Destinations. Historic Re-creations

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1 The diversity of heritage destinations throughout Tucson reflects the region s rich cultural and natural heritage. Visit Tucson to experience Native American arts and crafts, Spanish and Mexican cultures, the legendary Wild West, and the natural treasures that make Tucson a world renowned destination. Living together in this region are Native Americans who trace their roots back to prehistoric times, the descendents of Spanish ancestors who colonized the valley in the late 1600s, Mexican families who settled the area before the 1854 Gadsden Purchase made it part of the United States, and current generations of the nineteenth century American pioneers who ventured into this Mission San Xavier del Bac, located on the San Xavier District of the Tohono O odham Nation, just south of the Tucson city limits. borderland seeking new beginnings. The living traditions of these varied cultures and the abundance of well-preserved historic and archaeological resources associated with this rich multicultural history, along with spectacular natural, scenic, and outdoor recreational opportunities, represent a significant and unique part of the identity of the United States. Gill Kenny Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau. This Heritage guide highlights the unique heritage experiences of the region tied to natural resources, historic sites, and cultural experiences. The destinations featured below are located in the Tucson metropolitan region described in the introduction to this guide, and include historic re-creations, historic sites, museums, and parks. The parks included here are those which highlight natural resources or have historical significance in the Tucson region. Historic Re-creations El Presidio San Agustín del Tucson 133 W. Washington Ph: (520) Website: Description: Presidio San Agustín del Tucson is a re-creation of the northeast corner of the original 1775 Spanish presidio. It is located in the heart of downtown on the corner of Washington and Church Streets. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday Sunday Old Pueblo Trolley On University Blvd near Park Ave, the Main Gate at the University of Arizona Ph: (520) Website: Description: Old Pueblo Trolley s main focus is the operation of historic trolleys from the Fourth Avenue Business District to the main gate of the University of Arizona. Hours: Friday 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday noon to midnight; Sunday noon to 6 p.m. Admission: Adults $1.25 each way/$3 all day pass; Children 6-12 yrs. 75 each way/$2 all day pass; Sunday special 25 each trip. 1

2 Old Tucson Studios 201 S. Kinney Rd Ph: (520) Website: Description: Old Tucson Studios is a working film location and western theme park located in Tucson. Old Tucson provides entertainment, historical tours, and special event services for the general public and local and international companies, as well as location and production services to film production companies and independent producers and directors. Hours: Generally 10 a.m. 5 p.m. Thursday Monday. Call to confirm hours. Admission: $16.95 for adults ages 12 and over and $10.95 for children ages 4-11, children ages 3 and under are free. All park shows and tours are included in the admission price. 10 % discount for senior citizens, Triple A card-holders, and military personnel. Trail Dust Town 6541 E. Tanque Verde Rd Ph: (520) Website: Description: This western themed commercial complex includes Pinnacle Peak steakhouse, a miniature train, Museum of the Horse Soldier, historic 1920s carousel, and Wild West stunt shows. Hours: Varies by attraction or store. Admission: Varies. Historic Sites Beowulf Alley Theatre 11 S. 6th Ave. Ph: (520) Website: Description: Beowulf Alley Theatre Company is a non-profit theatre dedicated to enhancing the arts and culture of Tucson while promoting a broader, deeper understanding of the human condition through live performances. Its home is a beautifully-renovated 95-seat storefront theatre in the heart of downtown Tucson. Hours: Varies Admission: Varies Eligible for Listing on National Register of Historic Places El Tiradito Shrine, the Wishing Shrine, is a unique part of Tucson history. El Tiradito Shrine 400 S. Main Ave. Ph: (520) Website: specialplaces#p72_6957 Description: Also known as the Wishing Shrine, El Tiradito is a small site on dirt grounds, featuring a shrine dedicated to star-crossed lovers of the 1870s. There is an adobe wall with niches where people place small mandas (promises) or pray for successful ventures. It is a unique part of Tucson history. Hours: 6 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. 2

