Tubac is a small town in southern Arizona that is home to independent artists, galleries, historical sites and and adjacent to the Coronado National Forest. Tourists come from all over to see local art, Spanish and Apache ruins and artifacts, play golf and enjoy the rich outdoor activities that the area has to offer. The Tubac-Santa Cruz Visitors Center in Tubac provides maps and information to visitors.
Before Tubac became a peaceful tourist destination, it experienced a long history of violence, drought and political upheaval. Early settlers were consistently subject to attack by local Apache tribes, Mexican invasion and Confederate attacks until Lincoln made Arizona a United States territory in 1863. It wasn't until 1948 that Tubac started attracting artists to the area, when the Artists School was established by Dale Nichols, and Tubac started transforming into a tourist destination.
Tubac is located 49 miles south of Tucson, Arizona, in the Santa Cruz River Valley and just a half-hour's drive from the border of Mexico. The terrain around Tubac is mountainous desert with limited foliage at 3,204 feet. According to city-data.com, the population of Tubac in 2007 was just over 1,000 people spread over eight square miles of land. The weather averages in the high 90s Fahrenheit during the summer and 50s in the winter. Tubac's rainy season is July and August.
The generally warm and sunny weather in Tubac allows for a year-round tourist season. Various festivals take place throughout the year, which attract a steady stream of tourists. The summer monsoon season brings heavy but brief rain storms, so tourists are advised to pack accordingly.
The city of Tubac attracts tourists to several historical, recreational and cultural sites. Tubac Presidio State Historic Park features ruins of a Spanish garrison built in 1752 to protect local Catholic missions that were under attack from the Apaches. Visitors may see ruins and artifacts that were unearthed in the 1970s, take a five-mile hike from there to Tumacacori on the Juan Bautista de Anza Trail and watch historical reenactments. Tubac is home to several art galleries, sculpture gardens, golf resorts, hotels and restaurants. Nearby Coronado National Forest and Tumacacori National Historical Park are both just minutes away from Tubac and feature outdoor recreation and historical Spanish missions.
Tubac is a haven for artists and art enthusiasts alike. Every February since 1960, the city hosts the Tubac Festival of the Arts, which features artists, musicians and craft makers from all over North America. This event is a major tourist attraction and exposes visitors to the prolific art scene and restaurants in Tubac. Tourists who cannot make it to the festival will find Tubac art galleries and shops open year-round.
