IN THIS REGION Benson, Bisbee, Elgin, Sierra Vista, Tombstone, Tubac, Tucson, Willcox TUCSON & SOUTHERN ARIZONA town, when miners blasted their way through thousands of miles of tunnels in search of precious metals. SAN XAVIER DEL BAC MISSION, TUCSON A vision of white against vast blue skies and stark desert, this Catholic church known as the “White Dove of the Desert” was completed in 1797 when southern Arizona was part of New Spain. Today, this National Historic Landmark on Tohono O’odham tribal lands is regarded as one of the finest examples of Spanish Colonial architecture in the country. AMERIND MUSEUM, DRAGOON From ancient artifacts to contemporary artistic explora-tions of modern-day issues, this museum and art gallery nestled among the natural beauty of Texas Canyon is dedicated to American Indian and Western art, history, culture and archeology. Be sure to stop by the Amerind Museum Store to shop authentic, museum-quality handicrafts. ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM, TUCSON This multi-faceted museum offers an array of experiences. Stroll the bo-tanical gardens filled with Sonoran Desert plant life, see wildlife up-close at the on-site zoo, marvel at rocks and minerals at the natural history museum, spot underwater creatures at the aquarium and view artwork in the galleries. O.K. CORRAL, TOMBSTONE Transport yourself to the rough-and-tumble Wild West when you stand in the very place where the infamous gun fight occurred in 1881. Watch a daily reenactment, walk through the 1880s stables and blacksmith shop, and see historic photographs of Tombstone life as it was “back then.” PIMA AIR & SPACE MUSEUM, TUCSON Boasting six indoor exhibit hangars (three dedicated to World War II), this 80-acre aviation museum features approximately 400 historic aircraft—including sea planes, bombers, helicopters and hot air balloons—as well as historic military artifacts, uniforms, photo-graphs and films. 53 O.K. Corral, Tombstone Area Highlights TUCSON DESERT ART MUSEUM, TUCSON History and art come together at this multifaceted museum focused on the Southwest. Explore Navajo textiles, 19th-century landscape paintings by master artists and vintage maps. Pick up unique gifts at Four Corners Gallery & Gift Shop, selling jewelry, pottery, artwork and Zuni fetish carvings. MOUNT LEMMON Located in the Santa Catalina Range and surrounded by the Coronado National Forest, Mount Lemmon is an adventurer’s paradise. During summer, go hiking, camping and fishing, and in winter, ski and snowboard at Ski Valley. Once night falls, marvel at the heavens at Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter observatory, offering stargazing programs and public-dedicated telescopes. MERCADO SAN AGUSTIN, TUCSON A collection of indie boutiques and eateries housed in a Spanish Colonial-style building with an open-air courtyard, the Mercado San Agustin packs Instagram-worthy charm. Don’t miss the modern-style MSA Annex, where you’ll find 13 additional small businesses in repurposed shipping containers. BISBEE MINING & HISTORICAL MUSEUM, BISBEE Explore “The Queen of the Copper Camps” at this Smithsonian-affiliated museum, where you’ll enter a state-of-the-art mining exhibit rife with crystals, min-erals and the history of this historic THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: O.K. CORRAL; VISIT TUCSON; NICCI RADHE; FACING PAGE: VISIT TUCSON San Xavier del Bac Mission, Tucson Mount Lemmon
Arizona Official State Travel Guide Arizona 2021-22: Page 53
