Happy Birthday Tucson Arizona!  Tucson Arizona was "born" on August 20, 1775.

Here is a little history about Tucson Arizona!

• Tucson, also called the Old Pueblo, is Arizona's oldest city.  Tucson is an Indian word meaning "place of dark springs" or "springs at the base of a black hill". Around 1900, Americans began to pronounce it "too-sahn".
• Don Hugo O'Connor, an Irishman, was the founder of Tucson. He was an Irish expatriate hired by the Spanish Empire to upgrade frontier defenses against the Apache and Pima tribes.  Upon entering the territory of Tucson in August of1775, he deemed that it become the Spanish military presidio.
• Later in the 1850's, travel came by stagecoach and Tucson became the main city between El Paso and San Diego.
• John Dillinger, the most wanted bank robber in the 1930's, used Tucson as a vacation spot between robberies.
• The oldest Catholic church still in use is San Xavier del Bac near Tucson. It was constructed between 1783 and 1797.  (insert my post about cycling near San Xavier mission

Hot spots to visit to stay cool in Tucson -  Mt. Lemmon

Because of Tucson's weather - outdoor events can be seen year round - this time of year, many folks start riding their bikes to prepare for the El Tour de Tucson which is set for November! 

And here are some "Family Friendly" events to celebrate Tucson's birthday:

Aug 15, 1:00 - 4:00 pm.m
Tucson Children's Museum Happy Birthday Tucson
http://www.TucsonChildrensMuseum.org
$5 Children, $7 adults, $5 seniors, under 2 free -  hand's-on activities, games and more.

August 15, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Valley of the Moon Fantasy Tour
http://www.TucsonValleyoftheMoon.com
Free - Magic, fairies, music, and fun come together at the Valley of the Moon.  A free historic tour of Tucson's one-of-a-kind fantasy fairy garden park and let's not forget the cake.

Aug 20, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Free Day at the Reid Park Zoo
http://TucsonZoo.com
Free  -  Come enjoy a free day at the Reid Park Zoo in honor of Tucson's Birthday.

Aug 29, 5:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Night Wings at Pima Air & Space Museum
http://www.pimaair.org
$10 adults, kids 12 and under free.  The museum will stay open for the evening to allow visitors into the Spirit of Freedom hangar and hangars 1, 3, & 4.  Aviation has been a big part of Tucson's history.  Special activities for kids of all ages offered by the museum's education docents including space food tasting, taking the astronaut test, building balloon jets, and more.

Gabrielle (Kamahele) Rhind - 2009. If you want to reprint parts of this - just email me for my permission rhindohana@msn.com. Buying or selling Tucson Arizona Real Estate? Click info@gabriellerhind.com and let me know how I can help you! Or visit www.BuyMyTucsonHome.com. 

If you'd like more info about  Mt. Lemmon homes, Tucson bank owned homes, Tucson lease option to purchase homes, Tucson rental homes, buying or seling your Tucson home or the Tucson real estate market or real estate news, email or call me at (520) 245.0242.