Tumacacori National Historical Park

Southern Arizona is known for having many old missions.   One of the most well known is the San Xavier Mission in the southwestern part of Tucson.  There is also a mission that is less known about 45 minutes south of Tucson, near Tubac AZ.

La Mission San Jose de Tumacacori is a Spanish adobe mission that dates back to 1691 and was founded by Jesuit Father Eusebio Francisco Kino.  This was the first mission to be established in what is now Arizona.   While the original site was located on the east side of the Santa Cruz river, it was relocated after the Pima Revolt in 1751.   The current site was finished around 1757.   The life of the mission was very fluid as Apache raids damaged it and the community would repair and sometimes expand it.    The mission was abandoned in December of 1848.

Today the mission is maintained as an arrested ruin, meaning it is being preserved in its current state instead of being restored to how it looked when it was active.    There is also a small cemetery in the rear of the church that is maintained.   I am not sure if the bodies have been moved or if they remain, either way if you visit, please be respectful. 

Anyone can come visit the mission and you are free to walk around the grounds.  There is a room with a video that will play offering you some historical background on the site before you walk it.  Once you have finished there is a small museum you can walk through on your way out that has more information. 

Tumacacori National Historical Park

1891 I-19 Frontage Rd

Tumacacori, AZ 85640

https://www.nps.gov/tuma/index.htm