Tubac Presidio SHP and Tumacacori NHP

Since people have expressed an interest in visiting us this coming winter, we are starting to branch out and look at possible places to take them to.  A National Historical Park Tumacacori, is located about 40 miles south of Tucson.  Sunday we drove the hour and 20 minute drive to Tumacacori, which is a mission established by Jesuit monks back in 1690's.  Father Kino's 1691 landmark visit to an O'odham village transformed the lives and culture of these native Indians.  He established many missions in the course of his life among the Indians between Mexico and California.  After the monks were expelled back to Spain, Franciscan monks came and took over the teachings and helping with the day to day existence of the native people.  Was very impressed with this national park, described very well, displays very explicit in what it was being depicted.  The mission (church) is no longer active, and with only private donations does the restoration continue.  A little sad that it isn't more restored. Definitely will bring folks here, lots of historical significance to this mission.

From there we drove the 4 miles back towards Tucson and stopped at Tubac which is a very trendy artsy town, catering to everyone who wants some piece of Mexico.  Established in 1752 as a presidio (fortress or garrison) by the Spanish, largely to support and protect Mission Tumacacori, Tubac was one of the many stops along the Camino Real (Royal Road) which lead from Mexico to California.  Tubac's most famous Spanish resident was Juan Bautista de Anza who eventually lead an expedition and found San Francisco. Apaches attacked the town repeatedly and by the 1840's the town residents were forced to flee.  By 1880 copper was discovered in the area and town again saw a booming life.   Shops galore, places to eat, very pleasant and very accessible place to get around.  Tubac Presidio State Historical Park has the distinction of being Arizona's first state park. The state has done a great job in describing how the people lived and farmed, how the children went to a one-room schoolhouse which was in use until the late 1940's, how the impact of the monks in the area changed the people's lives.

As we were reading about the one room schoolhouse, one sign told of the different styles of desks used.  Some were made in Cincinnati Ohio!  Seems no matter where we go, we find some reference to Ohio.  Factoid:  did you know that "Arizona" is not an old Indian based name - it is Basque (Spanish) which means - the good oak tree.  Huh.