Visitors appreciate this special place for the opportunity to tour the mission church, cemetery and outlying structures and grounds in a peaceful and quiet atmosphere reminiscent of the period  in which they were established.

LOCATION:

Tumacácori, AZ

ADDRESS:

Tumacácori National Historical Park
1891 E. Frontage Rd.
P.O. Box 67
Tumacácori, AZ 85640

TELEPHONE:

(520) 398-2341

OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:

Open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, except Christmas and Thanksgiving.

CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:

Tumacacori's climate is warm and dry with summer monsoons in July and August. Summer temperatures are often above 100 degrees, while the winters are very moderate with lows in the 30's and highs in the 60's and 70's.

DIRECTIONS:

Take Interstate 19 south from Tucson 45 miles to exit 29 and follow the signs. The park is 18 miles north of the Mexican border in Nogales, AZ.

TRANSPORTATION:

None available.

FEES, COSTS, RATES:

The entrance fee is $2.00 per person for ages 17 and above or $4.00 per car load. The National Park Service Golden Passports are honored and available at Tumacácori.

FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:

Visitor Center/Exhibits:

The general area was the site of numerous Jesuit missions later administered by the Franciscans. Tumacacori was originally founded by Father Eusebio Francisco Kino in the late 1600's. The Mission's central structure is the Franciscan-built church, dating back to the early 1800's. The visitor center is an historic building completed in 1937. Exhibits in the visitor center museum include dioramas, Santos and other information and objects related to the Kino missions, the Spanish, and the indigenous native peoples. A 14 minute video gives the visitor a good understanding of what life was like at Tumacacori in the early 1800's. Southwest Parks and Monuments Association (SPMA) has an excellent bookstore in the visitor center. Book topics are constrained to the cultural and natural resources of the general area, but range from the prehistoric period to the present.

Trails/Roads:

The Juan Bautista de Anza Historic Trail runs just north of the park, along the Santa Cruz River, between Tumacacori and the old presidio at Tubac. The trail is 4.5 miles long and crosses the river 3 times. There are no roads within the park. A series of trails, totaling less than a quarter mile, guide the visitor to the parks historic resources.

Programs/Activities:

Guided tours are given daily during the winter months. Living history tours depicting life during the Franciscan period are given with advanced scheduling only. During the winter you will also see local and Mexican artisans demonstrate traditional crafts like tortilla and paper flower making, pottery, reverse glass painting, and Tohono O'odham basket weaving.

Lodging and camping facilities:

There are no camping or lodging facilities in the park. However, facilities are readily available at Green Valley, Arizona 25 miles north, and Nogales, Arizona 18 miles south..

Food/Supplies:

A variety of restaurants and markets are available in Tumacacori, Carmen, Tubac, Green Valley, Rio Rico and Nogales. National chain stores are available in Nogales, Rio Rico and Green Valley. Gasoline is readily available throughout the area.

Other Concessions/NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and Opportunities:

Saguaro National Park, Fort Bowie National Historical Site, Chiricahua National Monument, Organ Pipe National Monument, and Coronado National Monument are all within two-to-four hours of Tumacacori.

Accessibility:

All areas of the park are fully handicapped accessible.

RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE:

Visitors appreciate this special place for the opportunity to tour the mission church, cemetery and outlying structures and grounds in a peaceful and quiet atmosphere reminiscent of the period in which they were established. Photographers especially enjoy the earth colors and shadows of the mission buildings. The mission courtyard and garden just off the visitor center provide a peaceful, quiet place to relax and reflect. Many bird species are seen at the mission due to its proximity to the Santa Cruz river. A short quarter mile hike to the river could be rewarding to bird watching enthusiasts.

RESERVATIONS/PERMITS:

A traditional High Mass is conducted twice a year in the mission church in spring and winter. Reservations are required. Advance notice is appreciated from large groups wishing ranger guided tours or living history demonstrations. Weddings and other religious services, commercial filming and similar activities require an appropriate permit, which must be secured in advance.

BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS:

Allow one-to-two hours for plenty of time to tour both the grounds and the museum.

SPECIAL EVENTS, PROGRAMS:

The two-day Fiesta at Tumacacori is held the first weekend of every December. It includes traditional dancers, musical groups and crafts demonstrators. Luminaries light the grounds and mission church on Christmas Eve. Twice a year, usually in April and October, a special High Mass is given in the Church. Reservations and costumes are required for the High Mass. On occasion, the Mission will open at night during a full moon, allowing visitors to experience Tumacacori in a different light.

VISITOR IMPACTS:

Preservation of the adobe mission church and adjacent structures is an ongoing concern. The Park Service continuously tries to balance the need to protect and preserve, and at the same time allow the public to enjoy the rich history of places like Tumacacori. Public understanding and cooperation is important if we are to maintain Tumacacori for the future.

In 1990, two units were added to the park, the mission ruins at Guevavi and Calabazas. Due to limited staff and budget, these sites are not open to the public.

ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson; Mission San Xavier del Bac in Tucson; the Juan Bautista de Anza Trail between Tumacacori and Tubac; Nogales, Sonora, which is directly across the international boundary from Nogales, Arizona; the village of Tubac with numerous art galleries and crafts stores and the historic Presidio; golf courses in the Green Valley and Rio Rico areas. Several world class birding areas are available within 2 or 3 hours of Tumacacori, like Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Bird Sanctuary in Patagonia; Madera Canyon just east of Green Valley; Ramsey Canyon just south of Sierra Vista; Chirichaua National Monument area; Buenos Aries National Wildlife Refuge; and the San Pedro River area.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The area between Nogales and Tucson is popular with retirees and those pursuing warmer winter climates. It is also well known for its opportunities for birders, hikers, golfers and others interested in outdoor activities. Many of those who have moved to the area with these interests in mind, have become part of the Volunteer in Parks program at Tumacacori National Historical Park, contributing 10598 hours in volunteer time in 1998.