3 Fox Tucson Theatre 17 W. Congress St. Ph: (520) Website: Description: The recently restored Fox Tucson Theatre, located in downtown Tucson, opened on April 11, 1930 and hosts a wide spectrum of events and concerts featuring a variety of performing talent. Box Office Hours: Tuesday Friday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Weekends, 2 hours prior to each performance. Admission: Varies Garden of Gethsemane 602 W. Congress Ave Ph: (520) Website: php#p27_2459 Description: Located next to the Santa Cruz River on West Congress Street, this peaceful garden was created to house the religious sculptures of artist Felix Lucero. A path with beautiful potted plants and greenery winds through the park and passes hand-sculpted images of Christ at the Last Supper, the Holy Family and the Crucifixion. Hours: Hours: 6 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. The Fox Tucson Theatre opened in April Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail Website: Description: In late October 1775, a large expedition commanded by Juan Bautista de Anza, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Spanish cavalry and Commander of the Tubac Presidio, traveled northward along the Santa Cruz River Valley, on its way to establish and colonize a Presidio at San Francisco, California. This National Historic Trail offers people the opportunity to experience Anza s five-month journey, on which everyone either walked or rode horses or mules. National Historic Trail Julian Wash Natural and Cultural Resources Park Northwest corner of 12th Avenue and 39th Street Ph: (520) Description: The park features a multi-use trail and interpretive signage about the Julian Wash archaeological site and St. Luke s Orphanage, which also used to be at this location. This map illustrates Anza s expedition to San Francisco, CA. Mission San Xavier del Bac 1950 W. San Xavier Rd Ph: (520) Website: Description: A National Historic Landmark, San Xavier Mission was 3

4 founded as a Catholic mission by Father Eusebio Kino in Construction of the current church began in 1783 and was completed in The oldest intact European structure in Arizona, the church s interior is filled with marvelous original statuary and mural paintings. The church retains its original purpose of ministering to the religious needs of its parishioners. Hours: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily National Historic Landmark and San Pedro Chapel 5230 E. Fort Lowell Rd Ph: (502) Website: Description: Built in 1932 by the inhabitants of the Village of El Fuerte, the San Pedro Chapel is a City of Tucson Historic Landmark and is on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The San Pedro Chapel is owned and preserved by the Old Fort Lowell Neighborhood Association, Inc. La Capillita Sanctuary is adjacent to the chapel. First erected in about 1915, La Capillita was served by a Carmelite father who rode out from Holy Family Parish in Tucson. In 1997, an archeological exploration revealed the original walls, the mud adobe foundation, and the packed dirt floor of the original sanctuary. The sanctuary was restored with historic accuracy. Hours: By Appointment only Admission: Varies The Presidio Trail 133 W. Washington Ph: (520) Website: Description: The Presidio Trail: A Historical Walking Tour of Downtown Tucson is available free of charge at the Visitor s Center in La Placita in downtown Tucson, or you can download it from Hours: Varies by site on the trail. Admission: Varies by site on the trail. The Rialto Theatre 318 E. Congress St. Ph: (520) Website: Portions of the original wall of the Presidio San Agustin del Tucson, dating , are marked throughout downtown. Description: The Historic Rialto Theatre first opened in 1920 in downtown Tucson and continues to operate today as a performance theater and concert venue. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Hours: Varies Admission: Varies The Screening Room 127 E. Congress St. Ph: (520) Website: Description: The Screening Room, an independent film house in downtown Tucson, is home to the Arizona International Film Festival and features under-the-radar films from around the world. The annual Tucson Film and Music Festival and All Souls Procession Film Festival also utilize the intimate venue. Hours: Varies Admission: Varies Eligible for Listing on the National Register of Historic Places 4

