Printed with permission by Sharon of Phoenix Daily Photo
This is Mission San Jose de Tumacacori, established on this site sometime after 1751 after nearby missions dating back to 1691 were destroyed and abandoned. This is one of the many missions established by Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, the explorer, cartographer, and Franciscan priest who is responsible for the chain of missions running from within Mexico to northern California. This mission was abandoned by 1848 and began its fall into disrepair until 1908 when the area was declared a National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt. Restoration continues today although very slowly. In 1937 a museum was built at the National Monument which later became a National Park.
The mission is located in Southern Arizona between Tucson and the border with Mexico. Photos don’t really do it justice. It is one of those places you need to see in person in order to enjoy its beauty.
