Celebrating 100 Years of Statehood

Upcoming Official Tucson & Southern Arizona Centennial Events

Arizona Sings - Celebrating the Birth & Growth of Our State

April 22 & 29, 2012

Catalinas Community Chorus, a non-profit, non-denominational chorus of 50 members will perform two concerts in April of 2012 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of statehood for Arizona. Our chorus provides music to all ages throughout the Tucson community with the goals of providing high quality and enjoyable concerts and to gift some of our proceeds to the furtherance of youth oriented music in the community.

Exhibitions and Lectures

University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections
June 12 - December 28, 2012
1510 E. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ

Our main exhibition space in Special Collections will feature the following exhibition: "Reading Arizona: Essential Books for the Centennial" This exhibition is being curated in conjunction with a special issue of the AZ Historical Society's Journal of Arizona History dedicated to the celebration of the AZ Centennial.

Becoming Arizona: The Valentine State

University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections
August 22, 2011 - May 30, 2012
1510 E. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ

"Becoming Arizona: The Valentine State" recreates the colorful story of Arizona's path to statehood. This year-long exhibition is on display from Aug. 22 - May 30, 2012 in the gallery at Special Collections, 1510 E. University Blvd. "Becoming Arizona" features a selection of maps, books, photographs, letters, scrapbooks and unique items selected from Special Collections' extensive Southwest and Borderlands holdings. The exhibit documents the experiences and stories that defined the region during the colonial period, territorial times and the years leading up to 1912 statehood. Included in "Becoming Arizona" is the 1848 Tratado de Paz, the official Mexican printing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Also included is William Oury's handwritten speech that seeks to defend his role in the killing of Apache women and children at the Camp Grant massacre of 1871. A scrapbook compiled by George W.P. Hunt, Arizona's first governor, offers news clippings and photographs that reflect the issues leading up to, and following, Arizona statehood. Unique items on loan from the Arizona Historical Society - including Wyatt Earp's wedding ring, Geronimo's tinder bag, and a snuff box belonging to Archbishop Jean-Baptiste Salpointe - complement the materials selected from Special Collections.

In the Devil's Frying Pan

Cave Creek, Flagstaff, Tucson
January - August, 2012

A cast of actors of all ages will present this original play with music based on the oral histories of Arizonans from the state's territorial period through the time of its statehood. The play will tell stories of extraordinary Arizonans from all over the state and illustrate how these disparate characters came together to form a unified state. The play will be written so that portions of it can be made available to schools.

For more great events across Arizona, visit the Official Arizona Centennial Website >>