Tubac
Tubac Presidio State Historic Park
Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, located in Tubac, Arizona, preserves the ruins of the Tubac Presidio and various other buildings, thereby presenting a timeline of human settlement in this Southern Arizona town. The park contains a museum, a number of historic sites, an underground archeology exhibit displaying the excavated foundations of the Tubac Presidio, and a picnic area. Various cultural events are held on-site throughout the year, including Anza Days (October), Los Tubaqueños living history presentations (Sundays from October through March), archeological tours, and nature walks. The park is administered by Arizona State Parks and was the first park in the Arizona state park system.
the Presidio
As the Spanish Empire attempted to expand into the frontiers of New Spain,
Catholic missions were established throughout modern-day Mexico and the US
Southwest. Of these many churches, one was established at nearby Tumacácori in
1691 and Tubac, then a small Pima Indian village, was set up as a mission farm
and ranch. Spanish colonists started to colonize the area in the 1730s; twenty
years later the Pimas, led by Luis of Saric, led an uprising against the Spanish
in 1751 and the settlement at Tubac was destroyed. A year later, the Pimas
surrendered and the Presidio San Ignacio de Tubac was established to protect the
town and the surrounding area from further rebellion. Tubac became the first
European settlement in what today is the state of Arizona.
Juan Bautista de Anza
Threatened by the establishment of a Russian fort immediately north of the San
Francisco Bay area, the Spanish sent Juan Bautista de Anza to establish an
overland route to and a presidio and mission in the San Francisco area. The
expedition passed through Tubac in early 1774. Several years later, the Tubac
garrison was moved north to Tucson, leaving Tubac undefended against Apache
raids. As a result, the presidio was reactivated in 1787.
Tubac became part of an independent Mexico in 1821 and then part of the United
States in 1853 as a result of the Gadsden Purchase. With the arrival of the
Americans came Charles D. Poston, who established the Sonora Exploring and
Mining Company in Tubac. Poston performed marriages, granted divorces,
officiated baptisms, printed his own money to pay his employees, and even
established Arizona's first newspaper in 1859. The following year, Tubac became
the largest town in the state. The prosperity was not to last, however, as the
area's soldiers were called away to fight in the American Civil War . The town
was again unprotected from the Apaches. The routing of the railroad through
Tucson to the north and the discovery of silver around Tombstone to the east
meant that Tubac would never regain its importance.
18th Century Spanish Soldier
The centerpiece of the exhibits at Tubac Presidio State Historic Park is the
underground display of the presidio's foundations. Excavated in 1974 by
archeologists from The University of Arizona, portions of the presidio's
foundation and walls can be viewed by visitors. Visitors may also enter the
furnished 1885 schoolhouse, complete with desks, chalkboards, and a potbelly
stove. Other buildings on site include the 1914 Otero Hall, a visitor center,
and a museum with displays from the various historic periods of settlement in
Tubac, including American Indian (pre-1752), Spanish Colonial (1752-1821),
Mexican Republic (1821-1854), and Anglo Territorial (1854-1912). Adjacent to the
park grounds is St. Ann's Church, which was built on the ruins of the former
Iglésia de Santa Gertrudis, and the trailhead of the Tubac-to-Tumacácori portion
of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail.
costumes
cooking
Every October, the park hosts Anza Days to commemorate the arrival of Juan
Bautista de Anza at the Tubac Presidio. Costumed actors on horseback arrive from
nearby Tumacácori and discuss de Anza's trip to San Francisco. Other
presentations at the weekend event include actor portrayals of the time periods
during which Tubac has been active as well as mariachi music and cowboy rope
tricks.
Text from Wikipedia
archeology exhibit displaying the excavated foundations
The Museum
Geronimo and his band of Apaches
The Schoolroom
Tubac
an Arizona Arts community
