History reveals a lot about the place you come from. Our ancestors built the world we now live in, and the more we try to find out about our own history, the better we can get at understanding the present.
Every place is historically rich in its own sense - no matter where you are, the civilized world always carries remnants of what came before us.
And what is the history in Tucson, Arizona? The historic sites mentioned in this article might help you find out. For locals and tourists alike, visiting these historic sites in Tucson might help you understand Tucson and its surroundings a little better.
St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church
It wouldn't be a list of historic places if it didn't start off with a church, right?
The St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 and it's located at 4440 N. Campbell Avenue in Tucson. It was founded in 1936 by John & Helen Murphey, Josias Joesler, and Fr George Ferguson.
St Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church is actually the biggest Episcopal church in all of Arizona, and the community is known for its active participation in the city life, as well as its wonderful music program. To quote the website of the church:
"Saint Philip’s in the Hills is a community that is gathered in love, transformed by grace, and sent to serve. We have a long history as a cornerstone of life in Tucson. Grounded in faith in Christ we have sought to share our gifts and make God’s love known through service, art, music, and more. Our life is grounded in offering praise to God and service to our wider as we go deeper into the call of Christ to follow."
Anyone can find solace in visiting the church or joining the community, as well as discover more of Tucson's rich history.
La Casa Cordova
La Casa Cordova is a part of the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, which takes care of multiple different historic houses. At the time of writing this article (17th May 2021), the house is temporarily closed, however, you can add it to your list for future reference.
Just like St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church, La Casa Cordova is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's the oldest adobe house in downtown Tucson and its name comes from a time when the Cordova family lived in it between 1944 and 1973.
When it comes to the history of La Casa Cordova, the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block's website describes it thus:
"Some historians believe that La Casa’s original rooms may predate the Gadsden Purchase of 1854. This date of construction is based on the oldest portion of the building, the two back rooms on the south side, which appear on the earliest known map of Tucson, the 1862 Major D. Ferguson map."
If you'd like to visit La Casa Cordova in the future, you can find it at 175 North Meyer Ave in Tucson.
Pima County Courthouse
Last but not least, the Pima County Courthouse is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building was designed by Roy Place in 1928 and it's a stunning piece of architecture.
In the past, the Pima County Superior Court and the Pima County Consolidated Justice Court used to be located in the building, however, they have since then moved to different buildings.
The Pima County Courthouse is yet another historic building that can teach you a lot about Tucson and its history.
Final Thoughts
There are, of course, many more historic places in Tucson. The three buildings mentioned in this article are just a start. If you're interested in Tucson's history, why not explore more of it?
Have fun and stay safe.