5 Temple of Music and Art 330 S. Scott Ave. Ph: (520) Website: Description: Built in 1927, the Temple of Music and Art is home to the Arizona Theatre Company. In addition to the 623-seat Holsclaw Theatre, the property includes a café, box office and gift shop on the ground floor and upstairs is the Cabaret Theatre (seats ), and the Temple Gallery curated by Etherton Gallery. Hours: Gift shop open Monday Friday 10 a.m. 6 p.m. Admission: Varies Tumamoc Hill and Desert Lab 1675 W. Anklam Rd Ph: (520) Website: Description: This 860-acre ecological reservation is both a US National Historic Landmark and a US Archaeological District. Tumamoc is managed by the University of Arizona College of Science and Pima County, Arizona. Hours: Walking the paved road up the hill is prohibited between 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Monday - Friday. National Historic Landmark Valley of the Moon 2544 E. Allen Rd Ph: (520) Website: A 2300-year-old ruined village sits atop Tumamoc Hill. Photo courtesy of Pima County. Description: Valley of the Moon was built by George Phar Legler in the 1920s for the purpose of appealing to the magical imagination of children and of bringing mental and spiritual relaxation for visitors to the site. Mineralized rock cliffs, caves, pools, and garden miniatures have blended with tropic and desert flora to create what Mr. Legler called the Fantasy Touch of Three (Lewis Carroll, Edgar Allen Poe, and Robert Louis Stevenson). Hours: Varies Admission: Varies Museums Arizona Historical Society Downtown Museum 140 N. Stone Ave. Ph: (520) Website: Description: The Arizona Historical Society Downtown Museum exhibits depict early Tucson businesses and homes, including drugstores, police and fire departments, and the Romero barbershop. Hours: Tuesday Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Admission: Adults $3, Ages 60+ $2, Ages $2, Ages 11 and younger free, Arizona Historical Society members free. Free admission the first Friday of the month. 5

6 Arizona Historical Society Main Museum 949 E. 2nd St Ph: (520) Website: Description: The Arizona History Museum s focus is southern Arizona history from Spanish colonial through territorial eras. Exhibit topics include mining and transportation. The Arizona s Treasures exhibit features Geronimo s rifle and 18th-century Spanish silver artifacts. Hours: Monday Saturday 10 a.m. 4 p.m. Admission: Adults $5, Ages 60+ $4, Ages $4, Ages 11 and younger free, Arizona Historical Society members free. Free admission the first Saturday of the month Arizona State Museum - University of Arizona 1013 E. University Blvd Ph: (520) Website: Description: Experience the enduring cultures of Arizona, the American Southwest and northern Mexico at the Arizona State Museum. Arizona State Museum is the oldest and largest anthropology museum in the Southwest, established in 1893 by the Arizona Territorial Legislature. Hours: Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: Adults 18 years + $5, Members free, Children and youth 0 17 years free, UA and Pima CC staff/students with ID free. Experience Tucson s unique natural environment. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum 2021 N. Kinney Rd Ph: (520) Website: Description: The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum, and botanical garden, all in one place. Hours: October February 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. (no entry after 4:15 p.m.); March May 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. (no entry after 4:15 p.m.); June August Sunday Friday 7 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (no entry after 1:45 p.m.), Saturday 7 a.m p.m. (no entry after 9:15 p.m.) (Summer Saturday Evenings); September 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. (no entry after 4:15 p.m.) Admission: September May $14.50 Adults, $4.50 Kids June August $12 Adults, $3 Kids Summer Saturday Evenings: Admissions after 4 p.m. ONLY $7 ($2.25 for 6-12) Children 5 and under are always free. Conley Museum of the West Located in Santa Fe Square adjacent to Medicine Man Gallery 7000 E. Tanque Verde Rd Ph: (520) Website: Description: The museum features Indian arts and artifacts of the Southwest through the 20th century, Spanish colonial antiquities, historical maps starting in 1739, oil and photographic portraits of early Americans, and a varied collection of American Western landscape painters from the 19th & 20th centuries. Hours: Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. 5 p.m.; Open Sundays from 1 p.m. 4 p.m. mid-november to mid-may. 6

