Save the Presidio Park Initiative

The Tubac Historical Society is leading a community-wide effort to keep the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park open. Tubac Presidio State Historic Park was Arizona’s first state park. It is located in the center of Tubac, Arizona’s first European settlement. The site includes a Visitor Center, a museum, an archaeological exhibit, several historic buildings including an 1885 Territorial schoolhouse, a picnic area, and a trailhead for the Anza Trail for both equestrian and pedestrian use.

And the community of Tubac has SUCCEEDED! See a Press Release here. Thanks to everyone who contributed their time, effort, and money to make keeping Tubac Presidio State Historic Park open. And thanks to the following for their help in making the Signing Ceremony such a success: Paul and Christy Ciseck for lemonade, cookies, ice, and cups; to Kim Etherington for chilled water; to Polly Schlitz, Draw Me A Sheep Productions, and The Imagination Institute for coordinating our costumed participants, and to Gary and Dede Isaacson for their help in capturing news video.

Click here for a news article in the Green Valley News.

Click here for a news story with a brief video clip on KOLD, Tucson.

Arizona Highways magazine is teaming up with their state park colleagues to help ensure that Tubac Presidio State Historic Park remains open and accessible to residents and visitors alike. Take advantage of their special offer here, in which $5 from every subscription is donated to the TPHSP if you designate our code upon checkout. 

Concerned at what the closure would mean to Tubac, which depends heavily on cultural tourism, a host of organizations have joined together to propose alternatives to the closure of TPSHP. The organizations include:
 
Tubac Historical Society
AnzaTrail Coalition of Arizona
Tubac Rotary Club
Santa Cruz Citizens Council
Tubac Chamber of Commerce
Tubac Center of the Arts
“A Park for Tubac”
Arizona Archaeology Society (Santa Cruz Valley Chapter)
Tumacacori National Historical Park
Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Alliance
Tubac Community Center Foundation

Because the mission of the Tubac Historical Society is so closely matched to the Park’s mission and purpose, THS has agreed to act as the lead organization in an effort to keep the TPSHP open. The other organizations have committed their support in human and financial resources.
Tubac is urgently raising funds among the community businesses, non-profit organizations, homeowners associations and individuals to generate $30,000 for TPSHP operations and maintenance. If you would like to contribute to this effort, you may do so here.

We are pleased to announce that Arizona State Parks, Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, and the Tubac Historical Society have finalized contract agreements to allow the Tubac Historical Society to manage and operate the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park until Arizona State Parks is able to do so again. A signing ceremony was held at the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park on Monday, May 17, 11:00am.
See the video of KVOA-TV's coverage here

View slideshows of the ceremony.
Slideshow by Polly Schlitz
Slideshow by Patty Wilson
Slideshow by Chuck Meyers

The Tubac Presidio State Historic Park website is here.

Photographer Jeff Handley has very kindly donated a series of 360 degree views of displays in the Presidio museum and they can be viewed by clicking on the link.