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Main entrance to the Tupac

The Tubac Presidio, or fort, was the first European settlement on the territory of what is now the United States. Established by the Spanish, it was to protect the future Spanish colonial settlements and missions like those at Tumacacori and San Xavier Bac.

It's an easy drive from Tucson so we drove south one morning to see it. Now a State Historical Park, it preserves an important piece of Spanish colonial and Indian history, and therefore of the history of Arizona. It has an active force of volunteers who man the visitor's center and offer re-enactments of life in the Spanish colonial era.

Model of the Tupac Fort

Ocotillo Branch Ceiling

The Kitchen and Workshop Area

Volunteer Retiree who told us all about the history of Tubac