America250 – A History Lovers Guide to Tucson

Trace Tucson's history back thousands of years at Mission Garden to learn about the Indigenous people who first lived in Tucson and their first contact with Spanish missionaries. Visitors can discover how Indigenous, Mexican, European, Chinese and African cultures have all shaped Tucson foods through the centuries at Mission Garden. Hear the stories from local immigrants like Lupita Tineo, formerly undocumented, queer, Latinx and Indigenous bruja/curandero healing locals with sacred remedies at her shop Yolia Botanica.

Visit Mission San Xavier del Bac, founded in 1700 by Father Eusebio Kino. The Spanish Catholic mission is the oldest European structure in Arizona and has been nicknamed the Sistine Chapel of the United States. Mission San Xavier del Bac is undergoing a rehabilitation of its ornate, retablo facade that started in 2025 and will be completed in 2026.