On our last day before Mark and Sue head back east we want to explore some of Tucson’s history with them. We're starting on the Santa Cruz River Park, where we’ve been on many of our Loop rides. It follows the trail that the Spanish military commander Juan Bautista de Anza traveled on the expedition he led in 1775-76 from Mexico to present-day San Francisco. From the trail we'll ride around some of the sites of Tucson's birthplace.
South of Silverlake Road at a entry point for the Loop near Cottonwood Lane, we find a collection of public art about the history and native species of the area. Barry and I haven't come through this entry so this is all new to us.
This area lies in the Paseo de las Iglesias ... the Path of the Churches. One of those churches is Mission San Xavier del Bac, located nine miles south. The other was the former Mission San Agustín del Tucson, which is now the site of Mission Garden, located one mile north at the foot of "A" Mountain. Both churches were established in 1692 by the Jesuit missionary Father Eusebio Kino.
A three-panel mural at this site recalls the Paseo de las Iglesias, De Anza's expedition and Father Kino
Karen PoretThanks for noticing the Ramada art and, the fact someone ( homeless?) is also there. Too many people don’t see “these people” anymore, sadly. Reply to this comment 2 months ago
Near "A" Mountain - officially Sentinel Peak, we leave the bike path and turn east, riding through Barrio Viejo on our way to El Presidio historic district.
Teatro Carmen was devoted to the presentation of Spanish-language performing arts when it opened in 1915 in the Barrio. Over the years it has been a ballroom, auto garage, cinema, meeting hall and boxing arena. The building is being renovated to serve as a venue for live theater, music and film.
El Presidio San Agustin de Tucson is a re-creation of the fort where Tucson was founded in 1775 by the Spanish empire. It was built to protect soldiers, settlers and O'odham people who lived here from Apache attacks. Col. Juan Bautista de Anza passed through here on his expedition and penned the first correspondence from the fort. The last standing wall was torn down in 1918.
Flags of Spain, United States, Arizona and Mexico fly at the Presidio museum
After a little time perusing the historical exhibits at the fort, we turn back west, crossing the Santa Cruz riverbed on the Luis Guttierez bridge on Cushing Street. The last time Barry and I were here we crossed on the north side, so this time we get to check out the art on the south side. Laser-cut icons in the shade fins 0verhead cast solar shadows over illustrations of Tucson's history on the sidewalk.
Horseshoes and spurs on this shade fin cast their shadows over the story of La Fiesta de Los Vaqueros - the first Tucson rodeo parade in 1925.
Streetcars have run on Cushing street as far back as 1897 when they were pulled by horses. Now the modern Sunlink streetcar runs here, free to the public.
