About Us

Friends of the Presidio and Museum

The Friends of the Tubac Presidio and Museum, Inc., a 501(3)(c) non-profit, was established in June of 2013 to serve as stewards of the Tubac Presidio Historic State Park and Museum.

The Tubac Presidio Park contains historic buildings, a museum with exhibits covering 2,000 years of extraordinary Southwest history, an art gallery and ruins of the Spanish fort from the mid-1700's. The vast history found at the Park represents a multitude of cultures including Tohono O'odham, Apache, Mexican, Spanish, Territorial and American. All additional programs held at the park are inclusive to these groups and provide opportunities for the community to learn about one another.

These programs include art exhibitions, concerts, lectures, workshops, tours, hikes, demonstrations and cultural celebrations.

The park works closely with the official Ethnographic Team of the Tohono O'odham Nation. This relationship has helped to strengthen ties between cultures and create opportunities for collaboration and unity.

As a historical site, the park helps to generate cultural growth through exhibits and programming. Education program allows students of all ages and backgrounds a unique opportunity to experience the rich history and peoples that have inhabited the Santa Cruz Valley over the last 2000 years. The education programs use various sensory activities which promote critical thinking, tolerance, creativity, inclusion and empathy. Educational methods include Visual Thinking Strategies, Learning to Look and STEAM.

Mission

To support Arizona State Parks & Trails by cultivating curiosity and appreciation of local history and diverse cultural traditions through education and stewarding the Presidio’s resources for past, present, and future generations.

Volunteers and staff are critical to the success of the Presidio. We celebrate them and strive to create a fun, fulfilling and safe work environment.

We commit to public accountability and operational transparency.

We strive to engage and include new and diverse audiences.

We value collaboration with organizations and individuals dedicated to conserving and protecting cultural and historical resources.

We value members and donors and acknowledge their importance to our ongoing success.”

We honor the past by preserving and curating our collection through careful research, thoughtful reflection, truthful expression, and expert advice, striving to make historical events relevant to visitors’ experiences.

With integrity and transparency, we seek expert and wide-ranging knowledge as we preserve and curate the Presidio collection for everyone.

We place education at the center of our public service role and create meaningful experiences for a diversity of visitors through onsite offerings, programs, exhibits and special events.

Principles

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

Friends of the Tubac Presidio and Museum celebrate the vast history of the people and cultures that have shaped the local community. We commit to fostering an organization that is transparent, diverse, inclusive, and equitable for all.

We welcome people of all backgrounds, perspectives, culture, and experiences.

We understand that achieving equity for all is complex and will not be accomplished by simply treating everyone equally. All Tubac Presidio and Museum visitors, volunteers, staff, and stakeholders are treated with dignity and respect, alongside consideration for individual circumstances.

We commit to creating an environment in which all individuals and groups feel welcomed, respected, valued, and supported to participate in telling the story of the Tubac Presidio.