About Tucson Arizona
Tucson is a city in the state of Arizona that also doubles up as the county seat for Pirna County. It is the 2nd most populous city in the state after the City of Phoenix. Tucson is situated around 100 miles on the southeastern side of Phoenix and around 60 miles on the northern side of the United StateS – Mexico border. The name ‘Tucson, is a Spanish term, which literally means the ‘base of black hill.’ This infers to a basalt covered hill close to the city that is now referred to as Sentinel Peak, and at times, A Mountain.
The Jesuit missionary Eusebio Kino explored the Santa Cruz River Valley in the late 17th century. This missionary later on established the San Xavier del Bac mission at the turn of the century. This particular settlement was located around 7 miles upstream from the future site of the City of Tucson. Hugo O’Connor, who is widely considered to be the founding father of this Arizona city permitted the building of a military fort close to the present day Pirna County courthouse. Over the course of the Spanish era of presidio, the Apache Indians made frequent attacks to the settlement.
Ultimately, when Mexico attained independence from Spain, the city became part of the state of Sonora. It was later on captured by Philip Cooke during the Mexican – American War in the mid 19th century, but it quickly reverted back to Mexican control. Arizona was finally bought by the United States under the Gadsden Purchase in 1854, and the City of Tucson became part of US territory. During the American Civil War, it was chosen as the western capital of the Confederate Arizona Territory. Tucson was eventually incorporated as a city in the year 1877. This makes it to have the distinction of been the oldest incorporated city in the state of Arizona.
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Top attractions
Tucson’s downtown area comes complete with a wide variety of attractions. This includes the Hotel Congress, which was designed in the early 20th century. There is as well the Fox Theatre that integrates the art deco architectural style and was designed in 1929. While the Rialto Theatre was first opened to the public in 1920. Like it was earlier noted the City of Tucson is also the home of the old Pirna County Courthouse which was designed in 1928. On the other hand, the El Charro Café has the distinction of being the oldest restaurant in the city. Tucson’s biggest park, the Reid Park is situated in the midtown area, and comes complete with the Reid Park Zoo and the Hi Corbette Field.
The City of Tucson as well boasts of a wide range of fascinating festivals that are held on an annual basis and attract many visitors from the region. One of the most prominent of which is the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. This given festival has the distinction of been the biggest gem and mineral show in the entire globe, and has been held in the city for more than 50 years. There is also the Tucson Festival of Books, which has being held in this Arizona city ever since 2009. By the year 2010, the Tucson Festival of Books had the distinction of been the 4th biggest books festival in the country. Apart from the book readings and lectures, this City of Tucson event has a science fair, a variety of live entertainment and food. Not to mention a number of exhibitions from locally and regionally based book retailers together with publishers.
Tucson as well boasts of the Tucson Folk Festival, which has been held in the city for the past 33 years. Besides nationally renowned headline acts, this Tucson event highlights more than 100 locally and regionally based singers on 5 different stages. The Tucson Folk Festival has the distinction of being one of the biggest festivals in the United States that offer free admission to the general public. There is also the Tucson Rodeo, which is otherwise known as the Fiesta de los Vaqueros. Apart from been a sporting event, this Tucson event includes the globe’s biggest non-mechanized parade.
Another key attraction of this Arizona city is the Tucson Museum of Art that was founded as a component of an art school known as the Art Center. There is as well the University of Arizona Museum of Art, whose collection of works of art include those created by Franz Kline, Jackson Pollock and even Mark Rothko. The University of Arizona Museum of Art also has a sizeable collection of European artworks from the 14th century to the 19th century. Not to forget the C Leonard Pfeiffer collection of American paintings. Tucson is also home to the International Wildlife Museum, which showcases an exhibition of more than 400 different mounted animal species that were hunted from all across the world. There is as well the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum that is a combination of a zoo, museum and botanical garden. The Arizona – Sonora Desert Museum is dedicated to showcase the indigenous wildlife and plant life of the Sonoran Desert.
Arizona - Sonora Desert Museum
The Arizona – Sonora Desert Museum is home to more than 230 different species of wildlife and a collection of 1,200 plant species. It is sprawled on a 98 acre parcel of land, and allows visitors to explore and discover more of the Sonoran Desert’ flora and fauna. This leading City of Tucson attraction was established in 1952, and comes complete with an aquarium, botanical gardens, an art gallery, a natural history museum and a zoo. It also offers 2 miles of walking trails, which let visitors explore the fascinating desert habitat. Some of the top attractions of the Arizona – Sonora Desert Museum includes the Desert Grassland, the Cat Canyon, the Life on the Rocks and the Desert Loop Trail.
Saguaro National Park
This national park is well known for been home to giant saguaro cactus that has become one of the main symbols of the American West. The Saguaro National Park extends to the Tucson Mountain District, which abounds with coyopte, desert tortoises and the Gambel’s quail. It as well spans to the Rincon Mountain District that is characterized by pine and mixed conifer forests. These forests are home for a wide variety of curious wildlife species. Some of the most notable include black bears, Arizona mountain king snakes, Mexican spotted owls and even white tailed deer.
White Stallion Ranch
The White Stallion Ranch is situated around 20 miles on the western side of the City of Tucson’s downtown area. It is well noted for providing accommodation, food, horseback rides and riding lessons. It also comes complete with a heated swimming pool, an exercise room and even a petting zoo. Visitors to the White Stallion Ranch get to pick from a wide variety of horse rides. This ranges from all day rides, mountain rides, beer and chaeto rides to name just but a few.
Arizona State Museum
This can be the ideal spot in the City of Tucson to explore the rich cultural heritage of the southwestern region of the United States. It is operated by the University of Arizona, and showcases several permanent collections of works of art and rotating temporary exhibits. This includes over 20,000 baskets along with other woven pieces that were crafted by the southwestern Amerindian tribes. The Arizona State Museum also has over 20,000 whole vessels of southwestern pottery. This collection has the distinction of been the biggest of its kind in the globe. The Arizona State Museum is also home to the biggest collection of archeological artifacts, which were dug up from the state’s soil.