Historic Tucson Photo Gallery by Peg Price at pbase.com

Historic Tucson

The Old Pueblo has many buildings of historical significance. The downtown barrio was bulldozed during the Tucson Urban Renewal Project in the late 1960s to make way for the Convention Center and many historic structures were destroyed. This photo journey is a way to recognize the ones that still remain throughout the city.

Three excellent books: C. L. Sonnichsen's TUCSON...THE LIFE AND TIMES OF AN AMERICAN CITY, John Bret Harte's TUCSON...PORTRAIT OF A DESERT PUEBLO and R. Brooks Jeffery and Anne M. Nequette's A GUIDE TO TUCSON ARCHITECTURE.

Roger Carpenter's book of Tucson stories and photos called LETTERS FROM TUCSON, 1925-1927 is another wonderful way to recapture Old Tucson.

The Walking Tours of Tucson offered by the historical society is a great way to explore the city by foot with a guide. And just for the fun of it, try renting the 1939 DVD movie "ARIZONA" which was filmed here in Tucson.

pages 1 2 3 ALL

Saint Augustine Cathedral by Night	Saint Augustine Cathedral by Day	Geronimo's Field Glasses	Hacienda Del Sol
Entrance to Hacienda Del Sol #2	Hotel Congress	Rosalia Verdugo House	4th Ave. Street Scene
St. Joseph's Immaculate Heart Academy	Santa Rita Hotel	Canales	Rialto Theatre
El Paso and Southwestern Depot	El Paso and Southwestern Depot Dome	Temple of Music and Art	J. Knox Corbett House
Owl's Club Mansion	Sam Hughes House	In the Barrio Viejo: Teatro Carmen	In the Barrio: El Tiradito
In the Barrio	In the Barrio	Arizona Inn	A Dining Room of the Arizona Inn
Almost 100 Years Old	San Pedro Chapel	Pima County Courthouse	Consolidated Bank of Tucson - Valley Bank
Consolidated Bank of Tucson Again	La Casa Cordova	Old Main - University of Arizona	Hiram Stevens House
Original Tucson High School	Corner Market	Charles O. Brown House	Masonic Temple
Wright-Zellweger House	Julius Kruttschnitt House	Manning House	Stork's Nest
Old Town Artisans	Diego Valencia House	1936 Art Deco Gas Station	PAT House (Perfect Arizona Type) from 1950s and 1960s
Ronstadt House	Pueblo Hotel	Benedictine Sancutary	Leonardo Romero House c. 1868
Lodge on the Desert	Hinchcliffe Court	Charles W. Hinchcliffe House	Tucson Medical Center
Jules le Flein House	Franklin Auto Museum	Coronado Hotel	St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church
A View of Congress St.	Indian Village Trading Post	Talk of the Town....Pusch Building	The "Longest Bar in Arizona"
Walking by the Talk of the Town	Fox Theatre	Painted Horse	U.S. Courthouse
Tucson Panorama from "A" Mountain	Veterans Affairs Medical Center	Boudreaux-Robinson House	Tucson's Birthplace
Bray House	Marist College	Site of San Cosme del Tucson	Saint Augustine Cathedral
Home With Art Deco Front	A Home in the University District	Fort Lowell Quartermaster Complex

pages 1 2 3 ALL

post a comment

Peg Price		07-Feb-2008 02:04
Hi Jeff and Ralph, Thanks for your suggestions of historic places to photograph in Tucson. I'll try to get them added to the gallery. Peg

Jeff aArest		06-Feb-2008 19:26
Really fun to see this site.I'd love to see some nature landscapes, particulary of Pusch Ridge. Jeff Arest

Ralph Taylor		05-Feb-2008 19:58
I would like to see photos of Lil' Abner's, the Elysian Market and the Capilla included. Great photos bringing back memories of the Tucson I have lived in and loved for the past 40+ years.

