Yuma Quartermaster Depot

 (1864-1883) - First established in 1864 to supply frontier posts in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. Located in the city of Yuma in Yuma County, Arizona just across the Colorado River from Fort Yuma in California. Abandoned in 1880.

History
The Yuma Quartermaster Depot was established in 1864 to maintain supplies for frontier posts in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. Supplies were shipped from California up through the Gulf of California, transferred to steamboats and transported up the Colorado River to the depot at Yuma. From Yuma, the supplies were packed to frontier posts in five states. The corrals and stables at the Yuma depot housed up to 900 army mules. The post maintained a six month supply of ammunition food and other supplies needed at the outlying posts and regularly distributed the supplies. In 1867 the depot burned down but it was quickly rebuilt.

In 1877 the Southern Pacific tracks from Los Angeles crossed the Colorado River at Yuma and on 20 Mar 1880, the first Southern Pacific train reached Tucson, Arizona. The quartermaster at Yuma closed the depot and moved the operation to Fort Lowell (1) in Tucson.

Some federal functions on the depot continued after the quartermaster left including the Signal Corps (1875-1891) and the Weather Service (1891-1949).

Current Status
Now part of Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park. Five historic buildings remain including the Commanding Officer's Quarters & Kitchen, a Storehouse, the Corral House and the Office of the Depot Quartermaster.

See Also:
 * Fort Yuma (California)
 * Fort Lowell

Sources:
 * , page 50.
 * , page 17.

Links:
 * Wikipedia - Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park
 * North American Forts - Quartermaster Depot Yuma
 * Arizona State Parks - Yuma Quartermaster Depot
 * California Military Museum - Fort Yuma