Tucson - 2017

San Xavier Mission

The Mission San Xavier del Bac is perhaps Tucson's best known historic landmark. Established in 1692 by the Spanish missionary Father Kino, 10 miles south of what is now downtown Tucson on the Tohono O'odham Indian reservation, San Xavier del Bac is considered one of the finest examples of Mexican folk baroque architecture. The mission that stands today is actually the second mission, built between 1783-1797, and is actually the oldest European building in the state of Arizona. Source: Tripadvisor

Kitt Peak

Arizona State Route 386 to Kitt Peak

Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO), part of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO), supports the most diverse collection of astronomical observatories on Earth for nighttime optical and infrared astronomy and daytime study of the Sun. Sharing the mountaintop site with the National Solar Observatory, KPNO, founded in 1958, operates three major nighttime telescopes and hosts the facilities of consortia which operate 22 optical telescopes and two radio telescope. Kitt Peak is located 56 miles southwest of Tucson, AZ, in the Schuk Toak District on the Tohono O'odham Nation and has a Visitor Center open daily to the public. Source: NOAA

Solar Telescope

Sun Clock

Baboquivari Peak is the most sacred place to the Tohono O'odham people. It is the center of the Tohono O'odham cosmology and the home of the creator, I'itoi. According to tribal legend, he resides in a cave below the base of the mountain. Source: Wikipedia

University of Arizona Campus Arboretum

In the 1800's cactus and creosote surrounded Tucson, Arizona. When the University of Arizona was established as the state's land-grant institute, ornamental trees, shrubs, and cacti were planted to beautify the grounds (and cut down on the dust!) Today's campus is home to hundreds of individual tree species.What is now a vast expanse of turfgrass, the campus mall at the University of Arizona was once a vast cactus garden! This cactus garden was initially on the west side of Old Main in 1917, then moved to the east side in the 1930s by Dr. Homer Shantz. The existing Joseph Wood Krutch garden is a remnant of a larger cactus garden that once extended from Old Main to Cherry Ave. The renovations that turned this area into the Mall as we know it today took place in the 1960's. The landscape surrounding Old Main is also a remnant of this formerly very extensive garden. Although less conducive to sun-bathing than the grassy Mall, the cactus garden was certainly more interesting. Old photos show pathways, cacti in bloom, and visitors reading labels on many species. Source: University of Arizona.

Sabino Canyon

Sabino Canyon is a significant canyon located in the Santa Catalina Mountains and the Coronado National Forest north of Tucson, Arizona, United States. Source: Wikipedia

The pics with captions were taken with Snapchat and saved as photos.

Madera Canyon

Madera Canyon is a canyon in the northwestern face of the Santa Rita Mountains, twenty-five miles southeast of Tucson, Arizona. Source: Wikipedia