Yuma Crossing
Immediately after the Mexican–American War in 1848, the U.S. Army built Fort Yuma here to protect travelers from Indians raiding the area. It was the center point of conflict in the Yuma War of 1850–53. From 1864–1890, the fort and nearby facilities was the main army base to support the US Army's efforts to control the Indians throughout the greater southwest.
Yuma Project
Prior to completing the Laguna Diversion Dam, the Bureau of Reclamation began to consider the Yuma Auxiliary Project which would supplement the Yuma Project in order to irrigate another of land called Yuma Mesa. Initial surveys of the Mesa began in 1916 and the US Congress approved the Project in 1917. The Project was broken down in units A, B, C and D. Construction began on September 27, 1920 with the Mesa Supply Canal for unit B and in May 1922, the unit's pumping station was also complete. Unit B irrigated as much as but development of the other three units never materialized. Only of canal and of lateral canals were built. In 1949, after the Laguna Dam ceased to divert water, the Yuma Auxiliary Project was reduced to just over in sized and the Gila Project took over its water supply.