ARIZONA STATE PARKS: For Immediate Release
Managing and conserving Arizona’s natural, cultural and recreational resources for the benefit of the people, both in our Parks and through our Partners. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Bilbrey at (602) 542-1996 or (602) 228-8518, or Monica Enriquez at (602) 542-6997. Contact by Email: pio(at)azstateparks.gov
(Phoenix, Arizona - October 6, 2009) - In 1776, most of us learned how new Americans were fighting for their independence from Britain, but in the southwest Capt. Juan Bautista de Anza was gathering about 300 Spanish settlers and military people for a long trip. They mounted up and left the Tubac Presidio with these people on a 1200-mile trek to the West coast to build the Presidio at San Francisco. Their mission was to connect New Spain with San Francisco.
Tubac Presidio State Historic Park will celebrate Juan Bautista de Anza's trek on Saturday, October 17, 2009 from 10 am to 4 pm. Tubac, which grew up around the Spanish presidio built in 1752, is Arizona's first European settlement. The Anza Trail runs from Nogales, Arizona to San Francisco, California with the 3.5 miles section between the two parks followed by re-enactors each year. Read the fascinating journals of the military leaders and learn more about this historic trip at http://www.nps.gov/juba/index.htm.
On Saturday, October 17th, Juan Bautista de Anza, portrayed by Luis Bracamonte, and his troops will gather at 9:30 am at Tumacacori Mission. The Tumacacori Mission will present "Reflections of the Past" at 10 am and then will ride up the Anza Trail and arrive in Tubac about noon. "Anza" will give a presentation to the awaiting crowd on the journey that he, his troops and courageous settlers will begin to establish the Presidio at San Francisco in October 1775.
The festivities will include living history presentations. There will also be music including the "La Paloma Folklorico" group who will perform their traditional Mexican cultural dances. The event will also have the historic Washington Printing Press and we will be printing copies of The Weekly Arizonian, Arizona's first newspaper printed in Tubac on March 3, 1859.
For more information contact Tubac Presidio State Historic Park at (520) 398-2252. The park entrance fee is $4 per person for those aged 14 and up and $1 for children aged 6 to 13 (There is no charge for children younger than 6). Tubac Presidio State Historic Park is located at One Burruel Street in Tubac, Arizona. The park is located 45 miles south of Tucson on Interstate 19. This event is co-sponsored by the Tubac Chamber of Commerce, Tubac Historical Society and the Anza Trail Coalition of Arizona.
For more information about the 30 State Parks, statewide hiking opportunities, off-highway vehicle trails, and other outdoor recreational and cultural opportunities in Arizona, call (602) 542-4174 (outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free (800) 285-3703) or visit AZStateParks.com. Follow us on twitter.com/AZStateParks.
-end-
Learn more about Tubac Presidio State Historic Park 
link to this page:
http://azstateparks.com/press/2009/PR_10-06-09.html
[Skip] Home Find a Park Arizona Map
PDF Documents Require Adobe Reader
Read External Link Disclaimer