Four centuries in a few square blocks: the Presidio, the railroad, and the landmarks that still stand.
Researched by Susan Johnson, historian
Tucson is one of the longest continuously inhabited places in the United States. The Hohokam farmed the Santa Cruz floodplain for centuries; in 1775 the Spanish established the Presidio San Agustin del Tucson, a walled fort whose footprint still shapes the downtown grid. The settlement passed from Spain to Mexico, then to the United States with the 1854 Gadsden Purchase.
The Southern Pacific Railroad arrived in 1880, and downtown Tucson grew up around it. Congress Street became the commercial spine, lined with hotels, theatres, and businesses serving travelers stepping off the trains. Most of the landmarks on our walking tour date from this railroad-era boom of the early 1900s.
What follows is the documented history behind eight of those landmarks, compiled from primary archives at the Arizona Historical Society, the Pima County Library, and the Pima County Recorder.
311 E Congress St
Located a stone's throw from the Tucson railroad station, the Hotel Congress was built in 1919 in response to the increase in commerce and visitors. The Tap Room opened in the 1930s and was renamed Tiger's Tap Room after longtime bartender Thomas "Tiger" Zeigler, who worked there starting in 1959.
Full history and hauntings of Hotel Congress →318 E Congress St
Built by the same architectural firm as the nearby Hotel Congress, the Rialto opened in 1920 and featured vaudeville acts, singing, comedy, and the occasional silent movie. In the 1930s the "talkies" flipped the movie industry, and the Rialto adapted. But business dwindled as downtown Tucson changed and people moved toward the suburbs.
Full history and hauntings of Rialto Theatre →88 E Broadway
The elegant Santa Rita Hotel was built in 1903 in the Mission Revival style and opened in February 1904 to great celebration. It boasted indoor plumbing, a dance floor, cafe, a roof garden, and a swimming pool. At one time the hotel was owned by a business group that included singer Linda Ronstadt's grandfather. The Santa Rita was built on the site of the former Camp Tucson, used post-Civil War to keep the peace in the settlement. The area has a long military history dating back to the 1700s. The last of the hotel was demolished in 2009.
Full history and hauntings of 57 S Scott Ave (Site of the Santa Rita Hotel) →192 S Stone Ave
St. Augustine Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson. The first chapel was built by Father Donato and his parishioners in the 1860s when Tucson was little more than a village. It was part of the Spanish fort that occupied the grounds, and the soldiers frequented the one-room sanctuary. The church was expanded, rebuilt, and restored several times over the decades. The crown jewel is the 17-foot, 2,000-pound Pamplona Crucifix, over 600 years old and carved in Spain.
Full history and hauntings of St. Augustine Cathedral →17 W Congress St
The Fox Theatre opened on April 11, 1930 with great fanfare. Congress Street was closed and waxed so people could dance in the street to the music of four live bands. A grand party atmosphere prevailed and streetcars gave free rides that night. The film Chasing Rainbows and a Mickey Mouse cartoon were featured. The Fox became the "crown jewel" of downtown for the next four decades, staging live acts and showing movies. Eventually the theater fell into disrepair as Tucson expanded. The Fox closed in the 1970s, but in the 1990s the Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation formed to restore it to its former stature.
Full history and hauntings of Fox Theater →100 N Stone Ave
Built in 1929, the Pioneer International Hotel was one of downtown Tucson's busiest and most iconic venues. Its twelve stories towered over the other buildings, and the Pioneer was a favorite for office parties, family gatherings, and holiday festivities.
Full history and hauntings of Pioneer Hotel →125 E Pennington St
Francisco Studios sits near the train depot and the old Congress Hotel, placing it right in the middle of Tucson's frontier action from the late 1800s. The studio rooms are rented by bands for practice and recording, often late into the night and early morning hours. While there are rumors the building site once housed a morgue, what is certain is the building's proximity to some of downtown Tucson's most historically active ground.
Full history and hauntings of Francisco Studios →400 N Toole Ave
The Southern Pacific Railway Station was built in 1907, replacing a smaller depot. The railroad was the lifeline that allowed Tucson to connect with the rest of the country. The depot's basement was used as a holding cell for prisoners awaiting transport to another jurisdiction.
Full history and hauntings of Tucson Amtrak Station →Our nightly walking tour covers all eight landmarks in 90 minutes. Same research, told out loud.