Tucson (pronounced /ˈtusɑn/, Spanish: Tucsón [tuk'son]) is the seat of
Pima County, Arizona, United States, located
118 miles (188 km) southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles
(98 km) north of the Mexican border. As of July 1
2006, a Census Bureau estimate puts the city's
population at 518,956,[1] with a
metropolitan area population at 946,362. In 2005, Tucson ranked as the
32nd-largest city and 52nd-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. It is the largest city in southern Arizona and the second largest in
the state. Tucson is the site of the flagship school of the state university system, the University of Arizona. Major incorporated suburbs of Tucson include Oro Valley and Marana northwest of the city,
South Tucson (surrounded by Tucson), and Sahuarita south of the city. Communities in the vicinity of Tucson (some within or overlapping the
city limits) include Casas Adobes, Catalina, Catalina Foothills, Flowing Wells, Green Valley, Marana, Tanque Verde, New Pascua, and Vail.
The name Tucson originates via Spanish from the O'odham, Cuk Ṣon (pronounced [ʧʊk ʂɔn]; roughly, "chuk shon"), meaning "Settlement at the base of the Black Mountains" a reference to the
mostly volcanic mountains on the west side of the city. The most notable of these mountains is Sentinel Peak, better known as "A Mountain" because it sports a large letter A in honor
of the University of Arizona.[2] Tucson is
sometimes referred to as "The Old Pueblo."
History
Stone Avenue in Tucson, 1880
Tucson was probably first visited by Paleo-Indians, known to have been in southern
Arizona by about 12,000 years ago. Recent archaeological excavations near the Santa Cruz
River have located a village site dating from 4,000 years ago. The floodplain of the Santa Cruz River was extensively
farmed during the Early Agricultural period, circa 1200 BC to AD 150. These people constructed irrigation canals and grew corn,
beans, and other crops while gathering wild plants and hunting animals. The Early Ceramic period occupation of Tucson saw the
first extensive use of pottery vessels for cooking and storage. The groups designated by archaeologists as the Hohokam lived in the area from AD 600-1450 and are known for their red-on-brown pottery.
Jesuit missionary Eusebio Francisco Kino
visited the Santa Cruz River valley in 1692, and founded the Mission San Xavier del
Bac about 7 miles (12 km) upstream from the site of the settlement of Tucson in 1700. The Spanish established a presidio
(fort) on August 20 1775 and the town came to be called
"Tucson." Tucson became a part of Mexico after Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821. Following the Gadsden purchase in 1853, Tucson became a
part of the United States of America, although the American military did not
formally take over control of the community until March 1856. From August 1861, until mid-1862, Tucson was the capital of the
Confederate Arizona
Territory. Until 1863, Tucson and all of Arizona was part of New Mexico
Territory. From 1867 to 1879, Tucson was the capital of Arizona Territory. The
University of Arizona, located in Tucson, was founded in 1885.
By 1900, 7,531 people lived in the city. At about this time, the US Veterans Administration had begun construction on the present Veterans
Hospital. Many veterans who had been gassed in World War
I and were in need of respiratory therapy began coming to Tucson at this
time, due to the clean dry air. The population increased gradually to 13,913 in 1910, 20,292 in 1920, and 36,818 in 1940. In 2006
the population of Pima County, in which Tucson is located, passed one million while
the City of Tucson's population was 535,000.
During the territorial and early statehood periods, Tucson was Arizona's largest city and commercial area, whereas Phoenix was
the seat of state government and agriculture. The establishment of Tucson Municipal Airport increased its prominence. By the
1920s-30s, Phoenix outgrew Tucson and has continued to expand. Tucson has still been growing but at a slower pace.
Geography and climate
Geography
Tucson as seen from space
Tucson is located at 32°12′52″N, 110°55′5″W (32.214476,
-110.918192).1
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area
of 505.3 km² (195.1 mi²). 504.2 km² (194.7 mi²) of
it is land and 1.1 km² (0.4 mi²) of it (0.22%) is water.
The city's elevation is 2,389 ft (728 m) above sea level. Tucson is situated on an alluvial
plain in the Sonoran desert, surrounded by five minor ranges of mountains: the
Santa Catalina Mountains and the Tortolita Mountains to the north, the Santa Rita
Mountains to the south, the Rincon Mountains to the east, and the
Tucson Mountains to the west. The high point of the Santa Catalina Mountains is
9,157-foot Mount Lemmon, the southernmost ski destination in the continental U.S., while
the Tucson Mountains include 4,687-foot Wasson Peak.
