Editor’s Note: Updated 3/10/17 Sadly, Sentinel Carriage no longer gives Tours downtown. We wish them the best in the future.
We know more about Tucson history than most. Why? It’s our job. We are, after all, Southern Arizona Guide. We particularly enjoy Downtown Tucson because it is so rich in local history and cultural heritage. We never tire of discovering historical gems hidden among the modern high-rises and older Downtown neighborhoods.
However, we recently discovered another guide to Downtown Tucson. Her name is Jane Stansbury and she is very good at what she does. With her horse-drawn carriage, she can transport you back in time a hundred and fifty years and more … even back to the origins of the Old Pueblo.
On a recent Sunday afternoon, six of us took a ride on Jane’s amazing time-traveling machine that she disguises as a modified surrey pulled by a massive Clydesdale so as not to alarm the neighbors.
Even so, there were plenty of gawkers, many of whom reached for their camera as we passed by. Couldn’t blame them, really. We were quite the sight … a throwback to a bygone era when everyone lived in a 3-mile-per-hour world. That was about the highest speed a person on a horse could sustain before the advent of the railroad in the 1830’s & 40’s. Our Sentinel Carriage tour of Downtown lasted about an hour. The whole time it was like living in slow motion.
At that pace, we saw, and could appreciate, some very interesting sites that we surely would have missed if we had been in an automobile. And Jane was masterful at sharing the human-interest stories behind the historic homes and other places we passed by. Read More
On our tour, our one-horse-power engine was named Casey Dee, a five-year-old, 1500-pound draft horse bred for this very purpose. At one point on the tour, we had to ascend the incline on Alameda past the Art Museum. In addition to the weight of the carriage, Casey was pulling about a thousand pounds of happy humanoids. She just put her massive shoulders into the effort and, in no time, we were at the top of the knoll.
I could have sworn she was just showing off. It was as if she was saying, “Look, it was nothing. Don’t you have anything more challenging?”
True, Casey is powerful. But also gentle. When we were boarding the carriage, I saw some young children come up to Casey and pat her on the nose and then reach down and stroke the long, silky hairs on her lower legs. I’ve been around horses often enough to know that’s a definite “no-no”. But Casey didn’t flinch. Obviously, she likes little kids.
Jane has another Clydesdale named Patton. I had seen Patton pulling the carriage a few days earlier. What struck me most about Jane’s Clydesdales is that both Casey & Patton seem to enjoy their work. They get bored standing around waiting for the next group to board. But clearly enjoy the attention people give them and really perk up when Jane gives the signal to start the tour.
In addition to her excellent history tours of Downtown, Jane also rents out her carriage and Clydesdales for special events, such as weddings, anniversaries, and corporate outings. While on our tour, it occurred to me that a carriage ride would make a terrific birthday present.
Our tour was through the El Presidio District, but Jane also gives tours through the Armory Park neighborhood, Barrio Historico, and Fourth Avenue. She will also bring her carriage & horses to your event location.
Currently, Sentinel Carriage Company’s hours of operation are Thursday – Sunday, 11 AM to 6 PM. However, hours vary seasonally, so check the website for updated times.
You can purchase tour tickets when you arrive at the carriage stand at Congress & 5th Avenue or in advance online. Best to make a reservation. Note: the horses don’t work during the heat of the summer.
Prices are amazingly reasonable. For a half-hour tour: $50 for the first 6 guests; $5 per additional guest. The carriage can hold up to 10 persons. And your well-behaved pooch can ride for free. For an hour tour, the price is $100 for the first 6 guests and $5 per additional guest.
Sentinel Carriage Company: Definitely Recommended!
SentinelCarriage@gmail.com
520.609.3582
This article has been KID APPROVED. For more interesting ideas of Things to do with kids, some of the not very expensive, please see our page, “Things to do in Tucson with KIDS”
