Tubac is the oldest European settlement in Arizona, dating to 1752. The neighboring town of Tumacácori-Carmen features Spanish missions that were erected even earlier — as far back as 1691! Come visit to take a journey through the ages, including a museum with 2,000 years of impeccably preserved history spanning the entire spectrum of Southwest culture.

Visit Tubac Presidio State Historic Park to experience the oldest Spanish fort in Arizona: San Ignacio de Tubac.
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It served as protection from Native American tribes and allowed further push into the Southwest -- until the town fell abandoned in 1856 due to marauding Apache tribes, that is.
Over 2,000 years of Southwest history has been preserved in the park, spanning every culture from indigenous peoples to Pioneer American.
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You'll even see one of the oldest Territorial Schoolhouses, which dates to 1885.
A fascinating museum takes you on a journey through the ages, showcasing historical relics such as Arizona's very first printing press.
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The Weekly Arizonan was published in Tubac on March 3, 1859, and reproductions are available for your reading pleasure. Other exhibits include methods and ingredients of traditional Spanish cooking, the area's rich mining history, woven baskets, and so many more crucial aspects of Tubac's complex story.
Just minutes away is the neighboring town of Tumacácori-Carmen, a census-designated place with fewer than 400 residents.
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Tumacácori National Historical Park protects the ruins of three Spanish missions, two of which are the oldest in southern Arizona.

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Mission San José de Tumacácori was first erected in 1691, however, it was rebuilt across the Santa Cruz River in 1757.
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The public is welcome to come inside and marvel at the chapel, altar, and informational plaques that offer valuable insight into how early inhabitants lived.
Behind the mission is a cemetery with features including a mortuary chapel and early 20th-century graves.
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Though any mission-era headstones have long since been destroyed, 593 burials were recorded between 1755 and 1825. Be sure to tread lightly and pay respect to those whose sacred ground you're treading on.
You can also tour several adobe structures on the property, each one having served a unique purpose.
TripAdvisor/Richard F.
This is the surplus room in which food was stored for distribution to the community.
A trip to Tubac wouldn't quite be complete without eating at Elvira's.
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One of the oldest restaurants in Arizona, this family-owned Mexican eatery dates to 1927. It's not only a historical experience, but an unforgettable taste sensation as well.

Visit the official websites for both Tubac Presidio State Park and Tumacácori National Historical Park to learn more. Have you ever visited either of these living history displays? If so, let us know your thoughts.

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Tubac, AZ, USA
Tumacacori-Carmen, AZ, USA