7 DeGrazia Gallery and Chapel 6300 N. Swan Rd Ph: (520) Website: Description: DeGrazia s Mission in the Sun chapel, located beside the Gallery in the Sun, was built in honor of Padre Kino and dedicated to our Lady of Guadalupe, patron saint of Mexico. Inside the adobe structure one can experience DeGrazia s expression of beauty, simplicity and faith. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week National Historic District Fort Lowell Park and Museum 2900 N. Craycroft Rd. Ph: (520) Website: Description: The Fort Lowell Museum is located in the reconstructed Commanding Officer s quarters of Old Fort Lowell, originally established in The museum features exhibits about military life on the Arizona frontier. The prehistoric Hardy Site is within the park and features interpretive signs for the archaeological remains of this Hohokam village site. Hours: Friday Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Admission: Adults $3, Ages 60+ $2, Ages $2, Ages 11 and younger free, Arizona Historical Socitey members free. Free admission the first Saturday of the month. History of Pharmacy Museum College of Pharmacy, 1295 N. Martin Ph: (520) Website: Description: The History of Pharmacy Museum at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy grew out of the work of Jesse Hurlbut, a former Tucson pharmacist and state pharmacy board inspector, who meticulously collected pharmacy items from around Arizona and elsewhere in the West. The museum contains a collection of over 60,000 bottles, original drug containers, books, store fixtures, and artifacts from Arizona (circa 1880 to 1950), including several large drug store fixtures from Arizona s territorial days. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. International Wildlife Museum 4800 W. Gates Pass Rd Ph: (520) Website: Description: Founded in 1988, the museum highlights over 400 species of insects, mammals and birds from around the globe. Some of the collections are more than 100 years old. Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. Admission: Adults $8, Seniors (62 and over) and Military $6, Children (4-12) $3, Children (3 and under) free. Jewish History Museum 564 S. Stone Ave. Ph: (520) Website: Description: The Jewish History Museum is housed in the first synagogue in the Arizona territory and is also known as the Stone Avenue Temple. The building was constructed in Hours: Wednesday - Sunday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Twilight Tour of Museum, third Saturday of every month at 7 p.m.. 7

8 Some historians believe that the original rooms of La Casa Cordova may predate the Gadsden Purchase of La Casa Cordova 175 N. Meyer St. Ph: (520) Website: Description: Part of the Tucson Museum of Art s historic block, La Casa Cordova features historical exhibits and is one of the oldest buildings in Tucson. It has been named for the Cordova family who acquired the building in 1936 and lived in it from 1944 until The Cordova family believed the original part of their home was constructed when Tucson was a village in the Mexican State of Sonora. Hours: By Appointment only Admission: Varies. La Pilita Museum 420 S. Main Ave. Ph: (520) Website: Description: This traditional adobe building, constructed in the 1930s, is located in the heart of Tucson-Barrio Viejo. The museum is a living repository of photos and oral histories of Barrio Viejo and El Hoyo. Hours: The gallery and tiendita are open from August 15 through June 1. Weekday gallery hours are 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.. Weekend special tours and visits are arranged by appointment. Admission: $2 per person suggested donation Maynard Dixon Museum 7000 E. Tanque Verde Rd. Suite Ph: (520) Website: Description: The Tucson Maynard Dixon Museum is permanent exhibition of the lifework of Maynard Dixon, including original oils, watercolors, drawings and poetry. Hours: September - April Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. 5 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m. 4 p.m.; May - August Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. 5 p.m. Museum of the Horse Soldier 6541 E Tanque Verde Rd Ph: (520) Website: Description: The mission of the Museum of the Horse Soldier is to preserve the history and traditions of the United States horse cavalry and to be an educational resource for the general public. Hours: Open every day of the week from 1 p.m. 7 p.m. Admission: $2 per adult. Children 12 and under are $1 each. 8

