Things To Do in Yuma
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Yuma Attractions
Historic downtown Yuma isn't exactly a bustling place, and it doesn't exactly abound in historical flavor. In the hope of drawing more visitors, Yuma has upgraded and restored some of its downtown buildings and spruced up its riverfront.
The Yuma Art Center, 254 S. Main St. (tel. 928/373-5202, is next door to the Historic Yuma Theatre and is a gorgeous gallery that could hold its own in Scottsdale. Don't leave town without stopping by to see what's on view. The center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm in the summer months (June, July and August) and from 10am until 8pm in the fall and spring (September through May). The Yuma Symposium (tel. 928/782-1934), held here each year in February, brings in talented artists from all over the country.
- Museum
Arizona Historical Society Sanguinetti House Museum
If you’d like to find out more about pioneer life in Yuma, stop by this territorial-period home, which is full of historical photographs and artifacts and is surrounded by lush gardens and aviaries containing exotic birds. Adjacent to the museum is the Garden Cafe, a wonderful… - Park
Colorado River State Historic Park
In 1865, Yuma Crossing, the narrow spot on the Colorado River where the town of Yuma sprang up, became the site of the military’s Quartermaster Depot. Yuma was a busy river port back then, and supplies shipped from California were unloaded here and sent to military posts throughout… - Park/Garden
Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park
In 1865, Yuma Crossing, the narrow spot on the Colorado River where the town of Yuma sprang up, became the site of the military's Quartermaster Depot. Yuma was a busy river port during this time, and after supplies shipped from California were unloaded, they went to military posts… - Park/Garden
Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park
If you've ever wondered where they really locked up the bad guys in the Wild West, check out this fortresslike prison on a bluff above the Colorado River. This prison opened for business in 1876 and, despite the thick stone walls and iron bars, was considered a model penal…
Yuma Shopping
While Yuma may not seem at first like the sort of place to find cutting-edge contemporary art, that’s just what you often find at the Yuma Art Center and Galleries, 254 S. Main St. (tel. 928/373-5202), next door to the Historic Yuma Theatre. This gorgeous gallery could hold its own in Scottsdale—don’t leave town without stopping by to see what’s on view. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 6pm in summer, 10am to 8pm in winter. Admission is by donation. The Yuma Symposium (tel. 928/782-1934), held here each year in late February, brings in talented artists from all over the country.
Down a landscaped alleyway off Main Street (at 224 Main St., across from Lutes Casino), there’s a potpourri of small tourist-oriented stores. Just off Main Street, you’ll also find two pottery studios/galleries: Tomkins Pottery, 78 W. Second St. (tel. 928/782-1934), and Colorado River Pottery, 67 W. Second St. (tel. 888/410-2689 or 928/343-0413).
Yuma Nightlife
In most small towns across Arizona, you'll find an old downtown movie theater. Most of them are boarded up and abandoned. Not so with Yuma's old theater. The renovated and updated Historic Yuma Theatre, 254 S. Main St. (tel. 928/373-5202), the centerpiece of the Yuma Art Center, is now host to live theater productions and touring musical groups. Originally opened in 1912, the theater has been restored to its distinctive 1930s Art Deco decor.
Looking for something else to do after dark in Yuma? You can try your luck at the Paradise Casinos, 450 Quechan Dr. (tel. 888/777-4946), across the Colorado River on the Quechan Indian Reservation, or at the Cocopah Casino, 15318 S. Ave. B, Somerton (tel. 800/237-5687), 15 minutes south of Yuma.
