The quaint village of Tubac calls itself "a place where art and history meet". Just 15 miles
south of Green Valley, its streets are filled with galleries, artists' studios, shops and
boutiques and charming restaurants . Tubac has numerous choices for Hotel, Bed & Breakfast
and Guest Ranch Accomodations in and around the area . It claims the distinction of being
the first European settlement in the state, as well as having the first school and the first state park.
As Arizona’s first European settlement, the village of Tubac has seen its share of history and
change. First settled in 1752 when Spanish soldiers built a presidio, Tubac also bears evidence
of mammoth hunters, who preceded the O’odham peoples (formerly known as the Pimas and Papagos).
Five flags have flown over the town. Tubac has been an Indian community, a Spanish Colony, part
of the New Mexico Territory, a Mexican community and an Arizona Territory.
Today, art and history are juxtaposed amid the stunning beauty in Santa Cruz County. By 1930,
after years of conflict over the land, the town had virtually vanished. In the 1940s, the late
painter Dale Nichols visualized an art colony and started a school in 1948. Fascinated with the
seclusion and simplicity in the desert landscapes, Nichols painted in a Tubac studio for six years.
Other artists came to Tubac and helped promote the town by showing their works to interested passers-by.
In the early days, tourists who traveled from Tucson to Nogales often stopped for refreshments in Tubac,
and the artists found that offering a cool drink was a necessity in developing their businesses.
Nichols returned in the late 80s at the age of 86 with more visions of opportunities. The village had
grown from his sowing of seeds into a crop of shops. Today, it is much more than a stop for water. It
has come into its own with an eclectic mix of more than 80 shops, galleries and restaurants. Set in a
mercado atmosphere, the town invites visitors to stroll through the shops in leisurely fashion.
Painters, potters, sculptors and carvers are among the many artists who make their home in the village
and they produce works in every medium. Works by nationally and internationally known artists fill the
galleries and bring national acclaim to the area and its humble beginnings.
Each year, beginning in February, a host of colorful festivals and fairs bring hundreds of thousands of
visitors to Tubac. The first of these is the annual Tubac Festival of the Arts. Here, famous artists from
around the country descend on Tubac for the celebration of the arts in every form. For more than 40
years the festival has drawn visitors to the village. The nine-day festival draws more than 150,000
visitors from around the globe with internationally acclaimed artists and works in all media.
March brings the annual Tubac Art Walk, an artistic promenade through the historic streets of Tubac.
Some of the artists demonstrate their craft, creating works from a dab of paint, a pile of clay or a
slab of metal or marble.
Fall’s Anza Days commemorates the historic travels of Juan Bautista de Anza, the area’s leader in the
1700s who led an expedition to find an overland route to the San Francisco Bay area. Each year, participants
dress in period costume and re-create the start of Anza’s 1,200-mile journey. A local scholar leads
the reenactment on horseback. Beginning at nearby Tumacacori National Historic Park, trekkers hike
four and a half miles along the Santa Cruz River to the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park. Games for
children and a re-created Spanish Colonial village are among the highlights of the weekend.
Tubac: An Art Experience brings art up close and personal to the village. During this November event,
artists create works right before visitors’ eyes throughout the weekend that celebrates the artistic
process. Local musicians entertain guests while artists provide demonstrations of their works that
capture their imagination.
December’s Luminaria Nights/Fiesta Navidad rounds out the year with a holiday celebration that glows
in the light of luminarias. The event honors the spirit of giving with two nights of caroling, roving
musicians, live reindeer and refreshments at many of the shops. Each year, the historic buildings of
Tubac glow in the soft light of these traditional candle-fueled luminarias.
Year-round at the Tubac Presidio State Historic park, a museum, underground archaeology displays and
living history demonstrations invite the public to learn about Tubac’s rich tapestry of history. The
award-winning group, Los Tubaqueños perform on weekends, giving visitors a sense of what life was
like in the days as a rustic Spanish settlement. It was at the presidio that conflicts of the Old
West raged and soldiers protected the area. A perfect hub to enjoy southern Arizona’s historic
character and scenic beauty, Tubac offers diverse and unique lodging choices, from resorts to
bed-and-breakfast inns to guest ranches.
With all of it's fascinating history and diversity it is definitely worth a trip to Tubac!
To learn more about Tubac Luxury Properties
contact Laurie Lundeen at 520-256-4000
or
Request Info
Equal Housing Opportunity