Yuma, Arizona

Downtown Yuma

Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. Pictured is Downtown Yuma courtesy of Ken Lund. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Yuma Territorial Prison

Yuma Territorial Prison welcomed its first seven inmates on July 1, 1876. These men had even built the cells themselves. During its 33 years of operation, a total of 3,069 prisoners, including 29 women, lived within these walls. Its geographical location meant that anyone fortunate to escape would find themselves surrounded by a rugged and unforgiving desert landscape. The site is now operated as a historical museum by Arizona State Parks. Some believe that this prison is haunted by a few prisoners who have remained behind.

The dungeon area is supposedly the place to experience the most disturbing phenomena - intense cold that suddenly pervades the atmosphere, accompanied by "moans and curses". There have been some male visitors who claim to have been punched in the stomach whilst in the dungeon, whilst some women complain of being pinched.

Others have reported abusive voices and slaps whilst exploring the shop area, as well as the movement of objects.

Pictured left is the yard and cells at Yuma Territorial Prison courtesy of Ralph Hawkins.

220 N. Prison Hill Road, Yuma, AZ 85364, USA.

www.yumaprison.org

For further information, please read Haunted Arizona by Charles A. Stansfield Jr.