Science
Cultural History
The Catalina State Park area appears to have been continuously occupied from at least the Middle Archaic period (5000-1000 BC). Prehistoric farming, small habitation, and pueblo sites constructed of rock and adobe can be found throughout the area. The Romero Ruin is an excellent example of a Hohokam pueblo with associated ball court. The earliest date for its occupation is 550-600 AD. The ruin was extensively occupied between 1000-1100 AD and then abandoned sometime between 1300-1450 AD.
Historic ranching and farming sites are also found throughout the area. The historic structures at the Romero Ruin are the remains of a ranch built by Francisco Romero in the mid- to late-1800s. Although it is reported that Romero built the wall enclosing his living structures as protection against Apache raiders, it is likely that he just improved upon the existing Hohokam compound wall. In addition, Romero probably robbed cobbles from the Hohokam structures to build his house.
Plant Life
"Catalina SP offers the visitors the opportunity to see typical desert plants species in addition to many that are associated with higher elevations." The Arizona Native Plant Society 
offers information about Arizona's extremely rich flora (due to its diversity of altitudes and climate). The organization also offers information about the plants of Catalina SP. This list was prepared by Tom Holland and Sylvia Hosler in 2004, and was updated and edited by Joan Tedford in 2011.
Download Plants of Catalina SP (
105 KB PDF)
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Southern Region