Schmap Tucson Historical Background

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Tucson - Historical Background
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In 1698, Jesuit Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, on his way north from what is now Mexico to explore possible sites for building new missions, came across an Indian village called Shuk Shon. During the 70 years of Spanish colonial acquisition that followed his visit into the territory later known as Arizona, the place was renamed San Agustin del Tucson, with the hard "c" in the middle still pronounced. Both the saint's name and the hard "c" were later dropped by Anglo-Americans, with St. Augustine Cathedral downtown now the only surviving memory of the Spanish name.

When Father Kino arrived, people had already lived in the region for more than 2,000 years. Anasazi, Mogollon, Hohokam and O'odham tribes came and went in successive waves of immigration over the centuries. One of the favorite settlements lay at the base of a big hill of black volcanic rock. Known as Chuk Shon (meaning, roughly, "village of the spring at the foot of the black mountain" in the O'odham language), it is an elevation now officially called Sentinel Peak, and also nicknamed A Mountain for the large whitewashed letter (for University of Arizona) on its eastern side. In any case, it is one of the best lookout points, commanding a view of the entire Tucson basin.

A few miles further to the South, out of a nearby village named Bac, the Jesuits worked to convert the local Pima Indians to the Christian faith. Today, this is the location of Mission San Xavier del Bac, the "White Dove of the Desert," known for its beauty world-wide.

Strategic Importance

Though the colonialists from Europe were not exactly considered friends by the Indians of Bac, they seemed the lesser evil compared to the Apache raiders that moved into the Tucson valley, to the extent that the Pima and O'odham asked for Spanish military assistance against the Apaches. The Jesuits, who had to be considered inept in effectively defending the locals, were replaced with Franciscan priests who understood the strategic importance of Tucson. Finally, in 1775, an Irish mercenary in Spanish employ known as Don Hugo O'Connor arrived to establish a presidio, or military fort, here. Though nothing is now left of the structure, El Presidio Park downtown still marks the fort's original location.

Old Pueblo

While the village at the foot of Sentinel Peak vanished, a new Mexican village slowly grew up around the Spanish presidio, nicknamed the Old Pueblo, an endearing term still used for the city. After the Gadsden Purchase of 1854, following the Mexican-American War, which gave a large part of Sonoran territory to the United States, the village quickly became a new American frontier town. It even served as the capital of the Arizona Territory from 1867 to 1877. Cattle ranchers moved into the valley, and mining companies began prospecting the mountains for copper and gold. The real boom came with the arrival of the railroad in 1880, allowing goods and raw materials to be transported at drastically reduced costs.

Adobe Style

As East Coast entrepreneurs and investors considered Mexican housing primitive, they began replacing the mud-brick adobe buildings, first with imported brick and lumber, and later with concrete and steel, thus drastically changing the look of Tucson. With Anglos pushing into formerly Mexican-American territory, many of the old adobes fell into disrepair and were eventually bulldozed into oblivion. Today, with the adobe style being the rage, many Tucsonans wish that those "primitive" but cool and practical houses were still standing. Luckily, some of the original adobes have been preserved in the Barrio Historico district south of downtown. The uneasy relationship between pioneers, Indians and Mexicans is well documented both at the Arizona Historical Society and the Fort Lowell Museum, while people interested in the more distant past of Arizona and its original inhabitants will find a wealth of material at the Arizona State Museum. Mexican culture is celebrated during the annual Cinco de Mayo celebrations, and the local Tohono O'odham and Yaqui people keep their traditions alive in the Wa:k Powwow and Yaqui Easter Lenten Ceremony.

Mining

With the discovery of silver and copper deposits in the nearby towns of Tombstone and Bisbee, minerals became the dominant industry in southern Arizona until copper prices took a nosedive in the 1970s. Many mines were closed at the time, but the effects of decades of strip mining, both in its economically beneficial and environmentally damaging senses, can still be viewed at the Asarco Mineral Discovery Center.

