Welcome
to the "in depth" portion of the official Web site for Tumacácori
National
Historical
Park – the next best thing to actually visiting us in the
beautiful
Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona. We hope you will take a few minutes
to browse and see what we have to offer.
Tumacácori National Historical Park tells the story of the first Europeans who came to southern Arizona and of the native people who lived here then. It is a dramatic story from any perspective: at stake was not only basic survival but hearts and minds. And yet even then, each new day brought birdsong and breakfast to native, priest, settler, and soldier alike. All changed bit by bit as the days unfolded, until a vigorous new culture blending elements from ristras to rosaries was born.
Visitors appreciate
this
special place for the opportunity to tour the mission church, cemetery
and outlying structures and grounds in a peaceful and quiet atmosphere
reminiscent of the period in which they were established.
Photographers
especially enjoy the earth colors and shadows of the mission buildings.
The mission courtyard and garden just off the visitor center provide a
peaceful, quiet place to relax and reflect. Many bird species are seen
at the mission due to its proximity to the Santa Cruz river. A short
quarter
mile hike to the river could be rewarding to bird watching enthusiasts.