9 Pima Air and Space Museum 6000 E. Valencia Rd Ph: (520) Website: Description: Pima Air & Space Museum, where history takes flight, is one of the largest air and space museums in the world, and the largest non-government funded aviation museum. You ll see more than 300 aircraft and spacecraft including many of the most historically significant and technically advanced aircraft ever produced, both from the United States and throughout the world. Hours: 9 a.m. 5 p.m. daily Admission: Adults $15.50; Pima Co. Residents $12.75; Seniors $12.75; Children $9; Children 6 & under free. Group Rate $ Postal History Museum 920 N. First Ave Ph: (520) Website: Description: The mission of the Postal History Foundation is to promote an appreciation of stamp collecting and postal history through the preservation of philatelic collections, literature and documents, and the enhancement of youth education using stamps as teaching tools. Hours: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Monday Friday, 10 a.m. 2 p.m., Saturday Sosa-Carrillo-Frémont House 151 S. Granada Ave. Ph: (520) Website: Description: The historic adobe Sosa-Carrillo-Frémont House was built in the 1870s and is one of Tucson s oldest examples of adobe architecture. The beautiful home offers an array of exhibits highlighting Hispanic pioneer culture and life. Hours: By Appointment only. Admission: Varies. Southern Arizona Transportation Museum 414 N. Toole Ave. Ph: (520) Website: Description: The Southern Arizona Transportation Museum exists to interpret the history of transportation in Southern Arizona with a focus on the Tucson Historic Depot and Steam Locomotive #1673. Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 11 a.m. 3 p.m.; Friday - Saturday 10 a.m. 4 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. 3 p.m. Mini-Time Machine Museum of Miniatures 4455 E. Camp Lowell Ph: (520) Website: Southern Pacific Locomotive #1673 was built in 1900 and logged over one million miles, primarily in freight service in Southern Arizona. Description: The Mini-Time Machine Museum of Miniatures is a 15,560 square foot state-of-the-art museum displaying an entertaining and interactive array of antique and contemporary miniatures as well as enchanting artifacts. The museum styles itself as a miniature time machine, by which the visitor sets off on a self-guided tour through different lands and times both real and imagined. 9

10 Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Admission: $7 general admission; $6 Senior (65 or older)/military; $5 Youth (age 4-17); Free Children under 3. Tucson Children s Museum 200 S. 6th Ave. Ph: (520) Website: Description: Housed in the 1901 Carnegie Free Library building, the Tucson Children s Museum provides fun, play-based, interactive, hands-on learning experiences for children and their families. Hours: Tuesday Friday 9 a.m. 5 p.m.; Saturday Sunday 10 a.m. 5 p.m. Admission: $6 for children (Ages 2-18); $8 adults; $6 seniors; Every first Sunday of the month is $2 admission day. Tucson Museum of Art Historic Block 140 N. Main Ave. Ph: (520) Website: Description: The Museum s historic block represents five houses built between the mid-1850s to 1907 surrounding the modern museum building that houses most of the galleries. J. Knox Corbett House, La Casa Cordova, Edward Nye Fish House, Romero House, and Stevens / Duffield House. Hours: Tuesday Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Admission: $8 general; $6 seniors (ages 60+) and veterans; $3 students (ages 13+); Members, children ages 12 and under, and active military with ID are free. First Sunday of the month is FREE for everyone. Each February since 1925, Tucsonans saddle their horses, hitch up their buggies and shine their cowboy boots for the Celebration of the Cowboys. Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum 4823 S. Sixth Ave Ph: (520) Website: Description: The museum includes 150 vehicles, ranging from small buggies, wagons, surries, coaches and historic artifacts from pioneer days and a re-created Western Main Street representing what early Wild West Tucson would have looked like and what it offered in terms of businesses and services. The museum includes a large metal building that was originally the first city airport hanger, established in 1918 and dedicated November 20th, 1919, as Tucson Municipal Flying Field. This was the first municipally owned airport in the U.S. Hours: January - April. Varies. Admission: $10 per adult. Children $2. University of Arizona Campus Arboretum Herring Hall, 1130 E. South Campus Dr Ph: (520) Website: Description: The Mission of the Campus Arboretum at the University of Arizona is to preserve, manage, enhance, and expand a vital collection plants in an active, urban Sonoran Desert setting. The UA Campus Arboretum showcases the historic, scientific, aesthetic, environmental, economical, conservation, and educational value of these plants within the larger Tucson urban forest and the American Southwest. The website offers various walking maps. Hours: 8 a.m. 5 p.m. 10

