For centuries, Native Americans lived along the Santa Cruz River, some in the area of present-day Tubac.  But within 50 years of Columbus' discovery of the New World Spanish explorers came this way.  Settlers and miners came here, too and Spanish soldiers were sent to protect these residents of New Spain.

Tubac was established in 1752 as a Spanish presidio, or fort, at Tubac, becoming Arizona's first European settlement. 

Later the military unit was moved to Tucson and Tubac fort was abandonded, much to the dread and dispair of the remaining civilians.

Apaches had been held at bay by the military in Tubac.  AWhen the soldiers left, the Apache returned, killing settlers and livestock.  Many remaining settlers fled.  Spanish soldiers were sent again to Tubac and life there was rekindled.

Today, Tubac is a bustling village, home of a golf resort, new housing developments, art gallaries and shops.  Known as "the place where art and history meet ".  Just 20 miles south of Green Valley, its streets are filled with galleries, artist's studios, shops, boutiques and restaurants.  Tubac is an artist colony.  The Tubac Center of the Arts is a center of much of the cultural life there.  Providing a full range of arts programming and seasonal exhibitions that should not be missed.  Many comfortable Bed and Breakfasts mean that your visit to Tubac does not have to end when the shops close!

The old Spanish fort is gone, but its site remembered as the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park - the first park in the Arizona park system, located in the village's Old Town.  No visit to Tubac is complete without a stop at Arizona's oldest State Park.  Its small museum can give the visitor a view of what early-day Tubac life was like.  The museum houses the press that printed the Weekly Arizonian, Arizona's first newspaper.  With so much history and art there's lots to celebrate here.

Scenic high desert vistas surround Tubac, and the village enjoys a year-round economy that benefits from summer temperatures notably cooler than Tucson or Phoenix.  More than ninety businesses now line Tubac's meandering streets, and a full day can be enjoyed wandering through art galleries, working studios and gift shops.

Tubac is located about 20 miles south of Green Valley along Interstate 19.

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ANZA DAYS

In October, a famous ride by former presidio commandant Juan Bautista de Anza is commemorated with Anza Days.  In 1775-1776, Anza led 240 persons including women and children, soldiers, 340 horses, 165 pack mules and 302 cows on a dangerous, overland 1,800 mile journey that led to the founding of San Francisco.  Each year, participants dress in period costume and re-create the start of Anza´s 1,800-mile ride by horseback. Beginning at nearby Tumacacori National Historic Park, trekkers hike four and a half miles along the Santa Cruz River to the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park. 

In February, there's the Tubac Festival of the Arts.  A smaller version of this festival called the Art Experience, is held in the fall.

December´s Luminaria Nights/Fiesta Navidad rounds out the year with a holiday celebration that glows in the light of luminarias. Each year, the historic buildings of Tubac glow in the soft light of these traditional candle-fueled luminarias.   During some of the week the merchants stay open late, offering refreshments to visitors and shoppers.  Strolling musicians sing and play Christmas music.

Prehistoric: It is believed that the Tubac area has been inhabited over 11,000 years. First to come were the Elephant Hunters, who hunted in the dense Arizona forests and along numerous lakes and streams for the huge elephant-like mammoth. The Hohokam lived in the area between 300-1500 A.D., followed by the Pima and native O'odham, who greeted the Spanish.

Spanish Colonial : Jesuit missionary Father Francisco Eusebio Kino entered the Santa Cruz Valley in 1691.  Perhaps Tubac's most famous person was soldier and explorer Capt. Juan Bautista de Anza II. During his tenure at Tubac (1760-1776), Anza built the chapel of Santa Gertrudis, the foundations of which lie beneath today's St. Ann's Church. Anza's second expedition to the Pacific coast departed from Tubac October 23, 1775. It included approximately 300 soldiers and colonists, and culminated with the founding of San Francisco, converting the natives, building missions, ranches and farms. By 1732 Tubac was a visita of Mission Guevavi and a mission farm and ranch by 1738.

The Pima Revolt of 1751, resulting from a half-century of Spanish domination, caused widespread destruction. In 1752, Spanish troops defeated an army of 2,000 Piman warriors and established the Presidio of San Ignacio de Tubac. Garrisoned with fifty troops and officers, it was commanded by Capt. Juan Thomas de Belderrain.

Apaches Indians, recent migrants, preyed upon Tubac and the surrounding area. The Jesuits were expelled from Spanish possessions in 1767 and replaced by the Franciscans. By 1771, the now-friendly Pimans, were moved from Guevavi to Mission Tumacacori for easier protection.

When the Tubac Presidio was moved to Tucson in 1776, the Tubac area was left unprotected. Spain reactivated the presidio in 1787, renamed it El Real Presidio de San Rafael, and ironically recruited a company of Pima Indians who served with distinction.

Mexican Colonial: Independence from Spain in 1821, brought Tubac under Mexican rule. The U.S.-Mexican War (1846-1848) had little effect on Tubac until the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Land north of the Gila River was ceded to the U.S., forming the New Mexico Territory. This did not include Tubac, but Mexican troops were recalled anyway. Forty-niners pasting Tubac enroute to California, enticed away even more residents.

Arizona Territorial: A ghost town when the U.S. took possession after the Gadsden Purchase of 1853, Tubac returned to life in 1856. Charles Poston and others established the Sonora Exploring and Mining Company in the old presidio ruins. Soon the population topped 1,000; new businesses, regular Butterfield Stage service, and The Weekly Arizonian newspaper attracted the elite to Tubac.

By 1860 the mining boom had faded, Civil War recalled Federal Troops and Apache raiding intensified. August 1, 1861, Confederate Troops seized Arizona only to lose it to the Union a few months later. Lincoln declared Arizona a Territory, February 20, 1863.

T. Lillie Mercer, Sabino Otero and others established the Tubac town site in 1882, built the Tubac School in 1885, and they organized the Tubac Scouts in 1866 to fight the Apaches. Geronimo surrender in September, bringing peace to Tubac at long last!

Statehood: On February 14, 1912, Arizona was admitted to the Union. Homesteaders, granted land during the Arizona Territorial period, lost it in the Baca Float #3 land dispute. Evicted from their land by 1917, Tubacans were forced to relocate to today's "Historic District."   St. Ann's Church was rebuilt for the third time in 1920 and life in Tubac serene.

In 1948, artist Dale Nichols arrived establishing the Artists School. Since that time, Tubac has become a center for art and history . The Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, was established in 1959 and the Museum in 1964. The first Tubac Festival of the Arts took place in 1960, with the Tubac Center of the Arts opening in 1972.

INTERESTING POINTS

Tubac Name Origin: Over the years, there have been many translations of the name Tubac. They include: "where the water comes out," "gray adobe house," "black water," and even "rotten." According to Henry Dobyns in "Tubac Through Four Centuries.", the original Piman place name for Tubac may be written Tchoowaka in English. More recently Dave Shaul, a noted Pima linguist, has determined that the Pima language does not include the words "tubac" or "bac." However, it does include: "tu" = "black"; and "ba'a" = "pool of water"; also the word "tuva" = "where it is low" or "low area," which is possibly a more accurate translation .

5 Cultures form Tubac

Tubac has been home to at least five distinct cultures: the Hohokam between 300 and 1400 AD; the Tohono O'odham ("Desert People" called Papago by the Spanish) arrived sometime in the 1500's; the Spaniards arrived with Father Campos in 1726, according to a baptismal record; Mexico claimed it during the 1821 Mexican War of Independence; and it was bought by the United States under the 1853 Gadsden Purchase.

The History Portion by this information was written by Mary Bingham of the Tubac Historical Society.