Tucson, Arizona: A Travel Guide

Tucson, located in the heart of Arizona's Sonora Desert is a surprising gem for any visitor, offering much more than its average of 350 days of annual sunshine. A city of about half million people, Tucson seamlessly blends its historic Spanish Colonial heritage with the modernity of the 20^th Century. Home to the University of Arizona, Tucson is a much more cosmopolitan city than its size might indicate, offering a vast array of entertainments.

Tucson Museum of Art Located on what's known as the Historic Block, the museum exhibits its European and American art in its main building. But in five other historic buildings along the Historic Block, the museum displays some very interesting pre-Columbian artifacts, as well as an impressive collection of Spanish Colonial art.

El Presidio Historic District This is the site of the original Spanish presidio which was called San Agustin del Tucson was founded in 1775. More than 70 of the buildings in this district date to what is known as the Territorial Period, the era that pre-dates Arizona's statehood.

St. Augustine Cathedral Dating to 1896, this cathedral is an example of the Spanish Colonial style of architecture. Local figures of the Sonoran Desert are interestingly featured in the artwork of the church.

San Xavier del Bac Mission Located outside of Tucson, this mission, the work of Franciscan missionaries, was completed in 1797 and is today considered to be the finest extant example of Spanish Colonial architecture the American Southwest. Admission is free.

University of Arizona Museum of Art Located on the University of Arizona campus, this museum houses a wide-ranging collection of over 4,500 pieces of art from artists such as Domenico Tintoretto, Edward Hopper, Auguste Rodin, Pablo Picasso, Jean Arp, Jackson Pollock, Franz Kline, Mark Rothko, Henri Matisse, Wassily Kandinsky, among many, many others. Admission is free.

Saguaro National Park The largest species of cactus in the US, the saguaro is unique to the Sonoran Desert and a visit to the Saguaro National Park is a great way to learn about them. They have a life span of about 200 years and can grow to fifty feet in height. You can drive through the park or stop and do some hiking. The National Park Service offers guided walking tours.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum The Sonora Desert contains the largest variety of wildlife in the world, outside of the Amazon. And the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is the best place to learn about it. Covering twenty-one acres, it includes a museum which contains displays that explain the history of the desert and the animals and plants that inhabit it, as well as a zoo and botanical garden.

Old Tucson Studios You've probably seen the Old Tucson Studios and have not been aware of it. This was originally built to be a movie set in 1939 by the Hollywood producers of a movie called Arizona. It has since been used in the popular films Gunfight at the OK Corral, Rio Bravo, The Three Amigos, and Tombstone, to mention just a few. The popular television series Little House on the Prairie was filmed here was well. Today, Old Tucson Studios is a modest Old West theme park, where visitors are invited to pan for gold, travel by stage coach, witness gunfights, and learn more about the history of the site as a film studio.

Pima Air & Space Museum Located next to the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, this museum's collection of 250 historic aircraft is one of the largest in the world, all stretched out one next to the other in the Sonora Desert. Three versions of Air Force One are on display, those belonging to Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson as well as a replica of the famous plane that the Wright brothers flew in 1903.

Titan Missile Museum Built in 1963, this is one of the original stations that housed Titan II nuclear missiles. Guided tours are available.