Tubac Presido Feb 18, 2015

We've made many trips to Tubac, a busy shopping town sort of like Long Grove, Illinois or Cedarburg, WI. There are many different shops, jewelry, Mexican pottery, decorated flower pots, antiques, and other southwestern decor.  I can never see it all.
 But this time, we toured the historic Tubac Presidio, established in 1752 as a Spanish fort.  Tubac became the first European settlement.  Tubac was abandoned 3 times.  Once when the Spanish left, and the Apaches attacked.  Then after the Gadsden purchase, US soldiers provided enough protection from the Indians to allow the town to grow again. Lastly, the residents evacuated when the soldiers were recalled due to the Civil War and Indian attacks resumed. This land has been populated by nomads, agricultural Indians, Spanish explorers, Catholic missionaries, miners, and early US pioneer settlers.  There is way more history here than these few pictures show.  This site was to be closed in 2010 until the Arizona state legislature reduced all state park funding.  The community came together to form a Public / Private Partnership which has preserved this wonderful site.          

These circles were used to grind grain.  The gray stone was used by Indians to pound grain by hand.

 Creosote bushes are everywhere in the desert.  If you rub the leaves on your hands, the smell of creosote comes off.  Luckily, this bush has NO spines or prickly things.

 So much history

 Can you imagine wooden wheels

 This is what the fort looked like.

 Adobe walls crumbled over time.  This represents the footprint of the fort.  No very big....

This building has been lovingly restored.

 Not politically correct these days

I used to own one of these upright pianos.  

 

 This device bent iron to form wheels

 I never realized how small these covered wagons are.

 During the archaeology dig to uncover remnants of the fort foundations, Indian, followed by Spanish soldier, followed by settlers artifacts were discovered,

 
 Imagine cooking on this stove

 Something to sit on

 Something to sleep on

 First flip flops!!!


We stopped for lunch at the Italian Peasant Restaurant.  Jim had an egg plant hero sandwich and I had chicken parmigiana.  It was all very yummy.  Can you believe the hot casserole is served on a thick slice of Mesquite wood.

 Beautiful sunset to end our busy day.