Wednesday, March 18, 2009

The Presidio Trail, Tucson - March 17, 2009










Yesterday we took the historical loop walk in Tucson's historic district. It was about 2-1/2 mile walk on a very warm day. It was Lt. Col. Hugo O'Connor, an Irishman serving in the Spanish Army, that founded a fort in what is now downtown Tucson. It consisted of an 11-acre fort that had 10 foot high adobe walls and two corner towers. This for marked the northwestern edge of the Spanish frontier in Arizona.




Pima County Courthouse - Built in 1929 in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, this building features a beautiful mosaic-tiled dome and elegant courtyard.















This adobe building was named for the waife of the builder, Carmen soto Vasquez, and began as a theater that staged dramatic works in Spanish. Later it became a movie theater, boxing arena, garage, and Elks Lodge.





St. Augustine Cathedral - Began in 1896, this Spanish Colonial Revival style church has a magnificent sandstone facade. Housed within the vestibule is one of the bells from the Spanish-era presidio. There is a crucifix in the vestibule area that dates back to the 15th century.

There's a long association between the name of St. Augustine and the Tucson area, dating back to the Spanish military and missionary presence in the 1700s.

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