Hi-Tech

When the mining business went into a slump, aerospace and aircraft industries moved in to pick up the slack, a development extensively documented at the Pima Air and Space Museum. Since the founding of the University of Arizona in 1891, Tucson has gradually shed its image as a rugged Western town filled with cowboys, miners and hard-dinking gamblers and replaced it with marks of intellectual and technological activity. Due to the presence of the university, the city is now home to several hi-tech companies. It is also one of the world centers of astronomy, as certified by the presence of nearby Kitt Peak National Observatory.

Healthcare

Furthermore, Tucson has become the center of a booming health industry. Every year, thousands of visitors from the northern regions, mostly senior citizens, come to stay and enjoy the mild winter sun of southern Arizona, thus securing the financial health of the numerous spas, resorts, real estate agencies and Southwestern souvenir shops in the region.

Urban Sprawl

One of the main issues currently confronting Tucson and many other cities in the west is how to deal with urban sprawl. Since the 1950s, city development has run out of control, spawning tacky strip malls along Tucson's street grid and nondescript tract homes at the outskirts, while parts of the old barrio downtown were leveled to make room for high-rises and concrete structures such as the Tucson Convention Center. In recent years, however, Tucsonans have learned to consider their architectural and ethnic heritage as more of an asset in helping to attract tourists and conventioneers to the city. By the early 1990s, what remained of the barrio had been restored, and the depressed downtown was revived with some success by the Tucson Arts District. Still, the controversy over urban development continues and, for the foreseeable future, the diverging demands of job security, population growth, water conservation, environmental protection and esthetics promise to dominate the political agenda in the Old Pueblo.

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Arizona Historical Society

Learn about Arizona's history

949 East Second Street
Tucson, AZ 85719
United States
+1 520 628 5774

Located just west of the University of Arizona campus, the Arizona Historical Society features permanent and long-term exhibits from Spanish Colonial times to the 20th century, including a replica of a mine shaft invoking Arizona's long history of gold, silver and copper mining. There are several hands-on exhibits and an excellent collection of old photographs documenting the lives of Indians, settlers and miners in Southern Arizona. The gift store is open the same hours as the museum. Admission is free.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Arizona Historical Society photo by wcities

Photo: wcities

Arizona State Museum

The history of the Southwest 1013 East University Boulevard
(On the University of Arizona campus)
Tucson, AZ 85721
United States
+1 520 621 6302
http://www.statemuseum.arizona...
darlene@al.arizona.edu This is the oldest archaeological museum in the Southwest, and the best place in Tucson to learn about the life of Arizona's Indians, both past and present. Impressive displays of Indian art tell the cultural history of the American Southwest and Northern Mexico. There is also a good natural history section demonstrating earth and climate changes in the area. The museum shop sells related books and crafts.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Asarco Mineral Discovery Center

The history of open-pit copper mining 1421 West Pima Mine Road
Tucson, AZ 85629
United States
+1 520 625 7513
http://www.mineraldiscovery.com/
amdcinfo@asarco.com Whether you're opposed to open-pit copper mine and its environmental consequences or not, visiting this facility will leave you more knowledgeable about what was once one of the main industries in the state of Arizona. The earth science exhibits and displays of historic mining equipment are quite impressive, and you might want to view the multimedia shows before going on a tour of ASARCO's Mission open-pit mine. Museum admission is free; tours are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $4 for children ages five-12 and free for children four and under.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Barrio Historico

The heart of Mexican Tucson Near 100 South Stone Avenue
(Between Interstate 10 and Stone Ave, Cushing and 17th Street)
Tucson, AZ 85701
United States
This district was once considered the Mexican-American side of Tucson. It has been called Barrio Viejo or Barrio Libre since its Mexican inhabitants were more or less free to follow their own laws in the old days. That has changed, but the area has preserved its distinctly Mexican flavor with flat-roofed adobe (mud-brick) houses and roofs made from saguaro ribs and packed dirt (providing great insulation in the extreme Tucson climate). Some of Tucson's oldest structures can be found here and many of them nicely restored. Since most have been converted into private homes or offices, your visit will have to be confined to the exteriors.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Matt Peeples
Photo: David Scherer