The view of Tucson from Windy Point, at elevation 6,580 feet on
Mt.
Lemmon
The city is located on the Santa Cruz River, a dry river bed much of the year that
floods during significant seasonal rains. (The Santa Cruz becomes a subterranean stream part of the year although it may appear
dry.)
Tucson is located along Interstate 10, which runs through Phoenix toward Santa Monica, California in the
northwest, and through El Paso, Texas, and New
Orleans, Louisiana, toward Jacksonville, Florida in the east.
I-19, runs south from Tucson toward Nogales and
the U.S.-Mexico border. I-19 is the only Interstate highway that uses
"kilometer posts" instead of "mileposts", although the
speed limits are marked in miles per hour instead of kilometers per hour.
Environmental sustainability
Sunset in the Sonoran desert
In 2006 the city of Tucson was ranked 20th of 50 U.S. cities by the organization SustainLane on quality of life and economic
factors that affect personal sustainability [3].
Tucson is considered to be in a natural location for development into a solar energy community, but the city has not yet
undertaken this as a serious project. Perhaps the biggest sustainability problem is potable water supply. Household water use is
the principal drain on the water supply, with agriculture a close second. In 1997, the 35 golf courses in the area consumed about
10% of the municipal water supply, and since then, 16 of the remaining 25 or so courses use reclaimed water. As a result,
residences consume the vast majority of municipal water. Like golf courses, agricultural lands are turning toward reclaimed
water. Mining and other industrial water uses combined accounted for about a 15% of water use in 1997 [4]. Although Tucsonans find lawns and swimming pools less acceptable than their
neighbors in Phoenix[citation needed], massive drawing down of groundwater resources over the last 100 years has
occurred, visible as ground subsidence in some residential areas.
Tucson's reliance on the Central Arizona Project Aqueduct, which
passes more than 300 miles (480 km) across the desert from the Colorado River, casts
doubt over "sustainability" claims even at current population levels. This points to the need for further efforts at re-use and
recycling, prompted by Pima County and the city in numerous outreach campaigns, and halt to urban growth into the fragile
ecosystems of the surrounding Sonoran Desert.
Water
Less than 100 years ago, the Santa Cruz river flowed nearly year-round through Tucson. This supply of water has slowly
disappeared, causing Tucson to seek alternative sources.
From 1803 until 1887, Tucson residents purchased water for a penny a gallon from vendors who transported it in bags draped
over burros' backs. After that, water was sold by the bucket or barrel and delivered door-to-door in wagons.[citation needed]
In 1881, water was pumped from a well on the banks of the Santa Cruz River and flowed by gravity through pipes into the
distribution system.
Tucson currently draws water from two main sources: Central Arizona
Project (CAP) water and groundwater. In 1992, Tucson Water delivered CAP water to
some customers that was referred to as being unacceptable due to discoloration, bad odor and flavor, as well as problems it
caused some customers' plumbing and appliances. Tucson's city water currently consists of CAP water mixed with groundwater.
In an effort to conserve water, Tucson is recharging groundwater supplies by running part of its share of CAP water into
various open portions of local rivers to seep into their aquifer[1]. Additional study is scheduled to determine the amount of water that is lost through
evaporation from the open areas, especially during the summer.
Cityscape
Similar to many other Western U.S. cities, Tucson was developed on a
grid plan, with the city center at Stone Avenue and Broadway Boulevard. While this
intersection was initially near the geographic center of Tucson, that center has
shifted as the city has expanded far to the east. An expansive city covering substantial area, Tucson has many distinct
neighborhoods.
Earliest neighborhoods
Tucson's early neighborhoods (some of which are covered by the Tucson Convention
Center) include Barrio Libre; Barrio Anita, named for an early settler; Barrio Tiburón (in the present Fourth Avenue arts
district), designated in territorial times as a "red light" district; El Jardín, named for an early recreational site, Levin's
Gardens; and El Ollo, named for a lake that was part of the gardens. Up until the building of the Tucson Convention Center (or
TCC), El Ollo referred to this part of the city, which was inhabited mainly by Mexican-American citizens and immigrants from
Mexico. Other historical neighborhoods include Armory Park, south of downtown, the Sam Hughes neighborhood (named after an
instigator-hero of the Camp Grant Massacre), located east of the University of
Arizona, and Menlo Park, situated adjacent to Sentinel Peak.