Peg Price		06-Jan-2008 03:38
I've got a photo of the Veterans' Affairs Medical Center in this gallery, part of the VA Hospital that Roy Place built. Is there another older Veteran's Hospital on the South Side? Thanks for your note. Peg

guest		06-Jan-2008 02:34
Great photos. Thank you for sharing. You might like to take some pictures of the Old Veteran's Hospital on the South side of Tucson, to add to your collection of great historic buildings. Last I saw it, about 15 years ago, it was still beautiful. The color of the building was great too.

Roberta		04-Nov-2007 18:00
Great photos! I was looking for photos of the Flying V ranch - if you have any or know of any older ones let me know.

Peg Price		28-Sep-2007 15:01
Thanks for your comments, Alan and Bill. It's always enjoyable to notes from those who lived here years ago. Peg

Alan in Massachusetts		28-Sep-2007 02:55
Thanks for the pictures of The Old Pueblo. I attended the U of A 1965 - 68 and now live in Massachusetts. My family and I lived in The Major Motel on the Miracle Mile in the summer of 1954. I attended a conference there last June (2006) and found it much changed. Thanks for saving these images. Good work and keep it up!

Bill Graham		23-Sep-2007 05:05
I enjoyed your photos of my hometown, Tucson. I was born at the Stork's Nest in 1934, attended Tucson Senior High when it and Amphi were the only two high schools. Graduated in 1952. When I was a teenager in Tucson, I often swam in the El Conquistador Hotel swimming pool, which was open to the public. I left Tucson in 1964 and now live in beautiful southern Oregon.

Guest		03-Sep-2007 20:43
Does anyone know the history of the 4 story hotel-like stone building behind the Radisson on East Speedway. The clueless cuties at the front desk were no help. Thanks.

Peg Price		21-Jun-2007 12:43
Thanks, Alan. I'll work on getting the Blenman School photo posted when I get back to Tucson. Peg

Alan Blenman		20-Jun-2007 00:17
Peg Price Enjoyed Pics Blenman house Charles Blenman was a cousin to my grandfather would like a pic of Blenman School Alan Blenman

Peg Price		21-May-2007 22:34
Thanks, Debby, for your kind offer. I actually did find it and photograph the front but your view sounds like it would be magnificent. I'm out of state right now but when I return, I will call. Thanks again and good luck with your sale. Peg

Debby Bonisolli		21-May-2007 15:08
Peg, Its adjacent to my condos(147)that I'm selling at 1150 N. El Dorado Place. At Speedway and Wilmot go N on Wilmot to your first right(right after M & I Bank). Go halfway around the circle and down the driveway that is lined with Italian Cypress. You can take some wonderful High View pics from one of our condos so call me at 241-0990 when you are ready and I'll meet you there. Debby

Peg Price		26-Apr-2007 21:35
Debby, I'm glad you asked about the Ponds Mansion. I actually went out looking for it one Sunday and could not find it using the available information I had. Is it still standing? And do you happen to know the address or perhaps a description of the building? I would love to photograph it and add to the gallery. Thanks for the suggestion. Peg

Debby Bonisolli		26-Apr-2007 20:38
Great Pictures.I enjoyed them all. Do you have any pictures of the old Ponds Family Mansion at the NE corner of Speedway/Wilmot

Sean Sandefur		22-Feb-2007 03:28
What a wonderful and eclectic collection of photos. I'm a lifelong Tucsonan now living in Boston and it is such a treat to see pictures of buildings that always fascinated me growing up there, but never get mentioned anywhere (the art-deco gas station on stone in particular!). The story about the Talk of the Town building is also new to me and wonderful to know. Thank you so much for doing this. I will visit your site often when I feel homesick! Sean

hecky		05-Feb-2007 17:05
nice pictures of the old pueblo. but, where are the saguaros and the painted desert scenes? :-)

Peg Price		28-Dec-2006 20:23
Thanks, Catherine. If you have any additional history you can tell us about these structures, that'd be great to read. Peg

Catherine		28-Dec-2006 00:02
Love your photos! I am a freelance architectural historian and have done a lot of research on a few of the buildings you have on the site. The photos are wonderful and only make me more excited about seeing the ones I've missed. Keep up the lovely page and keep adding to it, there's so much to see!