Cinco de Mayo

A celebration of Mexican patriotism 3700 South Mission Road
(Kennedy Park)
Tucson, AZ 85713
United States
+1 520 292 9326 The high point of Mexico's struggle for independence is marked by the date of May 5, 1862, when a group of Mexican soldiers defeated the French in the battle of Puebla. Today, Mexicans and Mexican-Americans still celebrate the occasion every year on May the fifth at the Cinco de Mayo festival. In Tucson, festivities take place at Kennedy Park, near Ajo Way and La Cholla Boulevard, giving visitors an opportunity to enjoy dancing, music, crafts and food while learning more about Mexican history and culture. Admission is free.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Fort Lowell Museum

A piece of local history 2900 North Craycroft Road
Tucson, AZ 85712
United States
+1 520 885 3832 If you want to learn more about Tucson's role in the long and often troubled relations between Spanish settlers, early Anglo pioneers and Native American inhabitants, visit this museum, located within an old adobe building at Fort Lowell Park. Here, the Arizona Historical Society presents exhibits and photograph shows on the Apache Wars and historic Fort Lowell. The reconstructed Officers' Quarters serve as a visitor center. Admission is free.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Fort Lowell Museum photo by wcities
Photo: wcities

Kitt Peak National Observatory

Kitt Peak National Observatory Highway 86 and Junction 386
(12 miles from this point, atop Kitt Peak)
Tucson, AZ 86534
United States
+1 520 318 8726
http://www.noao.edu/outreach/kpvc
outreach@noao.edu Southern Arizona's clear skies are ideal to host the world's largest observatory. Located 56 miles southwest of Tucson on top of a rugged mountain range, Kitt Peak features the world's largest collection of telescopes and frequently contributes to important astronomical discoveries. The observatory is open to the public.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Mission San Xavier del Bac

The jewel in Tucson's crown 1950 West San Xavier Road
Tucson, AZ 85746
United States
+1 520 294 2624 This attraction is to Tucson what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris, except it's more ancient. Founded in 1700 by the Spanish missionary Father Kino, 10 miles south of what is now downtown Tucson on the Tohono O'odham Indian reservation, San Xavier del Bac is considered one of the finest examples of Mexican folk baroque architecture. Indian crafts shops and a cafe are nearby. The parish is still active, so please be respectful of religious activities when visiting.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Pima Air and Space Museum

Flying machines on display 6000 East Valencia Road
Tucson, AZ 85706
United States
+1 520 574 0462
http://www.pimaair.org This institution is totally dedicated to the preservation of the history of flight, be it commercial, military, or interplanetary. The museum opened in 1976 with just 75 aircraft and has now grown to more than 250 on display. Its newest addition is the Northrop F-5B "Freedom Fighter". Be prepared to spend the entire day if you, or someone in your party, is a flight buff. Exhibits rotate, and special events and conferences are scheduled regularly.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Presidio Park

Location of the old fortress 255 West Alameda Street
(West of Pima County Courthouse)
Tucson, AZ 85701
United States
In 1775, the Spanish army staked its claim to this land (now the state of Arizona) by building the fortress, or presidio, which would soon become the center of Tucson. Both the Spanish and the fortress are long gone now, and all that's left of the presidio is a plaque reminding visitors of the events hundreds of years ago. It's a park now, used for fiestas and other celebrations, surrounded by tall 1970s style office buildings. There's not much history left here aside from the Pima County Courthouse, but it's still a nice place to rest and enjoy a picnic lunch in the shade.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Presidio Park photo by wcities
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Sentinel Peak

