Tumacacori National Historical Park

Address:1891 E. Frontage Rd.
Tumacacori, Arizona
Tel: (520) 398-2341

Come explore the history of the American Southwest at the Tumacácori National Historical Park near Tubac, Arizona. Tumacácori is the site of a Spanish mission and Spanish-Native American interactions and stands today as a National Historic Park to remind us of the Spanish role in settling the southwestern United States. Today, visitors to the Tumacácori National Historical Park can participate in tours, hikes, and other activities to bring them closer to the history of the area.

In 1691, Father Eusebio Francisco Kino founded the San Cayetano del Tumacácori Mission, the oldest Jesuit mission in Arizona, to try and convert the Pima Indians who lived in the area. After the Pima Revolt of 1751, in which the original San Cayetano del Tumacácori Mission was destroyed, the mission was moved to its present location and renamed the San José de Tumacácori Mission. By 1848, the mission had been abandoned and fell into disrepair until the area was declared a national monument by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908. Preservation efforts continue on the Tumacácori National Historical Park to this day.

Today, visitors to the Tumacácori National Historical Park can experience the park in a variety of ways. Visitors can orient themselves in the visitor center and museum, which includes a 15 minute video explaining the history of the Tumacácori National Historical Park. There are rangers available who provide a wealth of useful information. The bookstore has great gifts and is another great resource for additional information about the area. And there's a magnificent garden modeled after other mission gardens around the world. Visitors to the Tumacácori National Historical Park can also go on a self-guided tour or the area or join in a variety of ranger-guided tours. The ranger-guided tours include a basic 45 minute tour of the ruins of the San José de Tumacácori Mission, a longer, monthly tour of the ruins of the San Cayetano del Tumacácori Mission, short nature walks of the area, and a six hour tour of the San Cayetano del Tumacácori Mission, the San José de Tumacácori Mission, and the nearby Los Santos Ángeles de Guevavi Mission. After the tours, visitors to the Tumacácori National Historical Park can find food at any of three restaurants right near the park or at any of a variety of restaurants located in Tubac, three miles north of the park.

To get to the Tumacácori National Historical Park, visitors should take I-19 in either direction to exit 29, 50 miles south of Tuscon and 18 miles north of Nogales, Arizona. Visit the Tumacácori National Historical Park and relive the Jesuit conquest of the Southwest!