Tubac Presidio State Historic Park - Tubac, Arizona

Tubac Presidio State Historic Park - Tubac, Arizona

Originally founded by the Jesuits in 1687 to 1711 to "Christianize and control" Native Americans.  In the 1730’s Spanish Colonists began irrigating and farming the lands along the river and raising cattle, sheep and goats on the northern frontier of Spain’s New World empire. Of course this stirred many grievances which were passed on to Luis of Saric, a Pima chief which led a bloody revolt lat in 1751, destroying the small settlement.  Following a major battle, and subsequent surrender of the Pimans, the settlement was restarted in 1752.  In 1776 the garrison from Tubac was moved to Tucson and the unprotected settlers in Tubac abandoned their homes.

When the presidio was reactivated in 1787 it flourished until 1848.  That year a fierce Apache assault caused great loss of life and Tubac was again abandoned.  It became a virtual ghost town.

In 1853 Tubac was part of the Gadsden Purchase and was soon being resettled and developed by Eastern entrepreneurs as well as by former landowners.  Charles D. Poston was instrumental in forming the Sonora Exploring and Mining Company.  His company acquired a press in 1859 which printed Arizona’s first newspaper.

In 1860 Tubac was the largest town in Arizona.  The American Civil War, however, drained the region of troops, leaving it unprotected from Apaches, and Tubac was again deserted.  Although the region was resettled after the war, silver strikes in the Tombstone area and the routing of the railroad through Tucson drew development interests away from Tubac, and the town never regained its earlier importance.

In 1976 an underground archaeological display was finished and visitors can now view portions of the original foundation, walls and plaza floor of the 1752 Commandant’s quarters, as well as artifacts representing the various periods of Tubac’s unique history.

Tumacacori, Guevavi and Calabazas are three Spanish colonial mission ruins in southern Arizona.  The visitor center for the three is on Tucmacacori.  These missions are among more than twenty established in the Pimeria Alta by Father Kino and other Jesuits, and later expanded upon by Franciscan missionaries.

Los Santos Angeles de Guevavi was also established in January 1691.  It can be visited only as part of a reserved ranger guided tour during the fall and winter months.

San Cayetano de Calabazas was established i November 1756.  It can be visited only as part of a reserved ranger guided tour during the fall and winter months.

The church is not being restored in order to allow visitors to look into history and see the work that the O’odham Indians did 200 years ago.  Nearly everything with the exception of the roof and the floor of the church is original.  Of course, as part of the historic preservation of the structure, new lime plaster is put on the exterior walls as needed and the dome and sacristy roof are white washed to prevent moisture from deteriorating the adobe blocks.

Mass is held yearly on the first Sunday of December at the Tumacacori Mission.  It is held in front of the church due to the large number of people in attendance.  An historic mass is held in the church once each year in October in conjunction with Anza Days at

Tubac Presidio State Historic Park

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Location: The park is located 45 miles south of Tucson on I-19.

Hours: Open Daily 8 - 5 Closed Christmas Day

Elevation: 2,500 ft.

Park Facilities: Old School House and Otero Community Hall both on the National Register of Historic Places; Museum, underground archaeology display and picnic area; Anza Trailhead.

Phone: 520-398-2252

Admission: State Park Rates