Downtown
Downtown Tucson is undergoing a revitalization effort by city planners and the business community. The primary project is Rio
Nuevo, a large retail and community center that has been in planning for more than ten years. Downtown is generally classified as
north of 12th Street, east of I-10, and southwest of Toole Avenue and the Union
Pacific (formerly Southern Pacific) railroad tracks. Downtown is divided into the Presidio District, Convention District, and the
Congress Street Arts and Entertainment District.
Tucson's tallest building, the 23-story UniSource Energy Tower (also called
the Bank Building) is situated downtown and was completed in 1986. The proposed Century Tower for downtown would surpass the Bank
Building at 27 stories. Other high-rise buildings downtown include Bank of America
Plaza, and the Pioneer (completed in 1914).
Attractions downtown include the historic Hotel Congress designed in 1919, the Art Deco
Fox Tucson Theatre designed in 1929, the Rialto
Theatre opened in 1920, and St. Augustine Cathedral completed in 1896.
Included on the National Register of Historic Places is the old
Pima County Courthouse, completed in 1927.[5]
Central or Midtown
As one of the oldest parts of town, Central Tucson is anchored by the Broadway Village shopping center designed by local
architect Josian Joesler at the intersection of Broadway Boulevard and Country Club Road. The University of Arizona, chartered in 1885, is located in midtown and includes Arizona Stadium and McKale Center. Historic Tucson High School
(designed in 1924), and the Arizona Inn (built in 1930) are also located in Central Tucson.
Tucson's largest park, Reid Park is located in midtown and includes Reid Park Zoo and
Hi Corbett Field. Local retail business in Central Tucson is concentrated along Fourth
Avenue and the Main Gate Square on University Boulevard near the UA campus. The El Con Mall
is also located in midtown.
Speedway Boulevard, a major east-west arterial road in central Tucson, was named the "ugliest street in America" by
Life Magazine in the early 1970s, quoting Tucson Mayor James Corbett. Despite this, Speedway Boulevard was awarded "Street of the Year" by
Arizona Highways in the late 1990s.
South side and South Tucson
The Southside contains the city of South Tucson, with an area of approximately
1¼ square miles, which is completely surrounded by the city of Tucson. The South side is generally considered to be the area of
approximately 25 square miles north of Los Reales Road, south of 22nd Street, east of I-19, west of Davis Monthan Air Force Base and southwest of Aviation Parkway. Much of Tucson's
Mexican-American population live on the south side and South 6th Avenue is considered as the cultural locus of the working class
Mexican-American population. The Tucson International Airport and
Tucson Electric Park are also located here.
West Tucson
West Tucson is a combination of urban and suburban
development. Generally defined as the area west of I-10, West Tucson
encompasses the banks of the Santa Cruz River and the foothills of the Tucson Mountains. Attractions in West Tucson include Saguaro
National Park West, Sentinel Peak, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Old Tucson
Studios, and the Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa.
On Sentinel Peak, just west of downtown, there is a giant "A" in honor of the University of Arizona. Starting in about 1910, a yearly tradition developed for freshmen to
whitewash the "A", which was visible for miles. However, at the beginning of the Iraq
War, anti-war activists painted it black. This was followed by a paint scuffle where the "A" was painted various colors
until the city council intervened. It is now red, white and blue except when it is white or another color decided by a biennial
election. Because of the three-color paint scheme often used, the shape of the A can be vague and indistinguishable from the rest
of the peak. The top of Sentinel Peak, which is accessible by road, offers an outstanding scenic view of the city looking
eastward. A parking lot located near the summit of Sentinel Peak was formerly a popular place to watch sunsets, view the city
lights at night, or engage in necking. This is no longer possible as a recent ordinance has
forced the closing of Sentinel Peak at 8 p.m. Every evening, Tucson police set up a barricade blocking the entrance while they
enforce the evacuation of all visitors off the mountain[citation needed].
