Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum
Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Presidio is a central site in the history of the Native-American, Spanish, American Southwest, and the quintessential Arizona experience in the town "where art and history meet.” Our Park allows you to explore this spectacular history. We are so grateful for your support in helping the Presidio continue to serve as a cultural, social, and intellectual hub for Southern Arizona. We are the home of many firsts: the first fort in Arizona; the first European settlement in Arizona; the first American mining community in Arizona; the first printing of a newspaper in Arizona. The Presidio proudly boasts being the very first Arizona State Park. In addition to a notable museum, the Presidio is home to three historic buildings, all on the National Register of Historic Places. The Park is filled with informative and provocative displays with ever changing special exhibitions. Stories abound with 2,000 years of history including native peoples, Spanish colonials, Mexicans, and US pioneers.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
13 within 3 miles
Attractions
22 within 6 miles
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
233 reviews
Excellent
146
Very good
71
Average
11
Poor
4
Terrible
1
Robert U
Tucson, AZ158 contributions
Jul 2021
When visiting Tubac and you want to get to know its history, you've got to stop here. It took me around 45 minutes to complete the early, self-guiding tour and I was kept interested the entire time. It's a $7 entry fee and begins with a 7-minute historical video. A very good historical perspective of the area.
Written July 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for visiting our park, museum, and historical buildings! The park is managed by a non profit organization, The Friends of the Tubac Presidio and Museum, Inc., and your review is important to us!
Written November 2, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
WLA
Osoyoos, Canada6 contributions
Jan 2023
My wife and I enjoyed our tour of the Presidio and Museum. The volunteer staff are very pleasant and highly knowledgeable about the area’s history. The tour of the grounds is self-guided complete with a well written guide book. The 7 minute introductory video is well worth the time, providing a good background for your tour. The 1885 school house was a hit with my wife, a retired teacher. The museum had some very interesting pieces and explanatory dioramas.
Written January 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GiseppeGord
780 contributions
Apr 2021
A most pleasant and educational experience. There is a five minute video prior to touring. Gift shop inside. Self-guided tour with written guide. All of the exterior areas were well detailed. There is an old school house, undergroud site to see foundation of original Presidio. Museum is very well done with historical artifacts going back 300-400 years.Admission is $7 and worth it. We spent about two hours and found the visit most amenable. Would definitely recommend. You will come away with enhanced learning of the Spanish, Indian, Mexican influence in this part of Southern AZ. A must stop if in the Tubac area.
Written April 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your review! our park is maintained by a group of volunteers and one non-state employee! We hope to see you again soon; our exhibits change often!
--The Friends of the Tubac Presidio and Museum Inc. is a 501(c) 3 non profit organization. Registered Charity: 46-2133238
Written June 4, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hans
Kwadendamme, The Netherlands2,849 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
This site gives you a good impression about the history of this area. The Spanish conquestors and the native people have been carefully displayed. The school building is nice, the museum with artifacts and also the Rojas house are fun to have a look at. In my opinion this site deserves more visitors because it is worth it.
Written May 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tony S
82 contributions
Sep 2019
I have to say that Tubac Presidio State Historic Park is a great place to visit. Tubac is home of the oldest Spanish fort in Arizona and Arizona’s first state park the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park,
Spanish colonists started to colonize the area in the 1730s. They established The presidio to protect the town and the surrounding area from the rebellious Pimas.
.During the American Civil War the town was again unprotected this time from the Apaches. Apache raids continued into the late 1850s and did not end until 1886. It was at this time that the third oldest schoolhouse in the state was built in Tubac; it is still standing today. The Tubac Presidio State Historic Park was officially dedicated on Sunday, September 28, 1958. You can go underground and explored the original Presidio foundations, plus the Spanish Captains quarter is still standing. The museum has various exhibits, including one which had old Spanish swords and daggers which I found very interesting.
Written February 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Tony!
Wow! You really enjoyed the history you learned about Tubac at the Tubac Presidio State Park and Museum! We are so happy that you learned so much about our town, the first European Settlement in what is not Arizona!
While non of the Presidio Structure is still standing today we have outlined the exact placement of where the Presidio would have been had the adobe walls not deteriorated over the years. We do have a to scale model in our visitor's center as well as painting depicting life at the Tubac Presidio.
We are glad you enjoyed your visit and hope you will visit again!
Sincerely,
Shannon Stone
Director Presidio State Park
Written February 28, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Happytraveler87
Philadelphia PA248 contributions
Mar 2020
The Tubac Presidio State Historic Park is a great way to learn about ancient AZ history. The several buildings on the site are exampleas of early AZ life and the museum building has great artifacts, including an early telephone switchboard and a printing press. In about a 1-2 hours visit you will learn much about AZ history and early life.
Written April 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Gary!
