Tucson’s 240th birthday is approaching, and you should head to this new exhibit with historic photos, maps and memorabilia of the Old Pueblo to celebrate it.
The University of Arizona Libraries’ Special Collections Gallery is hosting “Tucson: Growth, Change and Memories” starting Aug. 18—two day’s before Tucson’s b-day on Aug. 20—through January of next year, with the purpose of showcasing the city’s history and growth as an urban community. It’s also about reflecting on the many Tucson gems that have been lost as a result of this urbanization (remember the Tucson Convention Center shit show?).
Talking about the TCC, the exhibit will show rare photos of the buildings that existed there, before they were demolished to build the TCC, as well as photographs of other landmarks that are now gone like the Santa Rita Hotel and the El Conquistador Hotel, and other unique materials on loan from the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation.
The show is co-curated by UA librarian, Bob Diaz and Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation board member Andie Zelnio.
The opening event on Aug. 18 will feature guest speaker Thomas E. Sheridan, an anthropologist of the UA’s Southwest Center, and author of the book “Los Tucsonenses: The Mexican Community in Tucson, 1854-1914, and other works about the history of the region.
There will also be a second event on Sept. 17 featuring a panel discussion with former city councilwoman Molly McKasson and Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias.
Both events are at at 6 p.m. at the UA’s Libraries’ Special Collections Gallery, 1510 E. University Blvd.
This article appears in Aug 6-12, 2015.
The presidio’s birthday is coming up. Tucson’s date of origin is unknown. Indigenous people were living in a rancheria called Chuk Son (“black base or bottom”) a loooong time before the Europeans showed up.
The date of the establishment of the Presidio del Tucson Del Bac, is what they are talking about Mike. You are correct in that the area has been occupied for millennia.