It’s birthday week in Tucson, and a host of celebrations are planned for the Old Pueblo’s big two-five-oh. Here are some of the highlights:
- The Mayor and City Council will kick things off at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday with the unveiling of a plaque outside City Hall, 255 W. Alameda St., commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Presidio San Agustín del Tucson on Aug. 20, 1775.
- At 10 a.m. Wednesday, the Postal History Foundation and Tucson Postmaster John LaFreniere will unveil the winning artwork from the kids’ Tucson 250 Postcard contest. The foundation and postal museum at 920 N. First Ave. will also be stamping mail in its USPS contact station with a special pictorial postmark for Tucson’s birthday and opening a new exhibit of postcards, stamps and mail reflecting the history and heritage of southern Arizona.
- From noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Mark Santiago and the Arizona Historical Society will present a talk on colonial Spanish officer Hugo O’Conor and the strategic importance of Tucson at the Arizona History Museum, 949 E. Second St. Register online at https://bit.ly/4crXMn1.
- At 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Ave., will unveil the contents of its 1975 bicentennial time capsule, which was buried on Dec. 11, 1976, with artifacts, memorabilia and items pertaining to Tucson’s heritage.
- From 6 to 8 p.m., Patronato San Xavier will detail its work preserving the iconic, 17th century church during a “Meet the Mission” cocktail event at Whiskey Del Bac, 2106 Forbes Blvd., Suite 103.
- At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Tucson faith leaders and community members will gather for an interfaith prayer service at St. Augustine Cathedral, 192 S. Stone Ave., in honor of the founding of the Tucson Presidio and the region’s broader history and people. The historic Presidio bell will be rung as part of the ceremony. Participants include members of the Tohono O’odham and Pascua Yaqui Nations and representatives from Las Doñas de Tucson, Los Descendientes de Tucson, and the Presidio Museum Trust.
- From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, the Arizona History Museum, 949 E. Second St., will offer free admission as part of the All Things Tucson 250+ Celebration.
- From 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, the Tucson Presidio Museum, 196 N. Court Ave., and the nearby Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block will host the official “Celebration All Things S-cuk Ṣon/Tucson 250+” with live music, folklorico, frybread, Eegees, food trucks, remarks by elected leaders, a Presidio garrison musket demonstration and more. The Presidio parking garage, 165 W. Alameda St., will be open until 11 p.m. for the event.
For more on these and other upcoming events tied to the 250th anniversary of the Presidio, go to www.celebratetucson.com.
