El Presidio

 

El Presidio is a historic neighborhood in downtown Tucson, Arizona, with several notable features:

• Historical Significance: El Presidio was Tucson's first neighborhood, established in 1775 adjacent to the Spanish fort called Presidio San Agustin del Tucson. It holds the distinction of being the largest Presidio built by the Spaniards in North America.
• Location and Boundaries: The neighborhood is about 12 blocks just north of downtown Tucson. Its boundaries are Sixth Street, Alameda Street, Granada Avenue, and Church Avenue.
• 
  
• Historic District Status: El Presidio became a historical district in 1975, recognizing its importance in preserving Tucson's architectural and cultural heritage.
• Population: As of recent data, El Presidio has a population of 780 residents.
• Livability: It is considered one of the best places to live in Arizona, located in Pima County.
• Points of Interest: The neighborhood includes several notable sites:
• Presidio San Agustín del Tucson: A re-creation of the northeast corner of the original 1775 Spanish fort. The Original Presidio San Agustín del Tucson was the first major construction in Tucson by the Spanish. This web page gives some early history of the presidio. The Presidio San Agustín del Tucson Museum is a re-creation of the Tucson Presidio built in 1775. Visit the Museum for the best area walking tours, local history, and heritage exhibits. 
• El Presidio Park: Located on the site of the Plaza de las Armas, featuring veterans' memorials, a rose garden, fountain, and various art pieces.
• Historic homes and buildings suitable for walking tours.
• Cultural Attractions: The area is home to the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, Old Town Artisans, and El Charro Café, the nation's oldest Mexican restaurant in continuous operation by the same family.
• Community Engagement: El Presidio has an active neighborhood council and a historic district board, contributing to its strong sense of community.
• Events: The neighborhood occasionally hosts home tours, allowing visitors to explore some of downtown's oldest homes. For example, a tour featuring nine homes and eight historic points of interest was conducted in April, 2024.

El Presidio's architecture is unique compared to other Tucson neighborhoods in several key ways:

Historical Significance: As Tucson's first neighborhood, established in 1775, El Presidio contains some of the oldest structures in the city, reflecting its Spanish colonial origins.

• Architectural Diversity: The neighborhood features a wide range of architectural styles, including Sonoran, Transformed Sonoran, Spanish Colonial Revival, Victorian, Prairie, and Bungalow. This diversity reflects the area's long history and various cultural influences. El Presidio contains over 80 architecturally significant homes constructed between the mid-1800s and 1912. The architectural styles blend Spanish-Mexican influences with those from the eastern United States. Meyer Street features thick adobe-walled Sonoran row houses, while Main Street reflects eastern U.S. influences.
• Sonoran Style Prominence: El Presidio has significant examples of the Sonoran style architecture, which is part of the Spanish-Mexican vernacular tradition. This style is characterized by:
• Thick-walled adobe buildings set on the street property line
• Flat roofs with high parapet walls
• Round wood beams (vigas) and saguaro-rib roof decks
• Projecting drainpipes (canales) penetrating the parapet walls
• Horizontal massing with width predominating over height
• Street Layout Contrast: The neighborhood showcases both Spanish-Mexican and Anglo-American planning concepts. Streets like Meyer and Court illustrate the Sonoran tradition with row houses built to the front property line, while others like Main Avenue reflect Anglo planning with setbacks and surrounding vegetation.
• Transition in Styles: El Presidio uniquely captures the architectural transition that occurred after the arrival of the railroad in 1880, when native building practices gave way to Victorian-era styles that favored ornamentation and new building materials.
• Preservation of Original Structures: The neighborhood contains over 80 architecturally significant homes constructed between the mid-1800s and 1912, many of which have been preserved.
• Blend of Influences: El Presidio's architecture reflects a blend of Spanish, Mexican, Native American, and Anglo-European influences, creating a unique architectural tapestry not found in other Tucson neighborhoods.

This combination of historical significance, architectural diversity, and preservation of original structures makes El Presidio's architecture distinct from other Tucson neighborhoods, offering a visual history of the city's development from its Spanish colonial roots through its American period.

El Presidio neighborhood in Tucson is associated with several notable historical figures who have left a lasting impact on the area:

• Colonel Hugo O'Conor: Often referred to as the "Red Captain," O'Conor was an Irishman serving in the Spanish army. He is credited with founding the Presidio San Agustín del Tucson in 1775, which marked the establishment of Tucson's first neighborhood, El Presidio.
• Concepción Arguello: Although more closely associated with the Presidio of San Francisco, Concepción Arguello's story is part of the broader Spanish colonial history that includes Tucson. She was the daughter of a Spanish commandant and became a notable figure due to her tragic romance with a Russian nobleman.
• Juana Briones: Another figure more closely tied to the Presidio of San Francisco, Juana Briones was a pioneering woman of mixed heritage who made significant contributions to early Californian society. Her story reflects the experiences of many women in Spanish colonial territories, including Tucson.
• Francisco Romero: A prominent early resident of Tucson, Francisco Romero was a rancher and community leader. His home, the Romero House, is now part of the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, highlighting his influence in the area.

These figures, among others, have contributed to the rich historical tapestry of El Presidio

[ep]