Presidio San Agustín del Tucson

About

The city opened the gates to this recreated Spanish Fort and Museum in 2007. Check out Living History on the second Saturday of the month (Oct. - April).

Story

The Tucson Presidio was established in August of 1775 by Spanish Army Colonel Hugo O'Conor. The soldiers, or soldados, and their families moved north from Tubac sometime during the Fall of 1776. The fort was enclosed with a wood palisade until 1783 when, after a large Apache assault, it was surrounded it in an 8-12 foot high adobe wall that was about 700 ft. long on each side.

The Presidio remained in use until the Americans entered Tucson in March of 1856, and was dismantled quickly thereafter. The last standing segment of the wall was torn down in 1918. In the years since efforts were made to locate and mark the walls.

Archaeological excavations at the Presidio site were completed in February of 2006. Construction includes the 20 foot tall adobe tower, or the torreon, and the 10 foot high adobe walls. This reconstruction incorporates a renovated adobe triplex on Meyer St. as a museum and gift shop. On the south side of the Presidio corner is a large mural wall that provides a "view" into the remainder of the 11-acre Presidio.

The Presidio San Agustin del Tucson has living history festivals where visitors can sample Spanish Colonial food, listen to stories of old Tucson, learn period crafts, see the cannon fired and watch the soldiers drill!