North Tucson
North Tucson includes the urban neighborhoods of Amphitheater and Flowing
Wells. Usually considered the area north of Fort Lowell Road, north Tucson includes some of Tucson's primary
commercial zones (Tucson Mall and the Oracle Road
Corridor). Many of the city's most upscale boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries are also located on the north side
including St. Philip's Plaza. The Plaza is directly adjacent to the historic St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church (built in
1936).
Also on the north side is the suburban community of Catalina Foothills,
located in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains just north of the city
limits. This community includes among the area's most expensive homes, commonly multi-million dollar estates. The Foothills area
is generally defined as north of River Road, east of Oracle Road, and west of Sabino
Creek. Some of the Tucson area's major resorts are located in the Catalina Foothills, including the Westin La Paloma Resort, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort and
Canyon Ranch Resort. La Encantada, an upscale outdoor
shopping mall, is also in the Foothills. Also located in the Foothills is the DeGrazia
Gallery in Sun near the intersection of Swan Road and Skyline Drive. Built by artist Ted
DeGrazia starting in 1951, the 10 acre property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a free museum.
East Tucson
East Tucson is relatively new compared to other parts of the city, developed between the 1950s and the 1970s. It is generally
classified as the area of the city east of Swan Road, with above-average real estate values relative to the rest of the city. The
area includes urban and suburban development near the Rincon Mountains. East Tucson
includes Saguaro National Park East. Tucson's "Restaurant Row" is also located on
the east side, along with a significant corporate and financial presence. Tucson's largest office building is 5151 East Broadway in east Tucson, completed in 1975.
Park Place, a recently renovated shopping center, is also located
there.
Near the intersection of Craycroft and Ft. Lowell Road are the remnants of the Historic Fort Lowell. This area has become one
of Tucson’s iconic neighborhoods. The Fort abandoned at the end of the 1800s was rediscovered by a trio of artist in the 1930s.
The Bolsius family purchased and renovated surviving adobe buildings of the fort - transforming them into spectacular artistic
southwestern architectural examples. Their woodwork, plaster treatment and sense of proportion drawn on their Dutch heritage and
New Mexican experience. Other artists and academics throughout the middle of the 20th century renovated, built and lived in the
area. This rural pocket in the middle of the city is listed on the National register of Historic Places. Each year in February
the neighborhood celebrates its history in the City Landmark it owns and restored the San Pedro Chapel.
Situated between the Santa Catalina Mountains and the Rincon Mountains near Redington Pass northeast of the city
limits is the community of Tanque Verde. The Arizona National Golf Club,
Forty-Niners Country Club, and the historic Tanque Verde Guest Ranch are also in northeast Tucson.
Southeast Tucson
Southeast Tucson continues to experience rapid residential development. The area includes the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The area is considered to be south of Golf Links Road. The
suburban community of Vail is also located on the southeast side.
Northwest Tucson
Much of the northwest side is single-family residential areas, as seen from the northeastern foothills of the
Tucson Mountains
The expansive area northwest of the city limits is diverse, ranging from the rural communities
of Catalina and parts of the town of Marana,
to the affluent town of Oro Valley in the western
foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, and residential areas in the
northeastern foothills of the Tucson Mountains. The community of Casas Adobes is also on the Northwest Side, with the distinction of being Tucson's first suburb,
established in the late 1940s. Casas Adobes is centered around the historic Casas Adobes Plaza (built in 1948). The
Foothills Mall is also located on the northwest side.
Many of the Tucson area's golf courses and resorts are located in this area, including the Hilton El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort in Oro Valley, the Omni
Tucson National Resort & Spa, and Westward Look Resort. Catalina State
Park and Tortolita Mountain Park are also here.
Climate
Tucson has two major seasons, summer and winter; plus three minor seasons: fall, spring, and the monsoon.
Summer is characterized by low humidity, clear skies, and daytime high
temperatures that exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The average overnight temperature
ranges between 68 °F and 85 °F.
Monsoon clouds blanket the Catalina Mountains, August 2005
The monsoon can begin any time from mid-June to late July, with an average start date around
July 3. It typically continues through August and sometimes into September.[6] During the monsoon, the humidity is much higher than the rest of the year. It begins with clouds building up from the south in
the early afternoon followed by intense thunderstorms and rainfall, which can cause flash
floods. Large areas of the city do not have storm sewers, so monsoon rains flood the
main thoroughfares, usually for no longer than a few hours. A few underpasses in Tucson have "feet of water" scales painted on
their supports to discourage fording by automobiles during a rainstorm.[7] The evening sky at this time of year is often pierced with dramatic lightning strikes.
