"Where Art and History Meet"
Welcome to Tubac, Arizona, Southern Arizona's growing artist colony! Located in the Santa
Cruz River Valley, Tubac, AZ has a 250-year-old Spanish history. In 1752, Juan Bautista de
Anza was appointed as the commandant to the Presidio at Tubac. He was preceded by Father
Kino, who built many missions along the Santa Cruz River. Just a few minutes away is the
beautifully preserved Mission de Tumacacori.
Tubac was the original Spanish colonial garrison in Arizona. It was depopulated during the
O'odham Uprising in the eighteenth century. During the nineteenth century, the area was
repopulated by miners, farmers and ranchers, but the town of Tubac is best known today as an
artists' colony.
The name Tubac is a Spanish corruption of O'odham phrase "s-cuk ba'a", or perhaps "cu wa",
meaning "black water" or "low place", respectively. Tubac is situated at the foothills of the
Santa Rita Mountains on the Santa Cruz River.
Tubac's most famous Spanish resident was Juan Bautista de Anza. While stationed at Tubac
(1760-1776), de Anza built the chapel of Santa Gertrudis, the foundations of which lie beneath
today's St. Ann's Church.
Tubac is the perfect shoppers' paradise with over one hundred galleries and shops that feature hand-
crafted items, sculpture, paintings, clothing and some of Southern Arizona's best import shops.
Tubac restaurants offer lunch and dinner menus that range from elegant dining to tasty, barbeque
cook burgers.
Tubac is also the gateway to the great birding, hiking, off-roading, mountain biking and golf
found throughout Santa Cruz County. Located just 40 minutes south of Tucson & 20 minutes
from Nogales Plaza Road in Tubac, the Arizona high desert amid a lush cottonwood and
mesquite forest. Tubac is a gentle breath of fresh air in an otherwise hurried world. We invite
you to come explore this gateway to Santa Cruz County: Arizona's last untouched discovery.