In those days, the full volume of water that now sustains life in seven western states and two countries ran by Yuma's doorstep - and often ran wild. Yet, in the days before dams were constructed up and down its length, the waters of the Colorado shaped the geography - and history - of the entire Southwest.

Standing on the banks of the Colorado River in Yuma today, it is hard to imagine the river in its original, untamed state. Unique geography created the Yuma Crossing - and shaped the history of our community and nation.