Archive
Tucson Celebrates its 231st Birthday
08.01.2006
The city
of Tucson is having a ceremony on Friday, Aug. 18, to celebrate its 231st
birthday and the public is encouraged to come to the party. The event
begins at 8 a.m. in the courtyard of the old Pima County Courthouse at
115 N. Church Ave. and features speakers, proclamations, music and an
honor guard presentation.
Indigenous Native Americans lived in the Santa Cruz River Valley for many centuries, but the Spanish Army Lt. Col. Hugo O'Conor established the Presidio San Augustín del Tucson in an area that is now part of downtown on Aug. 20, 1775. The presidio was in an area bounded roughly by Washington Street, Church Avenue, Pennington Street and Main Avenue.
Ceremonies to celebrate the city's birthday began in 1975, the 200th year of Tucson's existence as a modern municipality. Guests are encouraged to dress in 1775 period costumes, and flags representing the various entities that controlled the area are presented during the event.
Parking is available for those wishing to attend this year's ceremony under the Main Library (just west of Stone Avenue, from Alameda Street), El Presidio Parking Garage (entry from Pennington or Alameda streets, west of Church Avenue), and in metered downtown parking spaces. The parking garages have fees.