Culture

Tucson's Hispanic Traditions: Spanish Colonial Art & Architecture
Take a look at Spanish Colonial art and architecture and its influence on Tucson's unique character.
Begin the half-day tour with a docent-led tour of the Tucson Museum of Art Historic Block and go on to adjacent Main Avenue to view a remarkable variety of architectural styles representing several periods of Tucson history, including the Corbett House featuring period furnishings. Tour the five Historic Block residences, built between 1850 and 1907, including four adobe houses-La Casa Cordova, the Romero House, the Stevens/Duffield House, and the Fish House. Next visit the Museum Shop, a gallery-style boutique offering original works by Arizona artisans as well as a selection of museum publications, cards, and one-of-a-kind gifts.
Continue for a full-day tour with box lunch, served in either the Moore Courtyard or the Education Courtyard, where shady seating and outdoor art are plentiful. Enjoy a two-hour presentation about Spanish Colonial art and architecture.
Cost: Half Day, 21⁄2 hours: $10/person. Full Day, 41⁄2 hours: $25/person. (Tour guide and bus driver complimentary on each tour.)
Attendees: 10 min./50 max.
Reservations: Custom tours available with 90 days' advance notice.
Times: Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun. noon-4 p.m.; closed major holidays.
Sample Menu: Café à la C'Art offers luncheon service for visitors to the museum. Sandwiches, soups, salads, and decadent pastries. Box lunch menus to be decided when reservations are made.
Contact: Education Center
Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block 140 N. Main Ave., Tucson, AZ 85701, 696-7450, tours@tucsonmuseumofart.org, www.tucsonmuseumofart.org

Trunk Show: Mexican & Guatamalan Ethnic Costumes
The colors of Mexico and Guatemala come alive during this trunk show of ethnic costumes brought to you by the Castañeda Museum of Ethnic Costume. Many of the materials, techniques, designs, and implements used today in creating these costumes have survived and flourished for centuries. Indulge in this visual language that conveys religious beliefs, social status, and traditions distinctive to these communities. The trunk show begins with the costumes of Southern Arizona and northwest Mexico, then continues south through Mexico into the highlands of Guatemala. Take home three ethnic-costume postcards and handouts.
Cost: $265/group
Attendees: 5 min./45 max.
Length: 1 hour
Availability: Tues. mornings and all day Sat. and Sun.
Requirements: Will come to your hotel or restaurant location for the show. One hour is needed to set up as well as 2-3 long tables, 2-3 easels, and assistance from your facility's staff to unload and load props and costumes.
Contact: Gayle Castañeda
The Castañeda Museum of Ethnic Costume 299-4129, castanedamuseum@aol.com, www.castanedamuseum.org

Behind-the-Scenes Tours at the Arizona State Museum
Experience the indigenous cultures of Arizona, the greater Southwest, and northern Mexico at the Arizona State Museum (ASM), the largest and oldest anthropology museum in the Southwest. In addition to viewing dynamic exhibits, your group can go behind the scenes to view the storerooms of the museum's many collections.
Paths of Life-A curator-guided tour of ASM's award-winning permanent exhibition featuring the 10 native cultures of Arizona and northern Mexico. Topics discussed are exhibit preparation, native participation, and exhibit concepts.
Prehistoric Pot Storeroom-This room features more than 12,000 prehistoric pots of the Hohokam, the Mogollon, and ancestral Pueblo cultures.
Ethnographic Storeroom-A peek into one of the museum's storerooms that features historic and more contemporary items such as textiles, kachina dolls, and smaller materials from all over the world.
Archaeology Lab-Learn about laboratory research procedure-the equally important counterpart to field excavation. You will see computer models and reconstructions and learn how artifacts are catalogued and used as research tools.
Cost: $6/person
Attendees: Because the storerooms are cramped with narrow walkways, the museum can accommodate only 15 people at one time. If more than 15 people are interested, staff will split into small groups or make other arrangements to accommodate group size.
Length: 30 minutes for each theme
Contact: Darlene Lizarraga
Arizona State Museum 1013 E. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85721-0026, 626-8381, darlene@al.arizona.edu

More Cultural Ideas:
The Amerind Foundation & Museum  A glimpse of ancient life-the dwellings, tools, ceremonies, clothing and even children's toys.

Chiricahua National Monument  A 12,000-acre "Wonderland of Rocks" with incredible rock spires, stone columns, and balanced rocks. 520-824-3560, www.nps.gov/chir

Mission San Xavier Del Bac  Located on the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation, the church was built between 1783 and 1797 and is a graceful blending of Moorish, Byzantine, and late Mexican Renaissance.

Tohono O'odham Reservation  An area of vivid contrasts, rough terrain, dry mesquite, and rock outcroppings. The town of Sells was originally called "The Place Where the Turtle Sticks in the Mud." West of Tucson.

Tubac Presidio State Historic Park  Founded in 1752 as a Spanish presidio to defend the mission at Tumacácori and the village of Tubac-known today as the oldest European-settled city in Arizona.

Tumacácori National Historical Park  The abandoned ruins of three ancient Spanish colonial missions are here on 45 acres.

Heritage Experiences of the Santa Cruz Valley Website  Take a look at the online heritage trail map for our region.