• Sunlight illuminates the top of historic Mission San José de Tumacácori church.

    Tumacácori

    National Historical Park Arizona

  • Trail Construction ongoing at the historic Tumacácori Mission site

    A new accessible trail is being built around the mission. Due to heavy equipment and construction activities, detours and partial closures exist. Associated dust, noise, and potential trip hazards will be present through the end of May.

Replacement Adobes

Due to moisture from rainwater wicking up into the adobe blocks at the foundation of the church, and other aging and deteriorating factors, it is necessary to replace some of the adobes from time to time. Although Tumacácori's preservation crew has modern mixers, wheel barrows, and other equipment, it is still a back-breaking process to make the adobe blocks in the traditional wooden molds and stack them for sun drying.
 
Making adobes
Photo by Jana Tschopp
 
Making adobes
Photo by Jana Tschopp
 
Making adobes
Photo by David Yubeta
 
Making adobes
Photo by Jana Tschopp

Did You Know?

Soldado de Cuera

Soldiers of New Spain's frontier who protected the missions were known as soldados de cuera, or "soldiers of the leather jacket."