Fall lasts from late October to November or December. It is much like summer, and similarly
dry, with days above 100 degrees typical into early October. Average daytime highs of 84 °F, with overnight lows of 55 °F,
constitute typical fall weather.
Winters in Tucson are mild relative to other parts of the United States. Daytime highs in the winter range between 64 °F and 75 °F, with overnight lows between 30
°F and 44 °F. Although rare, snow has been known to fall in Tucson, usually a light dusting that melts within a day.
Spring begins in late February or March, and is characterized by rising temperatures
and several weeks of vivid wildflower blooms. Daytime average highs range from 72 °F in March to 88 °F in May with average
overnight lows in March of 45 °F and in May of 59 °F.
| Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Year |
Extreme High °F
(°C) |
87
(30) |
92
(33) |
99
(37) |
104
(40) |
107
(41) |
117
(47) |
114
(45) |
112
(44) |
107
(41) |
102
(38) |
90
(32) |
84
(28) |
117
(47)
|
Avg High °F
(°C) |
64
(17) |
68
(20) |
73
(22) |
81
(27) |
90
(32) |
100
(37) |
99
(37) |
97
(36) |
94
(34) |
84
(28) |
73
(22) |
65
(18) |
86
(27)
|
Avg Low °F
(°C) |
39
(3) |
41
(5) |
44
(6) |
51
(10) |
58
(14) |
64
(20) |
74
(23) |
72
(22) |
67
(19) |
57
(13) |
45
(7) |
39
(3) |
55
(12)
|
Extreme Low °F
(°C) |
16
(-8) |
20
(-6) |
20
(-6) |
33
(--) |
38
(3) |
47
(8) |
59
(15) |
61
(16) |
44
(6) |
26
(-3) |
24
(-4) |
16
(-8) |
16
(-8)
|
| Avg Rainfall in. |
1.0 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
2.3 |
2.3 |
2.4 |
0.9 |
0.6 |
1.0 |
11.7
|
| Source: Weatherbase |
Demographics
City of Tucson
Population by year[8] |
| 1860 |
915 |
| 1870 |
3,215 |
| 1880 |
7,007 |
| 1890 |
5,150 |
| 1900 |
7,531 |
| 1910 |
13,193 |
| 1920 |
20,292 |
| 1930 |
32,506 |
| 1940 |
35,752 |
| 1950 |
45,454 |
| 1960 |
212,892 |
| 1970 |
262,933 |
| 1980 |
330,537 |
| 1990 |
405,371 |
| 2000 |
486,699 |
| 2006 |
518,956 |
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 486,699 people, 192,891 households, and 112,455 families
residing in the city. The population density was 965.3/mi² (2,500.1/km²). There were
209,609 housing units at an average density of 415.7/mi² (1,076.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 70.15% white, 4.33% black or
African-American, 2.27% Native American, 2.46% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 16.85% from other races, and 3.79% from two or more
races. 35.72% of the population were Hispanic of any race. The Native American inhabitants in the area include primarily
Tohono O'odham (formerly called the Papago), living in
the city, on the nearby San Xavier reservation, and in the Tohono O'odham Nation, who may
be descendants of the prehistoric inhabitants, as well as 6,800 Yaqui, living in the city (largely
in the Old Pascua and Barrio Libre neighborhoods), on the nearby Pascua Yaqui reservation, and in
the Yoem Pueblo in the town of Marana.
There were 192,891 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% were
married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and
41.7% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years
of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the inner-city, the population has 24.6% under the age of 18, 13.8% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to
64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males. For
every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,981, and the median income for a family was $37,344. Males had a median
income of $28,548 versus $23,086 for females. The per capita income for the city was
$16,322. About 13.7% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty
line, including 23.6% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Much of Tucson's economic development has been centered around the development of the University of Arizona, which is currently the second largest employer in the city.
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, located on the southeastern edge of the city,
also provides many jobs for Tucson residents. Its presence, as well as the presence of a US Army Intelligence Center (Fort
Huachuca, the largest employer in the region in nearby Sierra Vista), has led to the development of a significant number of
high-tech industries, including government contractors, in the area. Today, there are more than 1,200 businesses employing over
50,000 people in the high-tech industries of Southern Arizona.
