Local History Tucson - SouthernArizonaGuide.com

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

The Garcés Bridge: Who Was Father Garcés?

This is an excerpt from Stop 6 of our History and Dining Guide. Nearly 100 years before C.O. Brown established the Congress Hall Saloon, Father Francisco Garcés was among the first Europeans to explore and attempt to settle the hostile region we now know as Southern Arizona. On the wall … Continue reading

Apaches Attack A Stagecoach; Passenger and Driver Murdered!

Arizona Weekly Citizen: August 7, 1881 Back in the 1860’s to 1880’s, the terrorist threat to Anglo and Mexican Tucsonans was local and ever-present. Only back then, they weren’t called “terrorists”. They were called “Apaches”. Click on the picture to enlarge the article. Background to the Article In the 19th … Continue reading

Where Does The Santa Cruz River Start & End?

The Santa Cruz River is about 184 miles long. It begins in the high grasslands of the San Rafael Valley east of Patagonia, AZ. At first, it runs south into Sonora Mexico for several miles before it changes its mind and

Atanacia Santa Cruz Hughes: A Video

Ms. Karen and I were at the Tucson Presidio Museum in early March 2022 on a Saturday to witness Living History Days that included a presentation by Atanacia Santa Cruz Hughes, the wife of Sam Hughes (1850 to 1934). The Presidio presents Living HIstory Days once a month October – … Continue reading

The Roads Of Tucson: A Historical Perspective

The most common complaint I hear about Tucson is the awful condition of Tucson roads, particularly the proliferation of potholes. Every time this subject comes up I recall that Congress Street wasn’t even paved until 1912 the year Arizona became a state. From myriad accounts by travelers in those early years, any pavement was better than no pavement.