MRC to YUM

Determined to forge a new route between Arizona and Los Angeles, Juan Bautista de Anza financed his own exploratory trip in 1774. When he successfully traveled from the San Francisco area to Mexico, Spain authorized Anza to launch a colonizing expedition in 1775.

Determined to forge a new route between Arizona and Los Angeles, Juan Bautista de Anza financed his own exploratory trip in 1774. When he successfully traveled from the San Francisco area to Mexico, Spain authorized Anza to launch a colonizing expedition in 1775.

Gila Bend has been nicknamed the Crossroads of the Southwest due to its importance as a transportation route in the settlement, development and growth of the Great Southwest. It is also near the Sonoran Desert National Monument which contains over 487,000 acres of highly diverse desert habitat.

Gila Bend has been nicknamed the Crossroads of the Southwest due to its importance as a transportation route in the settlement, development and growth of the Great Southwest. It is also near the Sonoran Desert National Monument which contains over 487,000 acres of highly diverse desert habitat.

Used by miners and ranchers sending cargos of copper ore, hides and wool downriver, Colorado River steamboats thrived until they were supplanted by the railroads in the late 1800s.

Used by miners and ranchers sending cargos of copper ore, hides and wool downriver, Colorado River steamboats thrived until they were supplanted by the railroads in the late 1800s.

The Yuma Prison was not for the faint of heart. It was nicknamed Devil's Island for its notorious nature, and because Yuma was one of Arizona's hottest, driest, and most isolated Wild West locations.

The Yuma Prison was not for the faint of heart. It was nicknamed Devil's Island for its notorious nature, and because Yuma was one of Arizona's hottest, driest, and most isolated Wild West locations.