Facilities

Facilities available at Tubac Presidio State Historic Park.

Visitor Center

The Visitor Center is open from 8 am – 5 pm. A seven minute video is available for viewing, which gives a brief history of the park and the city of Tubac. Besides hosting the park gift shop, the Visitor Center has a scale model of the Captain’s house, which was a part of the Presidio and is located on the park grounds. A hand-ons table for children is also available which contains a variety of unique items.

Restrooms

This park has 2 modern, handicap accessible restrooms located in Otero Hall.

Gift Shop

Tubac Presidio Gifthshop

The gift shop, located in the Visitor Center, is open from 8 am – 5 pm. Items for sale include various books on the history of the area, regional cookbooks, park T-shirts and baseball caps, plus birding and wildlife guides.

Museum & Exhibits

The Visitor Center contains Spanish/Mexican influenced furnishings and an artist mural of the Presidio, a model of the Presidio, Historic maps, and a video presentation.

The Tubac Presidio Museum houses interpretive exhibits with many original artifacts including early Native American archaeological and ethnographic collections, Spanish Colonial and Missions, Mining, Ranching, Civil War, Arizona Territorial Period, Women and Children, and the original Washington Printing Press that printed the first newspaper in Arizona in 1859.

Tubac Presidio Archaeological Excavation Exhibit: In 1974, archaeologists from the University of Arizona excavated portions of the presidio. Visitors can now view excavated portions of the original foundation, walls, and plaza floor of the 1752 Commandant's quarters, as well as artifacts representing the various periods of Tubac's unique history.

Otero Hall, an 1885 period Territorial Schoolhouse, is one of Arizona’s earliest school buildings.

The Rojas House is a mid-20th century adobe vernacular row house with original furnishings of Luisa Rojas, a life-long resident of Tubac.

Outside patio exhibits show how people lived, cooked, and worked in Spanish Colonial times. Additionally, outside interpretive panels are located all along sidewalks.

Group: Day Use Areas

To reserve a Group: Day Use Area, please call the park for availability and current fees.

Otero Hall is an historic adobe building initially built as a community center and later used as a schoolhouse. Available for meetings, receptions, weddings and other group uses. Otero Hall has running water, restrooms, wood floors, and is handicap accessible.

The Schoolhouse is available for meetings, lectures, performances, dances, weddings, and other group uses. There is a stage and a working potbelly stove and wood floors. The building, originally built in 1885, is handicap accessible. Note: No restrooms in building.

Picnic Grounds are located on the south end of the park there are thirteen (13) picnic tables, two (2) of which are handicap accessible and five (5) grills. Firewood or charcoal must be brought in, as we do not sell it at the park. The picnic tables are located in a small grove of mesquite trees, which provide plenty of shade. This area is available for large groups, weddings, receptions, reunions, and large gatherings.

Picnic Area

On the south end of the park, thirteen (13) Picnic tables are located in a small grove of mesquite trees, which provide plenty of shade. A perfect spot for a family picnic. Note: Two of of the tables are handicap accesissible.

Hiking Trails

Tubac Presidio serves as trailhead for a 4.5-mile section of the Anza Trail which leads to Tumacácori National Historical Park and crosses the Santa Cruz River twice. Please call ahead for trail conditions. especially during the rainy season, as flooding will make the river crossings inaccessible. Note: This is a straight trail, not a loop, round trip is 9 miles. Horses are permitted on the trail. ATVs, Bicycles, and other vehicles are not permitted.

Equestrian Trails

Equestrian riders may leave their horse trailer at the park to ride the 4.5-mile section of the Anza Trail. (See Hiking Trails above.) Horses may not be left unattended at the park.

Wildlife Viewing

A variety of birds can be spotted on the grounds, including roadrunners. Although large mammal sightings at the park, during park hours, are rare; on the Anza Trail which passes through the park, visitors can catch glimpses of javelinas, deer, and coyote.

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