Local History Tucson - SouthernArizonaGuide.com

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Below is a title list of most interesting local History stories about Tucson and the vicinity. Click on one of interest or browse through the stories further below.

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From Cowtown to Desert Metropolis: Roy Drachman’s Tucson

“From Cowtown to Desert Metropolis” is Roy P. Drachman’s telling of an oasis in the Sonoran Desert that, in the twentieth century, became a mid-sized American city. Mr. Drachman is the grandson of Polish immigrants who lived his first 10 years in Tucson’s Barrio Viejo, the old neighborhood south of … Continue reading

Historic Neighborhoods of Tucson

We have written a number of articles about Tucson’s Neighborhoods and streets and how they arrived at their names, but we have yet to combine them all in one place. Here are some short explanations of many of the origins of Tucson streets and neighborhoods. You will find links to … Continue reading

A Day Trip Through History: The Santa Cruz River Valley

Tucson Convento & Chapel on the West Bank of the Santa Cruz River.

A brief history of the Santa Cruz River Valley from Tucson, South to the Mexican Border. Here you will find the Spanish missions and presidios (forts) of the Pimeria Alta, Land of the Upper Pimas. Today, Interstate 19 makes traveling this 70-mile section of Arizona history an easy day trip. … Continue reading

The New Rodeo Parade Museum in Tucson

Please note: If you are unfamiliar with our slideshows you can navigate through them faster by using the arrows. On a Saturday in mid-January 2023, Ms. Karen and I were invited to visit the Rodeo Parade Museum at Irvington and 6th Avenue in Tucson. We had been there many years … Continue reading

The Wedge and Maiden Lane

This is an excerpt from our Downtown History and Dining Tour which we no longer give but we do have some books in both print and PDF format. Before it was bulldozed in 1902 to widen Congress Street, this was the site of The Wedge. Looking at this old photo, … Continue reading

A Walkabout An Old Tucson Cemetery

In late October 2022, Ms. Karen and I ventured out to partake in a walking tour of the Old Court Street Cemetery with Guide Homer Theil, the archaeologist who discovered the remnants of the original Tucson Presidio, now a public museum. This tour lasted about an hour and a half. … Continue reading

A Closer Look at the January 8th Memorial – Tucson

The New Heritage and Visitors Center opened at about the same time that the multimillion-dollar renovation was completed on the Old Pima County Courthouse. This renovation included a massive renovation as well as the New Visitors’ Center Headquarters, the Chamber of Commerce (VisitTucson.org), and the Alfie Norville Mineral Museum. Shortly … Continue reading

Zeckendorfs & Steinfelds: Merchant Princes of the American Southwest

A newspaper ad for Zeckendorf merchanise in the 1870's.

Some time ago, on one of our monthly Tucson History & Libation Walking Tours, I had the distinct pleasure to meet a fellow author, although at the time I did not know it. Several days before the tour, I noted with interest that one of those who registered was a … Continue reading

The Second Anza Expedition: Journey of a Lifetime!

In 1775, along the East Coast of North America between what would become the states of New Hampshire and Georgia, America’s founding fathers were busy fomenting rebellion against the King of England, ruler of the 18th century’s global superpower. In the Western region of the North American continent, what is … Continue reading

A Walk Through El Presidio Park

The following is a sample of our Self Guided Downtown Tucson History Tour. It is Stop 7. We start with a Trivia question after each stop. Something for your trip to the next stop. Trivia Question & Answer What do the 5 “C’s” that promoted Arizona in the 20th century … Continue reading

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