TUMACACORI NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK

I VISITED THIS MISSION SEVERAL TIMESMY MOM AND HUSBAND. THIS PARK PROTECTS THREE SPANISH COLONIAL MISSION RUINS IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA. IT IS A 310 ACRE PARK AND IT HAS A VISITOR CENTER. THE NAME TUMACACORI MAY BE DERIVED FROM OODHAM WORDS (PIMA AND PAPAGO). IT IS THE OLDEST MISSIONIN THE STATE. THERE WERE 22 MARRIED COUPLES IN THE CENSUS BOOK, 12 WIDOWERS, AND 10 ORPHANS. MORE THAN 20 MISSIONS WERE ESTABLISHED BY FATHER KINO.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FRANCISCAN CHURCH AT TUMACACORI TOOK PLACE WAS BUILT AT BETWEEN 1800 AND 1822 AND THEY USED 90,000 ADOBE BRICKS. THEY HAVE A TRAIL BETWEEN TUMACACORI AND THE TUBA PRESIDIO STATE HISTORIC PARK. IT FOLLOWS THE RIVER IN THE SHADE OF MESQUITE, HACK BERRY ELDERBERRY, COTTONWOOD, AND WILLOW TREES. THE MESQUITE BOSQUE AND DESERT SCRUB PROVIDES SHELTER TO MORE THAN 200 SPECIES OF BIRDS. COYOTES, JAVELINA, RACOONS, FERILE BOARS, REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS. THEIR HISTORIC ORCHID IS BEING RE-ESTABLISHED. THEIR WATER COMES FROM A CANYON SOUTHWEST OF NOGALES. THE SPANISH WHO CAME HERE CALLED THE OODHAM INDIANS THE PIMA. THE JESUIT MISSIONARIES CALLED THIS AREA PIMERIA ALTA.

BY 1908 WHEN THIS PARK WAS DESIGNATED A NATIONAL MONUMENT BY ROOSEVELT IT WAS PRESERVED AND STABILIZED. A MUSEUM WAS BUILT IN 1937 WITHIN WHAT WAS THEN AN INTERPRETIVE DISPLAY. IT HA INFORMATION ON 3 HISTORIC MISSIONS.

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