Tubac Presidio State Park

Final stop on our road trip south of Tucson on I-19 was the town of Tubac.  Established in 1752 as a Spanish presidio (fort), the archeological remains of the fort are now a state park.  One of the oldest European settlements in present day Arizona, the military fort was established to serve as a base for further exploration of the southwest and to protect colonists. The church established missions nearby.  From this site in 1776 military leader Juan Bautista de Anza organized an expedition that resulted in the founding of present day San Francisco.  The fort was abandoned and reestablished by the Spanish several times in history...it was deserted when the 49er's were lured to California to search for gold.  During the Gadsen Purchase of 1853, Tubac again was resettled and developed by mining companies; the population grew.  In 1859 the first newspaper was printed. But, during the Civil War the settlement failed again...eventually mining in the Tombstone area and railroads in Tucson pulled settlers from Tubac.
  
Today only the foundation of the original fort remains.  An extensive museum contains artifacts and historical memorabilia from Tubac's past, including the printing press used to print the first newspaper.   This historic village on the Santa Cruz River now attracts artists, writers, and history buffs...shoppers come to enjoy the arts, crafts, pottery, and jewelry found in small shops in present day Tubac.