We thank you for visiting the Tubac Presidio and we are glad you enjoyed our exhibits and rich history! We hope that you are able to visit again, once we are able to safely reopen to the public due to COVID19. Thanks again, and stay tuned for new exhibitions and art displays!
Written April 17, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
seattlesez
Seattle, WA450 contributions
Jan 2023
Very enthusiastic volunteers make for a special visit.
This extraordinary place is central to understanding the early history of AZ
and its role in the western US. It was from here that a group was assembled to start the city of San Francisco CA. They had to get there on foot.
This extraordinary place is central to understanding the early history of AZ
and its role in the western US. It was from here that a group was assembled to start the city of San Francisco CA. They had to get there on foot.
Written February 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TMACK M
Grand Junction, CO70 contributions
Nov 2020 • Couples
The volunteer docents were so kind and very helpful. It made it easier to look past how a Euro- centric interpretation of the region's history is at the core of the park. It would be helpful to balance the Presidio's history with how the Apache became resistant to invading settlers. There's an underlying subtext to references about those tribes which makes me think we're not fully aware of how the Spanish and later the U.S. military dominated and subjugated both the more docile Tohono o'odham and militant Apache native people. This is a perfect example of how history is written from the perspective of the victorious. I hope the park administration and kindly volunteers can at least think about that.
Written November 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for mentioning our fantastic volunteers! We hope to see you in 2022-2023!
--The Friends of the Tubac Presidio and Museum Inc. is a 501(c) 3 non profit organization. Registered Charity: 46-2133238
Written June 4, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Raejean
Fort Collins, CO1 contribution
Mar 2020 • Couples
Tubac is one of my favorite places in the world. This time we took time to visit the Presidio State Park, which includes the best museum. The museum displays an extensive history of the village. You travel thru the displays with ease and clarity, visiting a typical “old town” house and gathering house. One of the best small museum not to miss
Written March 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Raejean and Keith,
We are so happy that you took the time to visit the Tubac Presidio State Park and Museum on your recent trip to Tubac! Tubac is a special place and it all stated with the Tubac Presidio, build in 1752 to project the Spanish missionaries and settlers. We are proud of our museum, which tells the story of 2000 years of life in Tubac and the Santa Cruz River Valley. We are adding an exhibit area in our museum for relevant art because after all, Tubac it the place where Art and History Meet!
Thank you for you review! We hope you will visit us again!
Sincerely,
Shannon Stone
Written March 14, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Robby G C
Toronto, Canada78,235 contributions
Feb 2020
This is the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park
.
There was a school here.
They found Jump Rope,marbles.hopscotch.. in1885
They found thethe children's Garden.
Captain's House and Presidio Headquartrs,There is a church ndarby.
They found Adobe.
Chocolate was an extremely popular beverage.
There was a telescopeLearning .
The press printed the first newspaper, March3,1859.
They found pictures.
.
There was a school here.
They found Jump Rope,marbles.hopscotch.. in1885
They found thethe children's Garden.
Captain's House and Presidio Headquartrs,There is a church ndarby.
They found Adobe.
Chocolate was an extremely popular beverage.
There was a telescopeLearning .
The press printed the first newspaper, March3,1859.
They found pictures.
Written January 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your visit and such detailed review!!! Visit us again when you are back in Tubac!
--The Friends of the Tubac Presidio and Museum Inc. is a 501(c) 3 non profit organization. Registered Charity: 46-2133238
Written June 4, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ColoradoTravelnut
Prescott, AZ55 contributions
Can you use a valid annual Arizona State Parks pass for admission to the Presidio?
RJClancy
Tubac, AZ234 contributions
Since the Presidio is an Arizona State Park, I think it only makes sense that you can. However, in the event that you can’t the admission fee is only a bargain basement cost of $7 per person - half the cost of a movie!
What is the entrance fee for senior adults (68 years)? We are staying in Tubac for a couple of months. Thank you.
Anita
Shannon S
Tubac, AZ2 contributions
Anita, thanks for thinking of us. Adults of all ages are $5. This fee helps the Friends of the Presidio keep the schoolhouse, archaeological exhibit, museum, 100+ year old Rojas House and Otero Hall open for you to explore. We are open every day but December 25th, from 9:00 a.m. with the last self-guided tour at 4:00 p.m.
Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum
- Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum is open:
- Wed - Sun 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- We recommend booking Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 2 Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum:
- (0.12 mi) Tubac Inn
- (0.11 mi) Tubac's Premier Historic Rental property: Beautiful, Private, 1857 Adobe casita
- (0.17 mi) Artist's Suite
- (0.19 mi) Tubac Secret Garden Inn
- (0.40 mi) The Historic Valle Verde Ranch
- Restaurants near Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum:
- (0.15 mi) Shelby's Bistro
- (0.14 mi) Tubac Bakery
- (0.17 mi) Soto's Outpost
- (0.25 mi) Elvira's
- (0.17 mi) Habanero's