Located in the county of Santa Cruz, Arizona is the Tumacacori National Historical Park that preserves the ruins of former Spanish mission communities Landmarks. Established between 1600 to 1750s which consists of a church and other supporting structures of the church were abandoned in the early 1800s to date when the mission was relocated to a new town.

The Birth of Tumacacori National Historical Park

Tumacacori complex, which is 3 distinct mission churches, were constructed in different years between 1691 and 1756 by Spanish Jesuit Padre Eusebio Kino. Mission San Jose de Tumacacori was the first to be established in 1691 followed by mission Los Santos Angeles de Guevavi, the last one to be built was established in the 1700s. in 1751, the mission was relocated to Santa Cruz River but the old ones were never abandoned until 1848. After only six years in despair, our government purchased the region from Mexico making Tumacacori monuments part of Arizona state territory.

The rise of Tumacacori national park

In 1908, the Tumacacori complex (monuments) had another chance to live when President Theodore Roosevelt declared it Tumacacori monuments. 29 years later, the Tumacacori museum was built within Tumacacori National Historical Park to display and preserve the three historic monuments. In 1987, the museum was declared a national historic landmark. Tumacacori National Historical Park is made up of the Tumacacori monuments and the museum. The park manages all the tours and maintenance of the monuments.

What is the current condition of the Tumacacori National Park?

All the three monuments that make up the Tumacacori complex, as well as the Tumacacori museum, were all combined to form Tumacacori National Historical Park. Tumacacori monuments were restored soon after they were declared monuments. Although they were built six centuries ago, the park’s management has done a good job of preserving and restoring the monuments as much as they can. Although now old, Tumacacori monuments still stand at Tumacacori National Historical Park with much of their archaic architectural designs maintained even after renovation.

Are Tumacacori monuments open to the public?

Tumacacori National Historical Park is open to the public and offers tours all around the park. Of the three mission monuments, only mission San Jose de Tumacacori is given access to by the park for visits, the rest are closed to the public. You can still enjoy learning about Tumacacori monuments at the museum which is also open to the public.