A panoramic view of Tucson Sentinel Peak Road
Tucson, AZ 85745
United States
The locals commonly refer to this high elevation peak, just west of downtown, as "A" Mountain because since 1915, University of Arizona students have whitewashed the letter "A" on its eastern slope. Its history, however, goes much further back: it was at the foot of this mountain that the earliest traces of human settlements in the Tucson area were found. The top of the mountain offers one of the best panoramic views of the Tucson basin, as well as a few BBQ grills.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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St. Augustine Cathedral

Church steeped in Hispanic culture 192 South Stone Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85701
United States
+1 520 623 6351 As the biggest Catholic church in the city, this is one of the most splendid architecturally with its high interior, tall windows and dome. Built in 1896, and renovated in 1967, it is a particularly imposing sight during late evening hours. Services are held Sundays at 6:30a, 8a, and 5:30p. A special attraction is the colorful Mariachi mass Sundays at 8a, delivered in Spanish; your chance to get a taste of Tucson's rich Hispanic heritage.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Tucson Arts District

Mecca for the arts 125 South Arizona Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85701
United States
+1 520 624 9977
http://www.tucsonartsdistrict....
info@tucsonartsdistrict.org The Tucson Arts District Partnership is working to transform the formerly distressed Tucson downtown area into a cultural hub. This non-profit organization has helped local artists find studio space downtown and restored dilapidated historic buildings, thereby transforming the streets around Congress into attractions for visitors from out of town. Staff members also organize studio tours and art walks during fall, winter and spring, as well as the popular Downtown Saturday Night festival. Call the TADP office for art walk and tour schedules. Most tours are free.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Aaron Wagner

Tucson Convention Center

Center for the performing arts 260 South Church Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85701
United States
+1 520 791 4101
http://www.ci.tucson.az.us/tcc/ This is Tucson's main venue for the performing arts, home of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and the Arizona Opera, as well as the locale for pop music concerts, sports events and major trade conventions. A typical result of 1970s style urban renewal, it is only mildly interesting (stylistically) compared to the old adobe buildings that were bulldozed to make room for what now stands. However, some abstract sculptures and fountains outside the complex provide food for the art lover's imagination. There are three performance venues- Tucson Arena, Tucson Music Hall, and the Leo Rich Theater. See their website for a list of events.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Tucson Convention Center photo by wcities
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University of Arizona

Call of the Wildcats Cherry Avenue and University Boulevard
(Visitor Center)
Tucson, AZ 85721
United States
+1 520 621 5130 / +1 520 621 2211
visitor@w3.arizona.edu You've heard that wild cats roam the Sonoran Desert. Visit the historically significant U of A campus and discover that Wildcats rule the playing field as well. Tour the grounds, first broken for construction in 1887 and experience the sites, sounds and action that helped make this campus one of the top-rated schools in the nation today. Take in a light and laser show at Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium or a stage show at Centennial Hall. Wildcat souvenirs are available for sports enthusiasts of all ages. Contact the Visitor Center in advance for a guided walking tour, hosted by a U of A student. Visitor parking and public transportation are available.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Yaqui Easter Lenten Ceremony

A Native American Easter celebration 785 West Sahuaro Street
Pascua Neighborhood Center
Tucson, AZ 85705
United States
+1 520 791 4609 The Yaqui people of Northern Mexico and Southern Arizona have combined the Christian Easter rituals and their own tribal traditions into a unique Easter story that continues for several days and nights during Holy Week from Friday before Palm Sunday to Easter. The songs and dances tell the tale of good triumphing over evil, including the burning of a Judas effigy and Christ's resurrection. Since there is no tight schedule of events, watching the ritual requires a high-level attention span and patience as well as decorum, as this is a religious ceremony. No cameras are permitted. Refreshments are sold at booths around the plaza in front of the Neighborhood Center.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Other Schmapplets in this city related to "Tucson - Historical Background"
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Tucson - Neighborhood Guide
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Tucson - Dining & Drinking
Tucson - Art & Entertainment
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