TUCSON PRESIDIO TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION
The Tucson Presidio Trust for Historic Preservation was founded in 1984 by Lewis Hall, who had 2 goals; to raise awareness of southern Arizona's Spanish and Mexican heritage and to push for
the reconstruction of
portions of the adobe-walled fortress that stood in what is now downtown Tucson,
established in 1775 and in
use until 1856.
Mr. Hall passed away in 1998 before seeing his dream take shape. Local voters passed
a ballot measure in
1999 that diverted local sales tax money that allowed the City of Tucson to
the reconstruct the north-east
corner of the Royal Presido de San Agustín del Tucson. In cooperation the City
of Tucson Parks and Recreation,
the Tucson Presidio Trust has acted as a friends organization, bringing life
into the adobe walls with our
living history program, developing educational programs, and financially
assisting the programs of the Presidio.
EL PRESIDIO REAL de SAN AGUSTÍN del TUCSON
The Tucson Presidio was established in August 1775 by Spanish Army Colonel Hugo O'Conor. The soldados and their families moved north from Tubac sometime during the Fall of 1776. The fort was first enclosed with a wood palisade, and later, after a large Apache assault, by an eight to-twelve foot high adobe wall that was about 700 ft to a side.
The presidio remained in use until the Americans entered Tucson in March 1856, and was quickly dismantled afterwards. The last standing segment of the wall was torn down in 1918. In the years since efforts were made to locate and mark the walls.
Archaeological excavations at the presidio site, at the corner of Church and Washington Streets in downtown Tucson,were completed in February 2006.
Construction includes the 20 foot tall adobe tower (torreon) and the 10-ft. high
adobe walls. This reconstruction incorporates a renovated adobe triplex on Meyer St. as
a museum and gift shop.
On the south side of the presidio corner is a large mural wall that provides a "view" into the remainder of the
11-acre presidio.
Hours: 9 a.m to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday – Sunday (Closed Monday and Tuesday)
Phone number: 520-837-8119
133 W. Washington, Tucson AZ
Location: corner of Washington and Church Streets in downtown Tucson. During the week parking is available in a nearby
parking garage on Alameda St; metered parking is available on nearby streets. On weekend street parking is free.
Become a member of the Tucson Presidio Trust for Historic Preservation.
Be a part of recovering Tucson's past. |
