This is a list of historic properties in Tucson, Arizona, which includes a photographic gallery of some of the remaining historic structures. Tucson is a city and the county seat of Pima County. It is the second-largest populated city in Arizona behind Phoenix. Included in this list are the photographs of some of the districts. buildings and individual properties identified as historic by the National Register of Historic Places. Also included are images related to the historic Fort Lowell which was an active United States Army post from 1873 to 1891 on the outskirts of Tucson.
Brief history It is unknown exactly when and who were the first Native-American tribes to settle in the Tucson Valley. However, archaeologists have found evidence of agricultural settlements along the Santa Cruz River and have dated these settlements back to 1080 BC.Brief history of Tucson
There was an era when the Hohokams lived and farmed in the valley. This was between 200 and 1450. It is commonly believed that the Pima and Tohono O'odham are the descendants of the Hohokams and that they continued to inhabit the region.
In 1540, Francisco Vázquez de Coronado led an expedition through Arizona in search of transportable riches, rumored to be in the "Seven Cities of Cibola". Coronado and his men were the first Europeans to explore the area, however the "Seven Cities of Cibola", whose structures were supposed to be made of gold, was only a myth. In 1699, Father Eusebio Francisco Kino arrived in the valley and decided to establish a Catholic mission. The mission church, which he named Mission San Xavier del Bac, was not completed until 1797, almost a hundred years later.
The City of Tucson was officially established in 1775, the year that Hugo Oconór established the Tucson Presidio. O'Connor was born in 1732 in Dublin, Ireland. He moved to Spain where he changed the spelling of his surname to the Spanish sounding "Oconór" and joined the regiment of Volunteers of Aragon. Oconór, a.k.a. "The Founding Father of Tuson" was a military governor of northern Mexico. Tucson, became part of Mexico in 1821, when Mexico fought for and gained its independence from Spain.The Confederate Arizona Campaign of 1862The California Column and the March to Tucson, 1862
In 1854, Tucson ceased to be part of Mexico and became a United States Territory (New Mexico Territory) as a result of Gadsden Purchase. The Confederacy established the Arizona Territory in February 1862 using the east–west boundary after the American Civil War began. They named Tucson their Arizona Territory capital. The United States, on the other hand, created the Arizona Territory in 1863 using the current state boundary. On May 20, 1862, the California Volunteers led by Captain Emil Fritz secured Tucson without firing a single shot. Arizona became an official United States territory in 1863 and Tucson served as the territorial capitol between 1867 and 1877.
The Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation
The Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation was established in March 1984. The foundations mission is to save Tucson's neon signs and list numerous properties on the National Register of Historic Places. However, the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation does not have the ability to deny a demolition permit. Owners of a property, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, may demolish the historical property if desired. According to Jim McPherson, Arizona Preservation Foundation Board President:
Such was the fate of the MacArthur Building which was built in 1907 as the "Hotel Heide". In 1944, the building was remodeled and renamed the "MacArthur Hotel". The building which is located at 345 Toole Ave. was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on December 13, 1983, and its NRHP reference number was #82002089. A partial collapse of one side led to a new facade being put on the building and therefore it was delisted from the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.Old hotel may be sold to a private developer By Rob O'Dell Arizona Daily Star The city purchased the building for $2.9 million in 2005 and in 2008, sold it to the Madden Media for $1.7 million.Tucson sells historic downtown MacArthur building
Properties pictured Districts/Barrios
According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation: "a local historic district is an entire area or group of historic structures deemed significant to the city's cultural fabric that are protected by public review. This can include downtown commercial areas, main streets, waterfront districts, and residential districts."10 Steps to Establish a Local Historic District Barrios is the plural of barrio, a Spanish word for district or neighborhood. Tucson has thirty four historic Districts/Barrios and eight historic Archeological Districts. The National Register is the official Federal list of districts, sites, and objects significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture.National Register of Historic Places Program: Frequently Asked Questions The following Districts/Barrios are pictured and/or have images related to them:Arizona – Pima County Armory Park Historic Residential District. Location: E. 12th St. to 19th St., Stone Ave. to 2nd Ave.; also roughly 19th, 20th, and 21st Sts. from Stone Ave. to Jacobus Ave.; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on July 30, 1976, references:#76000378, 96000754. (note: The second NRHP reference represents a boundary increase on July 5, 1996) Blenman-Elm Historic District. Location: Bounded by Grant, Country Club, Speedway, and Campbell Ave.; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on October 29, 2003, reference: #03000318. Catalina Vista Historic District. Location: Bounded by Grant, Tucson Boulevard, Elm St., and Campbell Ave.; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on October 29, 2003, reference: #03000317.
DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun Historic District. Pictured is Ettore DeGrazia's studio and home. Location: 6300 N. Swan Rd.; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on October 12, 2006, reference: #06000932. El Encanto Estates Residential Historic District. Location: Roughly bounded by Country Club Rd., Broadway Boulevard, 5th St., and Jones St.; also roughly bounded by E. Speedway Boulevard, N. Country Club Rd., E. Broadway Boulevard, and N. Campbell Ave.; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on January 29, 1988, references: #87002284, 00001363. (note: The second NRHP reference represents a boundary increase on September 29, 1994).Leighton, David. "Street Smarts: Contest named streets of El Encanto Estates". Arizona Daily Star. September 1, 2014. El Montevideo Historic District. Location: 3700 and 3800 blocks of streets between Broadway and 5th St.; also the 3700 and 3800 blocks of Camino Del Norte; also roughly bounded by 5th St., Broadway Boulevard, Alvernon Way, and Ridge Dr.; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on September 12, 1994, references: #94001070, 00001362, 07001335. (note: Second and third sets of references are related to the boundary increases of December 1, 2000 and December 29, 2007). El Presidio Historic District. Location: Roughly bounded by W. 6th and W. Alameda Sts. and N. Stone and Granada Aves.; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on September 27, 1976, references: #76000379. Feldman's Historic District. The name was changed from "Speedway-Drachman Historic District". The district was named after Alther M. Feldman, homesteader and photographer. Location: Roughly bounded by Lee St., Park Ave., Speedway Boulevard, 7th Ave., Drachman St., and 2nd Ave. Also, generally north of E. Speedway Boulevard, west of N. Park Ave., south of E. Lee St., and east of N. 7th St.; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on September 21, 1989, references: #89001460, 08000752.Leighton, David. "Street Smarts: Feldman brought family to Tucson after 1870s economic crash". Arizona Daily Star. July 9, 2013. Fourth Avenue Commercial Historic District. Location: 4th Ave. from approx. 4th to 9th Sts.; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on October 12, 2017, reference: #100001726. Iron Horse Expansion Historic District. Location: Roughly bounded by 8th St., Euclid Ave., Hughes, and 10th Sts., and N. 4th and Hoff Aves.; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on June 6. 1986, reference: #86001347. Marist College Historic District. Location: 72 W. Ochoa St.; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on October 25, 2011, reference: #11000760. Menlo Park Historic District. Location: 13 Subdivisions irregularly bounded around Grande Ave. and W. Congress St. intersection; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on April 23, 2010, reference: #10000201. Rillito Race Track Historic District. It was originally listed as "Rillito Racetrack-Chute". The current name represents a boundary increase of February 6, 2012. Location: 4502 N. 1st Ave; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on June 12, 1986, reference: #86001322. Rincon Heights Historic District. Location: Roughly bounded by 6th Street, Broadway Boulevard, Campbell Avenue, and Fremont Avenue; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on January 23, 2013, reference: #12001190. John Spring Neighborhood Historic District. Location: Roughly bounded by W. Speedway Boulevard, N. 9th Ave., W. 5th St., N. Main Ave., W. 2nd St., and N. 10th Ave; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on May 11, 1989, reference: #88002131. Tucson Community Center Historic District. Location: 180-260 S. Church Ave.; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on September 8, 2015, reference: #15000569. University of Arizona Campus Historic District. Location: Roughly bounded by E. 2nd St., N. Cherry Ave., E. 4th St., and Park Ave.; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on June 13, 1986, reference: #86001254. West University Historic District. Location: Roughly bounded by Speedway Boulevard, 6th St., and Park and Stone Aves.; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on December 10, 1980, reference: #80004240. Barrio Anita. Originally McKinley Park subdivision, recorded 1903. Named after Annie Hughes, sister of Sam Hughes. Location: Roughly bounded by W. Speedway Blvd., Union Pacific Railroad, N. Granada Ave., St. Mary's Rd. and I-10; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on September 23. 2011, reference: #11000682.Leighton, David. "Street Smarts: 'Well, I hardly knew what to think of the place' was Tucsonan's first impression". Arizona Daily Star. April 15, 2014. Barrio El Hoyo Historic District. Location: Roughly bounded by W. Cushing St. on the north, W. 18th St. on the south, S. 11th Ave. on the east, and S. Samaniego Ave. on the west.; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on August 13, 2008, reference: #08000763. Barrio El Membrillo Historic District. Location: Bounded by W. Granada St. on the north, W. Simpson St. on the south, and the right-of-way of the former El Paso and Southwestern railroad line on the east; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on August 5. 2009, reference: #09000583. Barrio Libre. Location: Roughly bounded by 14th, 19th, Stone and Osborne Sts.; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on October 18, 1978, reference: #78000565. Barrio Santa Rosa. Location: Roughly bounded by W. 18th St., S. Russell Ave., W. 22nd St., S. 9th Ave., & S. Meyer Ave.; listed in the National Register of Historic Places on September 23, 2011, reference: #11000683.
The following historic districts are not pictured: