07Fri. San Xavier del Bac Mission and Tumamoc Hill

Leaders: Linda Hanson (San Xavier), Paul and Suzanne Fish, Gayle Hartmann (Tumamoc)

Site Description: This trip begins at San Xavier Mission, a National Historic Landmark and the oldest European structure in Arizona. An authentic 18th century space, the church's interior is filled with marvelous original statuary and mural paintings. There are even a few glyphs etched by the Tohono O’odham laborers. This 90-minute behind-the-scenes tour will focus on how the 300-year-old Mission’s external architecture and interior statuary and murals reflect the Moorish, Spanish, Catholic, and Indigenous influences in this region. Additionally, the tour will discuss present-day conservation and restoration efforts currently underway.
The trip’s second stop will be Tumamoc Hill, a Tucson landmark near downtown. Tumamoc Hill has an extensive complex of stone trincheras features attributable to a pre-ceramic village (500 to 300 B.C.) and a subsequent early Hohokam village (A.D. 475 to 700). Recording efforts have documented 734 petroglyphs as well as 450 Euro-American inscriptions, many of which date to the period of Mexican and early American settlement. The petroglyphs on the hill date from the archaic to late Hohokam (A.D. 1400). The field trip should end around 1 pm. Participants can then explore downtown Tucson or enjoy one of the small Mexican restaurants at the foot of Tumamoc Hill. Bring water and snacks.References: Fert 1979; Hartman and Boyle 2013

Difficulty: San Xavier: 0.25 miles of walking over flat, mostly paved ground. Tumamoc Hill: 0.5 to 1 mile of walking over volcanic desert terrain with 25 ft elevation gain.

Vehicle Requirement: any

Driving Time/Distance (One Way): 0.5 hrs, 18 miles

Max. Number of Participants: 20

Fee:$10 cash donation for San Xavier (Restoration Fund); pay trip leader day of

NOTE: This trip will depart from the hotel at 7:00 a.m. to allow access to the Mission before it is open to parishioners.