11 University of Arizona Center for Creative Photography 1030 North Olive Road Ph: (520) Website: Description: The Center for Creative Photography is an archive and research center located on the University of Arizona campus. The Center retains the archives of Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Garry Winogrand, Harry Callahan, and other great 20thcentury photographers over fifty archives in all. Hours: Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday - Sunday, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. University of Arizona Herbarium Herring Hall, 1130 E. South Campus Dr Ph: (520) Website: Description: With over 400,000 specimens, the herbarium is the world s largest collection of plants from Arizona and Sonora, Mexico Hours: 8 a.m. 5 p.m. University of Arizona Museum of Art 1031 Olive Rd Ph: (520) Website: Description: The University of Arizona Museum of Art is located on the University of Arizona campus, near Park Avenue and Speedway Boulevard. Hours: Tuesday Friday 9 a.m. 5 p.m.; Saturday Sunday noon - 4 p.m. Admission: Adults $5; Children, students, faculty & staff with ID free. Parks Brandi Fenton Memorial Park - Binghampton Rural Historic Landscape 3482 E. River Rd Ph: (520) Website: Description: The 56.7-acre Brandi Fenton Memorial Park in the Binghampton Rural Historic Landscape includes three soccer fields, covered basketball courts, shade ramadas, an equestrian arena and facilities, horse shoe pits, a play ground, a splash park, an off-leash dog park, walking paths, a fitness course, and a memorial garden at the visitor center. Hours: 7 a.m p.m. as the Binghampton Rural Historic Landscape Cienega Creek Natural Preserve Parking and trailhead off Marsh Station Rd., east of Tucson Ph: (520) Website: Description: Cienega Creek Natural Preserve is a perennial creek channel surrounded by mountains and rocky hills. A section of the creek within the Preserve has been designated as a Unique Water of Arizona. The mature cottonwood and willow trees that line the creek are a dramatic contrast to the surrounding Sonoran Desert., but permit required. 11

12 Construction of the Colossal Cave buildings by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the mid- 1930s. Courtesy of Colossal Cave Mountain Park. Colossal Cave Mountain Park E. Old Spanish Trail Vail, AZ Ph: (520) Website: Description: Colossal Cave Mountain Park features a half-mile long tour, takes about minutes to complete, and highlights beautiful cave formations like stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, and helictites. Hours: Summer hours (March 16 - September 15) Daily 8 a.m. 5 p.m.; Winter hours (September 16 - March 15), Daily 9 a.m. 5 p.m. Admission: Auto $5 or $1 per person over 6 people; Motorcycle $2; Tour Bus $1 per person; Bicycle $1; School Busses free. Feliz Paseos Park 1600 N. Camino de Oeste 1/2 mile north of Speedway/Gates Pass Rd. Ph: (520) Website: Description: Feliz Paseos Park features a universally accessible trail system enhanced with interpretive signs, and includes a parking area and a small plaza with a large ramada with two ADA accessible family restrooms. The park is located on a 50-acre parcel of lush desert near the northeast corner of Gates Pass Road and Camino de Oeste. Hours: 7 days a week, 7 a.m. to sunset Kino Environmental Restoration Project North of Ajo Way, between Kino Parkway and Country Club Ph: (520) Website: Description: A 2.2 mile paved pedestrian trail for walking, jogging, bicycling, and wildlife viewing including bird watching is open to the public. Mt. Lemmon, Coronado National Forest North of Tucson via Mt. Lemmon Highway Ph: (520) Website: Description: The sky islands of the Coronado National Forest are healthy ecosystems with an abundant and diverse flora and fauna. They provide an array of high quality outdoor recreation opportunities with an emphasis on enhancing visitor understanding and enjoyment of the Forest s special natural and cultural resources. Hours: Varies Admission: Most areas require a $5 day pass. 12 The sky islands of Coronado National Forest support biologically diverse plant communities.

