Here natives, conquistadors, padres, adventurers, armies and immigrants met the river's challenge. It was here that the old tribal trails converged. This was the only natural river crossing in the desert. Riverboats in the Colorado River circa 1880. Most came to cross the mighty Colorado at its narrowest point and continue their journeys - first the Quechan, then the Spanish, then the Mexicans, and finally American and European explorers and settlers. The water of the Colorado River has provided life and sustenance for many generations of people.įirst, they came to hunt, to camp, to mine and to farm. By Tina Clark, Archaeologist and Historianįor centuries, the Yuma Crossing has been viewed as both an oasis and a gateway.