The City of Tucson, Pima County, the State of Arizona and the private sector have all made commitments to create a growing,
healthy economy with high-tech industries as its foundation. Advanced technology companies like Raytheon Missile Systems, Texas Instruments, IBM, Intuit, Inc., Universal Avionics, Misys Healthcare Systems, Sanofi-Aventis, Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., and Bombardier all
have a significant presence in Tucson. Roughly 150 Tucson companies are in the optics industry, earning Tucson the nickname
"Optics Valley".[2]
Tourism is another major industry in Tucson, which has many resorts, hotels, and attractions. A significant economic force is
middle-class and upper-class Sonorans, who travel from Mexico to
Tucson to purchase goods that are not readily available in their country. In addition to vacationers, a significant number of
winter residents, or "snowbirds", are attracted by Tucson's mild winters and
contribute to the local economy. Snowbirds often purchase second homes in Tucson and nearby
areas, contributing significantly to the property tax base. Other snowbirds and "perpetual
travelers" can be seen in large numbers arriving in autumn in large RVs
towing small cars.
Arts and culture
Annual cultural events and fairs
Tucson Gem and Mineral Show
The Tucson Gem & Mineral Show is held every year in February for
two weeks. It is one of the largest gem and mineral shows in
the world, and features many of the finest mineral specimens. There is no single location for display of minerals, but rather
dozens of locations spread across town. The show has an estimated attendance of more than 50,000 people from over twenty
countries. Attendees frequently include the general public, experts, beginning collectors, museum employees, dealers, retailers,
and researchers. Many museums and universities, including the Smithsonian
Institution and the Sorbonne, have displayed materials at the show.
Tucson Folk Festival
For the past 21 years the Tucson Folk Festival has taken place the first Saturday and Sunday of May in downtown Tucson. In
addition to nationally known headline acts each evening, the Festival highlights over 100 local and regional musicians on four
stages in one of the largest free festivals in the country. Organized by the Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association, volunteers
make this festival possible. Arizona's only community radio station KXCI 91.3-FM, is a major
partner, broadcasting from the Plaza Stage throughout the weekend. In addition, there are numerous workshops, events for
children, sing-alongs, and a popular singer/songwriter contest. Musicians typically play 30-minute sets, supported by
professional audio staff. A variety of food and crafts are available at the festival, as well as local micro-brews. All proceeds
from sales go to fund future festivals.
Fourth Avenue Street Fair
There are also two Fourth Avenue Street Fairs, in December and March, staged between 9th Street and University Boulevard, that
feature arts and crafts booths, food vendors and street performers. The fairs began in 1970 when Fourth Avenue, which at the time
had half a dozen thrift shops, several New Age bookshops and the Food Conspiracy Co-Op, was a gathering place for hippies, and a
few merchants put tables in front of their stores to attract customers before the holidays.
The Tucson Rodeo (Fiesta de los Vaqueros)
Team Roping competition at
Tucson's Fiesta de los Vaqueros
Another popular event held in February, which is early spring in Tucson, is the Fiesta de los Vaqueros,or rodeo week. While at its heart the Fiesta is a sporting event, it includes what is billed as the world's largest
non-mechanized parade[citation needed]. The Rodeo Parade is a popular event as most schools give two rodeo days
off instead of Presidents Day. The exception to this is Presidio High, which doesn't get either. Western wear is seen throughout
the city as corporate dress codes are cast aside during the Fiesta. The Fiesta de los Vaqueros marks the beginning of the rodeo
season in the United States. Fiesta de los Vaqueros, the premier event of the rodeo year, is held at the beginning of the rodeo
season.
Tucson Meet Yourself
Every October for the past 30 years, Tucson
Meet Yourself has presented the faces of Tucson's many ethnic groups. For one weekend, dancing, singing, artwork, and food
from more than 30 different ethnicities are featured in the downtown area. All performers are from Tucson and the surrounding
area, in keeping with the idea of "meeting yourself."
