No Arizona vacation is complete without spending some time at The Old Pueblo. Have you never heard of The Old Pueblo? Of course you have. You know it by its modern name Tucson! That’s right, Arizona’s second largest city is steeped in a history that is as remarkable as it is diverse. Its rich heritage and cultural diversity is a mix of Native American, Spanish, Anglo, and Mexican.

Life in The Old Pueblo dates back to 10,000 B.C. C., when the inhabitants hunted mammoths for the first time. The first known Native Americans to inhabit the area were the Hohokam, dating to AD 300. A remarkably advanced culture, the Hohokam successfully thrived in the area growing crops and creating irrigation systems using the Santa Cruz River. The Pima and Tohono O’odham are descendants of the Hohokam and inhabit the region to this day.

The influence of the Spanish reached the area when Don Francisco Basquez Coronado, in 1540 led an expedition to the area in search of the famous seven cities of gold.

In 1775, the Presidio of San Agustín del Tucson was established by Hugo O’Conor of the Spanish Royal Army and with it the official birth of Tucson. In 1821, Mexico gained its independence from Spain, and therefore the Mexican flag now flew over Tucson.

With the Gadsden Purchase in 1854, Tucson became part of the United States by raising the Stars and Stripes. It was the Capitol of the Arizona Territory from 1867 to 1877.

In its early days, Tucson was a wild frontier town where gunfights were common and rowdy cowboys and outlaws drank in saloons. In 1891, on land donated by a saloon owner and a couple of players, Arizona Territorial College opened. This was the precursor to the University of Arizona, one of the best universities in the nation.

The construction of the railway brought another new culture to . Chinese immigrants provided much of the labor in building the railroad. This new breed of people with their own culture, customs and clothing caused a stir in many of those who lived in the area. Many Chinese immigrants left but some families stayed to seek their fortunes in this strange new land. Many farmed, some opened laundry services. In the late 1870s, the Wong family opened the OK Restaurant on Church St. offering 75-cent meals.

The Railroad brought many changes to The Old Pueblo, including investors, businessmen, and settlers ready to start families. Thus began the start of a busy city of legendary proportions.

Today, Tucson stands as a city with the best of both worlds, a dynamic metropolis with the warm and friendly feel of a small town. Tucsonans describe themselves as laid-back, friendly, and hospitable. It is a place where the old and the new are in harmony. Where the historic meets the contemporary.

From the architecture to the cuisine, it is a stunning example of what a great city should be. The climate is wonderful with good weather 360 days a year. From the desert floor to Mt. Lemmon, Tucson is a place where you can see a Wild West shootout and visit an art museum in the same day.

Spend a day hiking a desert trail through cactus-filled mountains and enjoy a hot stone massage in the evening. You can see a rodeo or attend a play. Listen to a cowboy band or string quartet. Dine on anything from hot to high.

Make sure your Arizona travel plans include a visit to The Old Pueblo. But be warned, like many before you, you may never want to leave.