Timeline


1865

U.S. Army establishes Yuma Depot

1866

Yuma Depot Storehouse completed

1867

Storehouse and all contents destroyed by fire; building immediately rebuilt

1872

Quartermaster’s Office becomes last building constructed at depot

1873

Army Signal Service establishes telegraph office at depot

1875

Signal Service establishes first weather station in Arizona at Yuma Depot

1877

Southern Pacific Railroad arrives in Arizona at Yuma

1883

Yuma Depot abandoned by U.S. Army; Signal Service remains to operate weather station

1890

U.S. Weather Bureau established, takes over weather station in Quartermaster’s Office

1903

U.S. Customs Service moves into abandoned Quartermaster’s House and Kitchen at depot

1904

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) moves into depot Storehouse and Corral House, establishes Yuma Irrigation Project headquarters

1909

BOR completes Laguna Dam, first dam on Colorado River

1912

BOR completes Colorado River Siphon, bringing irrigation water to Yuma Valley

1949

BOR abandons Storehouse and Corral House; Weather Bureau abandons Quartermaster’s Office

1951

Yuma County Water Users’ Association moves into Storehouse and Corral House, takes over Yuma Project operation and maintenance

1955

Customs Service abandons Quartermaster’s House and Kitchen

1988

Yuma County Water Users’ Association abandons Storehouse and Corral House

1997

Arizona State Parks opens the site as Yuma Crossing State Historic Park

2009

Arizona State Parks announces park will close due to budget cuts; Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area begins operating park

2017

Park renamed Colorado River State Historic Park