The Early Days of Preservation

How Tumacácori Became a National Monument

Don Garate

Park Historian Don Garate will tell the story of how Tumacácori became a National Monument eight years before the National Park Service was created. You will learn about the involvement of early-day preservationists in saving the ancient mission ruins, such as President Theodore Roosevelt; Southwest Parks and Monuments Superintendent Frank Pinkley from Coolidge, Arizona; Nogales blacksmith A.S. Noon; the first resident custodian, George Boundey, and many others.

You will hear the stories of how Federal Works Projects hired local manpower from Nogales, Tubac, Carmen, and Tumacácori to construct the walls; how a local Tucson construction company built the visitor center and museum; and how a contingent of CCC boys from Tucson landscaped the garden and parking lot.

The history combined with numerous early-day photographs of the mission, its surroundings, and the construction projects that have helped preserve it will make for an interesting evening.

The lecture will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the Old Nogales Courthouse, 21 East Court Street, Nogales, Arizona.

(Back to other events of the Centennial Celebration)