13 Parque de San Cosme 496 W. Cushing St. Ph: (520) Website: specialplaces#parquedesancosme Description: Located near Cushing St. and Simpson St., and next to the little chapel of San Cosme, this park includes a gazebo, a colorful mural, pathways, desert landscaping, orange trees, and a memorial to Barrio Viejo. A historic railroad photo exhibit sits along the pedestrian/bicycle path that follows the preserved El Paso & Southwestern Railroad tracks. Hours: 6 a.m p.m. The saguaro blossom is the state flower of Arizona. In early summer, the Tohono O odham people harvest the saguaro fruit. Reid Park Zoo 1100 S. Randolph Way Ph: (520) Website: Description: Travel from South America to the Asian rainforest, and then to the African savannah in one day. Reid Park Zoo is a hidden gem, nestled in the center of Tucson, and is the perfect place to enjoy time outside while discovering the wonders of wildlife. Hours: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily Admission: $7 adults ages 15-61; $5 seniors ages 62+; $3 children ages 2-14; FREE for children under 2 years; $1 per child for school groups with a reservation. Rillito River Park From I-10 to Craycroft Road on the north and south banks of the Rillito River. Ph: (520) Website: Description: The Rillito River Park multi-use path runs from I-10 to Craycroft Road on the north and south banks of the Rillito River, with ADA accessible facilities, drinking water, and restrooms. Rincon Mountain Wilderness Area, Coronado National Forest Ph: (520) Website: Description: The 38,590-acre National Forest portion of the Rincon Mountain Wilderness borders Saguaro National Park on three sides, and remains pleasantly remote in spite of its close proximity to Tucson. Trails into the Wilderness offer quality opportunities for solitude among the area s secluded canyons and remote ridges. Admission: Permit required for overnight camping. Roy P. Drachman Agua Caliente Park E. Roger Rd Ph: (520) Website: Description: Agua Caliente, literally meaning hot water, is a unique 101-acre park with a perennial warm spring. Human habitation has been found to date back about 5,500 years. In 1873, a ranch and health resort was developed to promote the curative properties 13

14 of the warm springs. The ranch bunkhouse, which dates back to the 1920s, was used by ranch hands. The site makes for a perfect place for a picnic or day hike. Hours: 7 a.m. to sunset every day Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, Coronado National Forest Northeast of Tucson at the foot of the Santa Catalinas. The entrance to the recreation area is located on Sabino Canyon Road, just north of the intersection with Sunrise drive. Ph: (520) Website: Description: Sabino Canyon Recreation Area provides an upclose encounter with the Sonoran Desert and the fascinating variety of plants and animals that make it their home. The self-guided Desert Nature Trail at the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center provides an excellent way to get to know the plants that have adapted to living in this demanding environment. Open-air shuttle buses (operated by Sabino Canyon Tours) and a number of trails provide access to this land of desert oases and rugged mountains. Hours: 24 hours/day, year-round Admission: Day Pass $5; Week Pass $10; Annual Pass $20. Saguaro National Park - East 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail Ph: (520) Website: Description: Saguaro National Park s two districts (East and West) offer more than 165 miles (264 km) of hiking trails. A hike at Saguaro National Park can be a stroll on a short interpretive nature trail or a day-long wilderness trek. Both districts of Saguaro National Park offer a variety of hiking trails. Hours: Park is open from 7 a.m. to sunset daily. Visitor center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except closed on Christmas Day. Admission: $10 for any privately owned vehicle or motorcycle (receipt valid for 7 days), $5 for any individual on foot or bicycle (receipt valid for 7 days). Saguaro National Park - West 2700 N. Kinney Rd Ph: (520) Website: Description: Saguaro National Park s two districts (East and West) offer more than 165 miles (264 km) of hiking trails. A hike at Saguaro National Park can be a stroll on a short interpretive nature trail or a day-long wilderness trek. Both districts of Saguaro National Park offer a variety of hiking trails. Hours: Park is open from 7 a.m. to sunset daily. Visitor center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except closed on Christmas Day. Admission: $10 for any privately owned vehicle or motorcycle (receipt valid for 7 days), $5 for any individual on foot or bicycle (receipt valid for 7 days). Santa Cruz River Park From Irvington Rd. to Speedway Blvd. along the banks of the Santa Cruz River Ph: (520) Website: Description: Located along the banks of the Santa Cruz River, the park runs south from Grant Road to 29th Street. Another section, which includes El Paseo de los Arboles Commemorative Park, runs north from Irvington Road to Ajo Way. The Santa Cruz River Park includes the Anza Trail, part of a National Trail system following the historic route taken by Juan Bautista de Anza on his trek to establish the modern-day city of San Francisco, California. 14 Saguaro National Park is home to 25 species of cactus including the saguaro, Engelman s prickly pear, and several types of cholla cactus.

