An Arizona Must-see Site
The Tumacácori National Historical Park is located in Southern Arizona, north of Nogales.
The park’s grounds include the ruins of a Spanish mission and two other historic buildings. It also includes an underground archeological site for those interested in pre-Columbian culture.
All three sites are open to visitors as well as hiking trails that explore various aspects of the natural landscape and cultural history.
There is much to see and do at this historical national park that is perfect for travelers who want to take it all in.
History
The National Historical Park was established by Congress on June 30, 1960, and encompasses 2,400 acres. The park preserves some important landmarks from Spanish colonial times including Mission San José de Tumacácori, the Spanish colonial component of the O’odham Mission which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The park’s museum describes the Quechan Indians who once occupied this area and how they lived off both farming and fishing along with trading goods with other indigenous tribes in present-day California.
The site was named by Father Eusebio Francisco Kino who established Mission San José de Tumacácori in 1691 on land acquired from these Native Americans. The settlement initially had a cave as its chapel but was later replaced with a wooden church that still stands today.
Prior to establishing his mission, Father Kino had made an expedition into region between 1683 and 1685.
He went with the purpose of bringing Christianity to the Indians of the area, but also established an early line of defense against Spanish military aggression from bases in Mexico.
To accomplish this objective he built several missions and garrisons throughout Southern Arizona including Tumacácori, San Cayetano del Tumacácori (no longer standing), Tubutama (no longer standing), and Ati (no remains).
Also among these missions was one that served as a support facility known as Misión de San Pedro y San Pablo de Bicuñer which no longer exists either.
The Presidio San Ignacio de Tubac was established by Father Kino in 1752 as a way for Spain to maintain its stronghold over this region that had been claimed decades ago with little effort put into maintaining control over it until then.
It was built on the site of an earlier garrison known as Presidio Terrestre San Miguel del Bado which no longer exists except for some original walls from the mid-18th century, but visitors can still see these foundations today at what has become Tubac Presidio State, Historic Park.
The site is located about 20 miles north of Tumacácori on Highway 83. The support facility was established circa 1683 as a means of funneling supplies from the coast back to other missions in Arizona and beyond.
Establishing this support facility also helped Father Kino’s efforts give Spain a military presence much closer to California which led to further colonization of that area.
Hiking Trails
There are four trails that visitors can use anytime throughout the year, which are the Sonoita Creek, Ruins Trail, Museum Loop, and Verde River.
The Sonoita Creek Trail
The Sonoita Creek trail is perfect for birdwatchers who want to see waterfowl in their natural environment while exploring both the local flora and fauna found in this area.
The trail is about three miles long and can be completed in one to two hours.
It follows the creek through a channel that has been man-made in order to direct water into ponds that were used for farming by the Quechan Indians.
The Ruins Trail
The Ruins trail is about 1½ miles long and allows visitors to see several examples of architecture from Spanish colonial times including a chapel, cemetery, granary, residences, monastery garden, and mill dam.
Although the trail does not take visitors into any buildings, they can see many foundations of structures that once stood in their place.
The hike is easy and takes about one hour to complete.
It begins in front of the museum at the parking lot, goes past the rose garden, continues along Sonoita Creek, passes through an old field, and ends at the site of a small prehistoric village called Bautista de Anza.
The Museum Loop Trail
This trail takes visitors around the museum to see exhibits about the history of Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and archaeology in southern Arizona.
It is a short loop that also passes a cottonwood grove to give visitors shade during the summer months.
The Verde River Trail
This is an easy, 1½-mile hike that allows visitors to see a riparian habitat at Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and a stretch of the river as it flows through a ranch owned by neighboring Tumacácori National Historical Park.
It is a flat, well-marked trail that is three miles north of the park’s main entrance on Highway 83. Ironically, today there are no buildings still standing from the garrison itself but there are exhibits about its history inside the visitor center located in front of what was once its most important structure – the chapel.
In addition, there are five furnished period rooms from the time period when Tubac Presidio was in use and a trail to the top of a hill that gives visitors an opportunity to see the landscape from which soldiers would have observed their surroundings.
If You Visit
Today, Tumacácori National Historical Park offers both guided tours as well as self-guided exploration for those who want to take their time and enjoy the experience.
Visitors can wander freely through areas where they can see Spanish colonial-era documents and artifacts from that era including tools used by indigenous people, household items from the missionaries, and even some original structures that remain among ruins otherwise long gone.
The park is open every day except on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
It is located on State Route 83 about 40 miles south of Interstate 19 and three miles north of the Mexican border.
Visitors can choose to self-tour or ask for a tour guide at the Mission’s Visitor Center where they can also see some exhibits about life there during Father Kino’s time as well as the history of this particular site through the present day.