With a population of nearly one million, Tucson is the largest city in southern Arizona and the second largest in the state. In earlier times, there was only a military base of the Spanish Empire, later Tucson became the capital of Arizona. Today, Tucson is the seat of Pima County. The English name Tucson comes from the Spanish name of the city of Tucsón, which comes from the language of the O’odham tribe, and in this language it means “at the foot of a black hill”. This name refers to the black volcanic mountains called Sentinel Peak.
The landscape is characterized by slightly rolling hills, which are dotted with saguar reserves, from which grow huge cacti. It is cacti that are evidence of a dry but healthy desert climate. Tucson is so popular with American retirees who want to spend their old age here. The opposite of this aging generation is the ubiquitous students of the University of Arizona.
According to iamaccepted.com, the Tucson city center is the historic center called El Presidio Historic District, which has many cafes, galleries and several houses built between 1850 and 1907, which have great historical value. This neighborhood with distinctive colorful architecture gives the city of Tucson a fresh look.
One of the most sought-after monuments in the city is the former Spanish fortress Tucson Presidium. Today, it houses the important Tucson Museum of Art, which houses a number of historically valuable buildings as well as an extraordinary collection of pre-Columbian finds. In Presidio Park, there is the Pima County Courthouse, which is particularly interesting for its colorful decorations and striking blue walls. The Tucson Convention Center has a visitor center where you can purchase detailed maps of the city and surrounding area.
The most valuable monument to the presence of the Spaniards is the beautiful and still functioning mission station Mission San Xavier del Bac, located 16 km south of downtown. It is located in the San Xavier Indian Reservation, home to members of the Papaga Indian tribe. The tower building of the mission is plastered with snow-white stucco. It was founded in 1699 by the Jesuit Eusebio Francisco Kino, who gave up a promising career in mathematics at the University of Ingolstadt in the name of spreading the Christian gospel in the New World.
Small size Tumacarori
Tumacácori National Historical Park is a place where the Jesuits came and founded missions in 1691. Founded in 1908, the park now protects three Spanish colonial ruins, which, in addition to Tumacácori, are also located in Guevavi and Calabazas. They are located on the edge of the Sonoran Desert in northern Arizona, so it is warm and dry most of the year. During the winter, however, you can also encounter snow here.
The San José de Tumacácori Mission was founded in 1691 by Eusebio Francisco Kino and other Jesuits. It is the oldest mission in Arizona and the oldest church building was also built there. The area has excellent conditions for accommodation and camping. A Visitor Center was built here for visitors, where they can get the necessary information, see the museum and get acquainted with the history of this place.
The Juan Bautista de Anza trail passes through the park, ideal for hikers, bird watchers and horse riding enthusiasts. You can make a pleasant trip of 4.5 miles. A large number of mammals, such as coyotes, banded bakers or raccoons, have found their home in the park. There are also 24 species of reptiles and amphibians, countless species of insects, spiders and colorful birds.
Tuzigoot National Monument
About 65 miles south of Arizona, Flagstaff are the remains of an old Native American village built by the Sinagua Native American tribe. Pueblo can be found on a small limestone ridge, above the river Verde. Tuzigoot – as the village was called, provided a home for a hundred Indians. It is estimated that at the time of its greatest expansion, it had up to 100 rooms. Some of them were even part of two-story stone buildings.
According to archaeological excavations that took place here, it was found that the oldest parts of the pueblo date from around 1000 AD. The Indians lived here for 400 years, but then, for unknown reasons, they all went nowhere. Maybe it was the long-lasting drought that made people’s lives more difficult. The Sinagua Indians were peasants and farmers with broad trade ties. They sold their wares on a trail across present-day Arizona.
Today, visitors to the Tuzigoot National Monument can see the remains of the perimeter walls or the high-rise building, which has a renovated ceiling and provides pleasant shade even during the hot summer. The nearby Visitor Center exhibits numerous Native American artifacts found here. You can get acquainted with traditional Native American culture and lifestyle. From the visitor center, you can take a walk along the paved sidewalk around the pueblo and see it from all sides.
Tuzigoot is one of the best preserved puebelles of the Sinagua Indians, but the visit will not take you more than an hour. Together with Montezuma Castle & Well NM, it forms a unique example of preserved Native American monuments in Arizona.