AZ Day Trips: Travel Back in Time in Tumacácori

If you're looking for a day trip in Arizona, look no further than Tumacácori-Carmen, one of the oldest European settlements in Arizona. This destination is run by the Arizona State Park Service.

Mission San José de Tumacácori was first erected in 1691 but rebuilt across the Santa Cruz River in 1757. The original mission was founded by Father Eusebio Kino in 1691 on the east side of the Santa Cruz River. This was the first mission to be build and settled in Southern Arizona.

According to the Arizona State Park website, "Tumacácori sits at a cultural crossroads in the Santa Cruz River valley. Here O’odham, Yaqui, and Apache people met and mingled with European Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries, settlers, and soldiers, sometimes in conflict and sometimes in cooperation. Follow the timeworn paths and discover stories that connect us to enduring relationships, vibrant cultures, and traditions of long ago."

The park features short guided and self-guided walks on even, well paved paths. Anyone in a wheelchair will find this pleasant park easily accessible. Special children's programs at the park help inspire learning and understanding of this unique historical venue.

If you're a homeschool parent or a teacher, this is a great place for a field trip and a hands-on learning experience. If you happen to be a little out of range of Southern Arizona, or if you're looking for a preview, check out the virtual tour of Tumacácori.

Don't forget to visit the art galleries in neighboring Tubac, and if you time your visit right, enjoy some of the many annual events.

Annual Events in Tubac

Per the website Southern Arizona Guide, these are some of the events you and your family will find entertaining.

In January, Tubac Center of the Arts hosts the Annual Home Tour.

February, centers around the Tubac Festival of the Arts. 

March is Tubac’s Open Studio Tour where Tubac artists open their studios to visitors for the weekend.

In October, Anza Day links the common history of Tubac and Tumacácori. Beginning with a mass in the old church at Tumacácori, then a recreation of Anza and his horse soldiers who ride from Tumacácori to Tubac along the Santa Cruz River on the Juan Bautista de Anza Historic Trail.

For a complete list of annual events in Southern Arizona including Tubac, click here.