15 Sentinel Peak ( A Mountain) 1000 S. Sentinel Peak Rd Ph: (520) Website: specialplaces.php#p60_5578 Description: The original name of this mountain west of downtown was derived from its function as a lookout point for the Spanish. Sentinel Peak, or A Mountain, is a popular lookout point for Tucsonans and visitors alike. It is home of Tucson s annual July 4 fireworks show. Hours: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday- Saturday; 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday In 1915, fans of the University of Arizona football team whitewashed a large A on the side of Sentinel Peak to celebrate a victory, and the tradition has been kept up ever since. Sweetwater Preserve 4001 N. Tortolita Rd Ph: (520) Website: Description: The Sweetwater Preserve is a acre preserve located in the eastern foothills of the Tucson Mountains. The natural-surface Sweetwater Trailhead is located at the southern end of Tortolita Road. Sweetwater Wetlands Sweetwater Dr., near Prince Rd., west of I-10. Ph: (520) Website: Description: The Sweetwater Wetlands is a water treatment facility, an urban wildlife habitat, and an outdoor classroom. As an urban wildlife habitat, it is a tranquil park where visitors can view native wildlife in an urban setting. This water-rich streamside riparian zone supports a huge variety of wildlife including dragonflies, raccoons, hawks, bobcats and dozens of other species that make the wetlands their full- or part-time home. Tucson Botanical Gardens 2150 N. Alvernon Way Ph: (520) Website: Description: The Tucson Botanical Gardens promotes responsible and appropriate use of plants and water in a desert environment through education and demonstration and provides a place of beauty and tranquility for Tucson residents and visitors. Hours: 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. daily Admission: Adults $8; Children 4-12 $4; Children 3 and younger and Gardens members are free. Certain special events are not included, special prices may apply. 15

16 Tucson Mountain Park and Gates Pass Scenic Overlook Ajo Way to Kinney Rd., turn right on Gates Pass Rd. Or Speedway west, turns into Gates Pass Rd. Ph: (520) Website: Description: Tucson Mountain Park, established in 1929 at approximately 20,000 acres, is one of the largest natural resource areas owned and managed by a local government in the U.S. The park has approximately 62 miles of non-motorized shared-use trials, open to hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers. Gates Pass overlook includes interpretive displays and historic structures. Picnicking and wildlife viewing opportunities are located throughout the park. Vista del Rio Cultural Resources Park 7575 E. Desert Arbors St Ph: (520) Website: Description: The Vista Del Rio Cultural Resources Park is a City park located near Sabino Creek (at Dos Hombres Road). Opened to the public in 2005, it has a trail with signage that interprets the prehistoric Hohokam village that reached its peak between A.D at this location. The annual Vista del Rio Archaeology Celebration is held every March. Colossal Cave Mountain Park. Photo courtesy of the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau. Dowtown Tucson at night. Photo by Fred Hood Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau. July