All Souls Procession Weekend
One of the largest festivals celebrated is the All Souls Procession (www.AllSoulsProcession.org), held since 1990 on the first
Sunday in November. Modeled on the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead),
it combines elements of African, Anglo, Celtic, and Latin American culture. At sundown, thousands of people garbed in myriad
costumes, mostly of the deceased, gather near the corner of Fourth Avenue and University Boulevard: Epic Cafe. In 2005, the
Tucson Police Department estimated that 7,500 people participated in this event. The non-profit festal culture organization Many
Mouths One Stomach (www.ManyMouths.org) organizes this event to acknowledge, mourn and celebrate deceased loved ones, and the
"grand mystery" of death. Starting in 2006, the All Souls Procession became a 4-day long series of events. On Thursday evening
the Fine Art Photography Exhibition opens, as well as the Evolving Community Altar. Friday evening is the MMOS Fundraiser
Dance of the Dead. Saturday afternoon and evening is the Procession of Little Angels, and the Personal Altars Vigil.
Sunday evening is the All Souls Procession, which snakes through the historic Fourth Avenue and downtown areas, and leads to the
culmination of the entire festival: The Grand Finale.
Museums, art collections, and other attractions
The Arizona Historical Society, founded as the Pioneer Historical Society
by early settlers, has a collection of artifacts reflecting the city's history--many focusing on the era before statehood was
attained in 1912--as well as a fine collection of original documents in its library, including many interviews with early
residents.
The Fremont House is an original adobe house in the Tucson Community Center that was saved while one of Tucson's earliest
barrios was razed as urban renewal. Originally named the Fremont House after Gov. John C.
Fremont, who rented it for his daughter, it is now known as the Sosa-Carrillo-Fremont House to more accurately reflect its
Latin heritage
Fort Lowell Museum is located on the grounds of a military fort, established in 1873 during the "Indian Wars" period and
abandoned in 1891.
The Tucson Museum of Art was established as part of an art school. It contains nearly 6,000 objects concentrating on the art
of the Americas and its influences. The museum also operates several historic buildings in the neighborhood, including La Casa
Cordova, the J. Knox Corbett House, the Edward Nye Fish House and the Stevens/Duffield House.
The University of Arizona Art Museum includes works by Franz Kline, Jackson Pollock and Mark
Rothko as part of the Edward J. Gallagher Memorial Collection, a tribute to a young man who was killed in a boating
accident. The museum also includes the Samuel H. Kress Collection of European works from the 14th to 19th centuries and the C.
Leonard Pfeiffer Collection of American paintings.
The UA campus also features the Center for Creative Photography, a leading museum with many works by major artists such
as Ansel Adams and Edward Weston.
The Mission San Xavier del Bac is a historic Spanish mission, located 10 miles (16 km) south of the city. It was founded by Father Kino in the 1660s as one mission in a chain of missions, many of which are located south of the
border. The present building dates from the late 1700s. The mission, which still actively functions, is located in the Tohono
O'odham nation reservation southwest of Tucson off of I-19.
The Historic DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun is an iconic Tucson landmark in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Built
by the famous artist Ettore DeGrazia the property features an expansive adobe Museum of DeGrazia's work, an adobe chapel called
the Mission in the Sun that featuring stunning murals, gardens, and the artist home and grave site.
Old Tucson Studios, built as a set for the movie Arizona, is a
movie studio and theme park for classic
Westerns. It was partly destroyed in 1995, allegedly by arson, but has since been
rebuilt.
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a non-traditional zoo devoted to animals and plants
of the Sonoran Desert. It is located west of the Tucson Mountains.
The Pima Air & Space Museum, featuring over 250 modern and historical
aircraft, is located to the southeast of the city near Davis-Monthan Air Force
Base.
The Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center
(AMARC) is a facility where the federal government stores out-of-service aircraft. Bus tours are conducted regularly from the
Pima Air & Space Museum.
Titan Missile Museum is located about 25 miles (40 km) south of the city on
I-19. This is a Cold War era Titan nuclear
missile silo (billed as the only remaining intact post-Cold War Titan missile silo) turned
tourist stop.
Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum has an inventory of 150 vehicles, ranging from small buggies to wagons, surries, and coaches.
Historic artifacts from pioneer days and a re-created Western Main Street represent what early Wild West Tucson looked like, and
what it offered in terms of businesses and services.
The Museum of the Horse Soldier includes artifacts and ephemera detailing Western
cavalry and dragoon military units.
Shops in Summerhaven on Mount Lemmo
