TUMACACORI MISSION: HISTORY OF AN ARIZONA ICON w/ Alex La Pierre of Borderlandia

Step into the layered history of Tumacácori, one of Arizona’s most enduring landmarks, in this dynamic presentation by public historian Alex La Pierre. Through historical context, vivid storytelling, and archival imagery, this talk explores the indigenous roots of the Santa Cruz Vallery, the role of Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries and colonial settlement, the mission’s transformation through Mexican independence and U.S. territorial expansion, the preservation challenges and the modern meaning of Tumacácori as a symbol of cultural continuity and encounter.