Long before Anza, the corridor along the Gila and Colorado rivers was
a crossroads where trails converged. It is still an important crossroad
today.
Railroad Bridge looking
north towards the mission.
Colorado River near Yuma.
Photo: Ron Ory
Photo: NPS
Driving Directions for Auto Route
From Maricopa
County, travel west on I-8 through Mohawk, Wellton, Ligurta,
and past US federal highway 95 near the city of Yuma. From I-8,
take the Yuma/Winterhaven/4th Ave. exit and go south on 4th Ave.
for 1/2 mile to the Yuma
Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park. Travelers can see an
interpretive plaque there and learn more about the Anza Trail in
the area. Past Yuma, the historic route dips into Baja California,
Mexico, and then turns north through the California desert to Imperial
County. The auto route continues west on I-8 past Winterhaven to
CA 98. To continue along this route, see Imperial
County.
Because of the lifegiving waters of the Gila and Colorado
Rivers, the American Indians along these rivers were known
for their agriculture. On November 28, 1775 Anza writes,
"...Indeed, they (Quechan) invited all members of the expedition
to eat, giving them in abundance beans, calabashes, maize,
wheat and other grains which are used by them, and so many
watermelons that we estimated that there must have been more
than three thousand... we all had more than we could use."
The river tribes are still known for their agriculture. Today,
the Colorado River supplies the irrigation for over 200,000
acres of cropland including lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower,
cantaloupe, watermelon, wheat and other crops.
About
Your Visit to Yuma County
Past Agua Caliente, the expedition continued southwest
along the Gila River. At Cerro de San Pasqual (Camp #34),
the expedition had their second birth. They crossed the Gila
again near the Colorado river, and crossed the latter without
serious incident with the help of the Yuma people and their
chief, Salvador Palma. Father Garcés was carried over on the
shoulders of three Yumas, two at his head and one at his feet,
lying stretched out face up.
Sites of Interest
A. Cerro de San Pasqual, Sears Point
and Expedition Camps #32-#34
Before making camp at Cerro de San Pasqual (#34) November
18, 1775, they crossed the Gila again. It was at this
camp that the expedition had their second birth since leaving
Tubac, a boy named Diego Pasqual Gutiérrez. They rested
there until the 22nd to let the mother and child recover.
In the meantime, Carlos, a leader of the Cocomaricopa, arrived
with a few of his tribesmen to travel with Anza to Yuma. The
exact position of some of the camps along the river is uncertain
because it has varied in its course over time. Today, the
Sears
Point Petroglyphs are situated above the flood plain of
the river. The area is protected and managed by the Bureau
of Land Management (BLM).
B. Antelope Hill and Expedition Camp
#35
Font called the site Cerro
de Santa Cecilia del Metate, naming it for the
grinding stones made by the Indians. It was here that
a expectant mother in pain was given medicine to protect her
from miscarriage. A nearby site at Antelope Hill is located
about six miles east of Wellton and is a prominent geologic
feature beside the Gila River. The site, partially destroyed
by quarrying, contains protected American Indian petroglyphs
and a grinding stone quarry important to several tribes in
the area. There is an interpretive kiosk at the base of the
hill.
C. Along the Gila and Expedition Camps
#36-#38
Camps #36 to #38 were on the south side of the Gila River.
At the first camp, a native arrived telling that the leader
of the Yuma was waiting to welcome the expedition. At Camp
#38, at the Gila River Pass between the Laguna and the Gila
Mountains, Anza writes, "Salvador Palma, captain of the Yumas,
arrived at our camp with a following of more than thirty of
his people, all unarmed. As soon as he saw me he began to
embrace me and to give me the most emphatic signs of joy and
satisfaction at my arrival, which he told me was shared by
all his tribe and all those along the river who know me."
D. Yuma Crossing and Expedition Camps
#39 - #41
Anza's Camp #39 was made after the expedition's third crossing
of the Gila River. At night, they were entertained with Yuma
(Quechan) and Maricopa singing and the beating
of drums. With the help of Palma and his Yuma tribe,
they safely crossed the Colorado River on November
30, 1775, and made Camp (#40) near its banks. They moved
to Palma's village on December
3 (#41), where a shelter was being built for Fathers Garcés
and Eixarch, who remained with several interpreters and servants
(including Sebastián Tarabal). Prison Hill, part of
the Yuma
Crossing National Heritage Area, looks out over Camps
#39-#41. The Yuma
Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park (201 N. 4th Ave.
in Yuma) displays an interpretive exhibit for the Anza Trail
overlooking the Colorado River and interprets American period
artifacts.
Learning
On The Trail in Yuma County
Questions on the Trail
Members
of the tribe help to protect the expedition's
men, women and children during their Colorado
River crossing on November 30, 1775.
Graphic:
Wade Cox
Question: What dangers and challenges did the
colonists face on the crossing?
On the CD: Yuman music and history
Singing Braying Burros and Mule; Yuma Memorial song
(flute). The Yuma people made a critical contribution to
the founding of the Mission and Presidio of San Francisco
in that they helped the colonists cross the Colorado
River near its confluence with the Gila. The Yuma, who
today prefer the name Quechan (pronounced Kwuh-tsan),
had as their Chief Capitán Palma whose Quechan
name was Olleycotequiebe. Palma, helped Anza on both
expeditions, and the two men displayed a genuine respect
and trust of one another. This was a critical aspect
of Anza's route and plan. Upon the expedition's arrival,
November
28, 1775, Quechan words such as Queyé
(fellow citizens) were used, and when a mission site
was discussed, the reply was Ajót, ajót
(Good, good). At Palma's urging, Anza later took him
to México City where he was baptized with several
of his tribesmen in February of 1777. In 1780, Father
Garcés established a mission near Palma's village.
Father Font considered the Quechan somewhat simple people
when he wrote, "...They liked to hear the mules bray,
and especially some burros which came in the expedition,
for before the other expedition they had never seen
any of these animals." Unfortunately, others underestimated
the Quechan, and the relationship established so carefully
by Anza was not protected during subsequent visits by
the Spanish. At the Mission La Purísima Concepción
site today, a plaque reads, "...The Mission/Pueblo site
was inadequately supported. The colonists ignored Indian
rights, usurped the best lands and destroyed Indian
crops. Completely frustrated and disappointed, the Quechan
(Yumas) and their allies destroyed Concepción
on July 17-19, 1781" [killing Fr. Garcés, Fernando
de Rivera y Moncada and many others]. By preventing
access to this strategic crossing, the Quechan effectively
closed the trail for the rest of the Spanish colonial
period and limited Spanish expansion into Alta California
and beyond.
Cocopah Indian Reservation - County 15th & Avenue G, Somerton
AZ 85350;
tel.: 928-627-1992,
web: cocopah.com
Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park - 1 Prison Hill
Rd., Yuma, Arizona 85364;
tel.: 928-783-4771,
web: azstateparks.com
Remember that entering the U.S. or Mexico without using a
port of entry is dangerous and illegal. For example, use the
Port of Entry - Andrade, 235 Andrade Road, Winterhaven, CA
92283;
tel.: 760-572-0089,
web: cbp.gov
