Goods were shipped up the Colorado River from the Gulf of California and stored at Yuma for distribution to the desert frontier forts in the Southwestern United States territories.

[1][2] One purpose of the depot was to ensure that a six-month supply of much needed goods such as ammunition, food and clothing was on hand at all times.

[1] The supplies gathered at the quartermaster depot were shipped throughout the southwest via river boats and overland on mule team freight wagons.

The arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad in Yuma in 1877 signaled the end of the depot.

[2] The Yuma Crossing Foundation established an agreement with the state parks board to manage, develop and operate the site as a living history museum.

The name of the park was changed in 2007 to reflect the original use of the area and its historic interpretive focus.

The storehouse details the history of the Colorado River and the steamboat era on it, and of the mule wagon trains.

A biologic exhibit of fish species in the Colorado River is found in the corral house.

Outdoor exhibits at the park include ramadas, a steam boiler, a stone built reservoir and an encampment of wagons.