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Downtown & El Presidio Tour
Features
- Free cancellation available
- 2h
- Mobile voucher
- Instant confirmation
Overview
- Hear the tales of Tucson's founding as a walled Spanish Colonial Presidio
- Tucson Architecture Tour - See historic buildings by Henry Trost & Roy Place
- Stroll charming plazas, walk by historic row houses & ornate downtown buildings
Activity location
- Tucson
- Tucson, Arizona, United States
Meeting/Redemption Point
- 4545 W Alameda St is the Southeast Corner of W Alameda & N Church Ave and is directly across from the YMCA in downtown Tucson. Scott, your Tour Guide, will be wearing an orange t-shirt with the Strolls and Stories Tours Logo on it. Parking is available for a fee in the parking lot one block north of the meeting location at N Church Ave and West Council Street.
- Tucson, Arizona, United States
Check availability
Downtown & El Presidio
- 2h
- English
What's included, what's not
- Guided Walking Tour
- Hear the stories of Tucson's founding as a walled Spanish Colonial Presidio
- Walk past a rebuilt section of adobe wall depicting Tucson's founding
- Stroll past the mansion homes on Main Ave (Snob Hollow) learning the stories of Tucson's Pioneer Founders
- Walk by historic Sonoran Row Houses learning how they were built for Tucson's desert climate
- Tour Presidio Plaza
- Tour the Historic Pima County Courthouse, an ornate Spanish Colonial Revival styled building by Roy Place
- Visit the Dillinger Courtroom maintained as it was in 1934 and learn the tales of the Dillinger Gang in Tucson
- Visit Plaza de la Mesilla stepping up onto the bandstand gazebo and hearing the tales of Western Outlaws
- Stroll through Veinte de Agosto Park learning of the first St. Augustine Cathedral
- Walk past the Fox Theatre learning of it's unique art deco design and storied past
- Stroll Jacome Plaza and past the Pioneer Building learning of downtown department store tycoons
- Bottle of Water
- Gratuities
Know before you book
- Not allowed: Pets
What you can expect
We begin by strolling past a rebuilt section of mud adobe wall hearing of Tucson's founding as a walled Spanish Colonial Presidio and learn the number of national flags that have flown over Tucson! From there we walk Main Ave in the El Presidio Neighborhood seeing the mansion homes of Tucson's Pioneer Founders, including several designed by Henry Trost. Learn the fascinating tales of these individuals! We stroll past historic mud adobe Sonoran Row Houses learning how they were constructed for our harsh desert climate and how they were built to protect the occupants!
Next we visit the Historic Pima County Courthouse, an ornate Spanish Colonial Revival style building designed by Roy Place.
We see the modernist Presidio Fountain by Charles Clement then pop up to the Dillinger Courtroom that appears today just as it did in the 1930s as we hear the tales of John Dillinger in Tucson.
We walk to Plaza de la Mesilla to see the Mexican styled gazebo bandstand and learn of famous western outlaws that partied the night away in this plaza! In addition we discuss the first cathedral that sat adjacent and the sordid tales of what happened after it was decommissioned. Plus, learn of the nearby Red Light District and how Tucson was the headquarters for the Alianza Hispano-Americana!
Next we stroll past the historic Fox Theatre, the last remaining “southwest” art decor designed theater in the country! We discuss the marquee, decorative exterior features and hear the tales of what went on inside during the several decades it was closed. Plus, we learn how it was nearly torn down before being lovingly restored to it's original glory!
Finally, we walk to Jacome Plaza and discuss the historic Pioneer Hotel and downtown department store tycoons that gained national acclaim. Learn of their global significance and forward thinking urban planning.
The tour concludes where we began, at the southeast corner of W Alameda Street & N Church Ave in Downtown Tucson across from the YMCA. The tour is 2 hours, 2 miles. Please wear comfortable walking shoes, have on sunscreen and bring a bottle of water.
Please note we stroll the charming sidewalks and plazas of Tucson seeing the exteriors of mansion homes, historic buildings and theaters. We enter the Historic Pima County Courthouse seeing the interior of this beautiful structure. We are not able to enter many of the other buildings, but guests do hear the stories of these structures and the individuals who inhabited them, plus see historic photos of the interiors and exteriors of the buildings.
Location
Activity location
- Tucson
- Tucson, Arizona, United States
Meeting/Redemption Point
- 4545 W Alameda St is the Southeast Corner of W Alameda & N Church Ave and is directly across from the YMCA in downtown Tucson. Scott, your Tour Guide, will be wearing an orange t-shirt with the Strolls and Stories Tours Logo on it. Parking is available for a fee in the parking lot one block north of the meeting location at N Church Ave and West Council Street.
- Tucson, Arizona, United States