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Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area

The Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area is a natural and cultural landscape shaped by generations of people from diverse cultural origins. Tumacácori National Historical Park and other visitor experiences here embody this spirit.

 

This 3,300-square-mile landscape is nationally recognized for its natural, historical and multicultural heritage

The Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area of Southern Arizona encompasses the watershed of the Santa Cruz River – from Nogales and Patagonia, through Tucson, to Marana and Oro Valley – an ancient and still vital trade route, home to Arizona’s earliest civilizations and a bounty of natural and historical assets. The boundary marks an area shaped by generations of people from diverse cultures and communities with special stories to tell. The distinctive stories of these communities form the fabric of the experiences available here.

There are 11 heritage experiences, which are unique among existing National Heritage Areas, that highlight this area's varied natural beauty and cultural history.

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              Santa Cruz River, Southern Arizona

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         Tohono O'odham weaver

Distinctive stories of Southern Arizona's Santa Cruz Valley:

  • Bird Habitat and Migration Routes
  • Desert Farming
  • Mining Booms
  • Native American Lifeways 
  • Ranching Traditions 
  • Sky Islands and Desert Seas
  • Sonoran Desert
  • Spanish and Mexican Frontier 
  • Streams in the Desert
  • U.S. Military Posts on the Mexico Border 
  • U.S.-Mexico Border Culture

The Best of Southern Arizona

Visitors to the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area will enjoy outdoor recreation, bird-watching, astronomy, heritage site tours, local wineries, and heritage foods. Attractions like the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, which parallels the Santa Cruz River,  appeal to travelers of all ages seeking to take a trip through history.

Other attractions include: Saguaro National Park, Mission San Xavier del Bac, Tumacacori National Historical Park, Catalina State Park, Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, Tubac artist colony, Historic Canoa Ranch, Wild Chile Botanical Area, Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, Patagonia Lake State Park, Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains, and San Rafael State Park and Natural Area

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       Mission San Xavier del Bac

Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Alliance

National Heritage Areas (NHA) are designated by Congress as a place where natural, cultural, historic and recreational resources combine to form nationally distinctive landscapes. There are 62 NHAs in 36 states. The Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Alliance is the non-profit organization mandated by the enabling legislation to serve as the local coordinating entity for the Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Area. This alliance of local governments, non-profit organizations, and businesses uniquely poised to coordinate and implement heritage-based economic and community development is an advocate for this region's valuable heritage.

Local heritage conservation, promotion, and education projects supported by the National Heritage Area:

  • Increase heritage and nature tourism and grow tourism-related economic impact
  • Develop heritage education programs
  • Promote local foods, crafts, and other traditional products
  • Riparian restoration
  • Rehabilitation of historic buildings
  • Improve the quality of life for residents by instilling a sense of place
  • And more! 

Explore Lodging, Restaurants, and Attractions within the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area

Heritage & Culture Events

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History & Culture

Kids Exploring Colossal Cave

Attractions

Rock Climbing near Mt. Lemmon

Outdoors

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Visit Tucson recognizes and respects that Tucson resides on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples. Today, Tucson is home to the O’odham and the Yaqui tribes. Learn more about Native American Culture at VisitTucson.org/native-american-culture

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