This weekend, Arizona Western College (AWC) and the Arizona Historical Society (AHS) are hosting a series of events to highlight Yuma’s history. The activities include a walking tour of Historic Downtown Yuma led by AWC and AHS representatives, as well as access to a virtual tour through the “Yuma History Virtual Tour” app developed by AWC students.
Ellen Riek, an adjunct professor at AWC, commented on the partnership: “We are excited to partner with the Arizona Historical Society for a weekend of Yuma History. Events include a Yuma trivia night at Prison Hill Brewery, a Yuma history speaker, and walking tours in downtown Yuma. We will showcase Yuma history via a walking tour guide developed by the Arizona Historical Society, and the AWC student curated Yuma History app funded by an AWC Innovation Fund grant. Join us to learn more about Yuma history!”
The event schedule begins Friday evening with a trivia contest at Prison Hill Brewery. On Saturday morning, Clifford Trafzer will give a talk at the Yuma Heritage Library Auditorium. In the afternoon, there will be a historical walking tour starting from Molina Block.
The organizers say these activities aim to help community members engage with local heritage using both traditional storytelling methods and digital resources created by students.
The “Yuma History Virtual Tour” app highlights local landmarks and notable figures such as Lutes Gretna Green Wedding Chapel, United States Camel Corps, and E.F. Sanguinetti. Each stop was researched and curated by AWC students in their English and History courses. The free app is available for Apple devices on the App Store under “Yuma History Virtual Tour.”
