. We drove a 4 hour drive from CA, just to come here. We went on a day that it was 115 degrees outside so we were so happy to see that the museum had an air conditioned interior building. The pictures, descriptions and prison memorabilia were so interesting. I highly recommend this life experience to everyone.

Very cool place to go see. Informative and interesting. I wish more of the prison was still standing. I went everywhere and saw everything there in about an hour, but could have spent more time there if I wanted. The gift shop has a lot of cool stuff in it as well.

Small, but really cool to see. Very well done a lot of history, and plenty of photo ops. I don’t mind paying a quarter to use their binoculars, but I don’t like that they are worthless. Other than that a great place and an enthusiastic, friendly staff.

Ehhh, so so. I would say skip it if you have kids as there is nothing there for them. There was one building of historical exhibits with text to read then you could walk outside to where the prison was. It was cool to see the remaining cells and what not. Over all not too exciting, I wouldn’t go again but as a history fan glad I stopped.

It’s been many years since I’ve visited Yuma, thirty-​five years to be exact, but I can still remember my Dad and I traveling from California to Yuma in his Blue 69 Pontiac Firebird, to see my grandparents who decided on a whim to pick up and move to the desert.
At the time of my visit this was about the only tourist attraction available, so we made our way over to what I considered a museum, and My Dad found much glee in shutting me in one of the prison cells… until you’ve been locked in a small space, you’ll never know just how horrible it feels.
As a 7 year old I found it eery, something about the flat stillness of the desert, the only sound to be heard the wind and the red earth beneath my feet, the memory of it still haunts me to this day.
I would like to go back one day and view it through an adults eye, and learn more about the history… something tells me it will still haunt me.

Probably not much related to the movie «3:10 to Yuma» but I did know the city named Yuma from that movie!!!
If you are driving on 8 freeway from San Diego to Phoenix or Tucson, this is a MUST visit.
Admission is $ 6 for adult and $ 3 for 13 – 17 yo (Super cheap compare w any museum in California!!!)
You enter from the Gift Shop, and purchase the admission at the counter.
I got here on time to catch the gun show started 2 pm. It was pretty interesting, all characters were dressed up in old time costumes. Along the story line, they started shooting each other. The ending wasn’t what I expected.
Self guided tour will take you to the museum and cell block. At the end of cell block is the Dark Cell and New Yard.
Prison cemetery and trail head is on the other side. (no ticket required)
It was a sunny early January day, the weather in AZ was perfect, not too hot not too cold with some breeze. I almost feel the prisoners here were way more lucky than those in Alcatraz. (at least in January)
The ONLY reason I can’t give this place 5 stars is most part of the prison was restored and I like it rustic. Also it’s way smaller compare with Alcatraz but pretty educational and good for $ 6.

They turned this old prison into a park, and it contains tons of old West history. You may recognize this place when you see it, it has been featured in many movies. The prison conditions looked to be very brutal, par for the course in those days. The displays and buildings were very interesting. they profiled the activities that took place in those days and the prisoners who passed through.

Wow!
This was a really cool outing that I never expected would be fun. My stepdad wanted to stop here on a road trip, so we did.
The prison has a lot of information in the old cafeteria about prisoners and their crimes. I thought one of the most interesting bios was about a prisoner who got sentenced to a year and a day in prison for giving alcohol to an Indian. I also liked the stories about the female prisoners.
They also have a fun little mirror corner to take your picture like the old prisoners had to. You can even get a number and a faux striped uniform.
The prison itself was pretty creepy, especially the dark room. I got the heebie jeebies being in there!
It was definitely a neat detour and I recommend it!

WOW!
This was a great visit!
$ 6 entry fee. There is a gift shop, a great little museum of artifacts with very informative stories about the prisoners that are associated with the artifacts.
There’s a movie that’s actually not boring.
Then you go out to the cells. It’s a very powerful experience. I actually refused to go into the dark cell until someone told me there were bats on the ceiling.
This was a great visit, and I would even do it again.

So disappointed. I wanted to see this place really badly but after this experience I could care less. Shame,
I came here to visit with family from out of town on a Sunday at 4pm (visited the website before and it said the spot closes at 5), walked up to the place, saw that it says it closes at 5 (see picture attached) so it was perfect… we had an hour, OR SO WE THOUGHT!
Negative ghost rider… here we are, about to pay $ 8 only to be told that they’re closing half of the prison early so we won’t get to see it all. «But wait — the posted sign said you close at 5!» I say confused watching as the man behind the counter tries to make up some bs reply, other visitors around me agree! Bull crap, the guy behind the counter proceeds to tell me that it’s always been known that they close it at 4:30, known by who? The spirits trapped in this place? So I offered to pay half the price to see half the place (seems fair no?) Another negative. Wouldn’t even let me go upstairs to the watch post to take a picture. This place gets 1 star until it advertises correct information and has a staff that is better equipped to handle visitors. It seemed like the staff couldn’t wait to get people out so they could go home.
Also — contrary to other reviews I read, I was told there was no military discount. Also, no parks pass admittance and ridiculously high prices in their gift shop. The Empire State Building in NYC has cheaper souvenirs.
I think I’ll take the 3:10 OUT of Yuma.