Peg Price		19-Dec-2006 02:31
Thanks for your note, Jack. And I hope you enjoy your stay here in Tucson. Living in Armory Park will be a nice experience! Peg

Purple Jack		18-Dec-2006 21:48
Greetings: I'm originally from the little historic town of Paarl, in the Western Cape of South Africa. I'm delighted to see your work in displaying the historic buildings. Well done. I might well be renting an historic building in Armoury Park, but the deal is not finalised yet, so... 'mum's the word' till then. BTW, both the UofA (School of Architecture) Tucson Public Library (Downtown) and, I believe, though not visited the Historical Museum on Stone, have furtrher information. Keep up the good work. I'll be back. Kindest, Happy Hols. Jack.

Ali Majdfar		13-Nov-2006 05:00
Wonderful place, thanks for sharing.

Peg Price		12-Nov-2006 16:32
Hi Jan, Thanks for your note. Yes, that Roy Place Building is the old Walgreen's. Your idea of "geo-tagging" photos to show their locations is a good one. I understand there's some early-stage software for doing this but is still a bit challenging to implement. I tried to put the address with the photos so folks could see them in person but realize navigating to them is another whole project! Peg

Jan Howard		10-Nov-2006 15:47
Was reading about the Walgreen Building in the AZ Star today and found your website looking for a photo of the building. I'm betting it is the structure titled "Roy Place Building" since he was identified as the architect. Thanks for all the great photos. I recognize many of the buildings, but many of them I've never seen. I bet it would be a lot of work, but it would be great if you ever have a chance to even put nearby major intersections with the photos so we can see these great sites in person. Thanks, again, for putting up this site. Jan H.

Peg Price		22-May-2006 23:11
Thanks, Carlos and Gretchen, I joined up...I didn't know such a dedicated group existed. I look forward to learning lots more about Old Tucson. Peg

mistercopacetic		22-May-2006 18:35
Dear Ms. Price, Came across your images while searching for old photos of Tucson. Wonderful work! We thought you might like to join our little group "Vanishing Tucson". Vanishing Tucson is a place online to discuss Tucson, past and present. We share stories and remember all those things which have made Tucson so wonderful. We'd be honored if you'd join in and share some of your thoughts and photograghs with us from time to time. go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vanishingtucson/ It takes a few minutes to sign up. This is just to keep out the spammers. Everyone is welcome. Thanks! Carlos and Gretchen

Peg Price		19-Apr-2006 05:06
Thank you, mahowel. Peg

Tony Howell		18-Apr-2006 02:21
Wonderful gallery!!!!! You really bring out the beauty of Tuscon.

Peg Price		16-Apr-2006 21:09
Thanks, John, I hope you have a wonderful time visiting Tucson! Peg

John Dorsey		16-Apr-2006 16:10
Thanks again for such an informative gallery. You'll smile at the thought of me dragging my long-suffering wife and daughter around the areas of Tucson which you've given me insight into. John

Peg Price		31-Mar-2006 23:01
Thank you, Franz! Peg

Franz Bauer		30-Mar-2006 19:09
I am very amazed at this variable architecture in Tuscon,great buildings and you captured it so well.Franz Bauer

Peg Price		03-Nov-2005 03:25
Thanks, John. I hope you have a wonderful visit to Tucson. If you come in the Spring you'll have the extra treat of seeing the Sonoran Desert blooming. Peg

John Dorsey		03-Nov-2005 01:36
Wonderful - thanks so much for posting these images. We're planning a first visit to Tucson early next year, so you can imagine what a treat this has been. Thanks again. John

Peg Price		29-Aug-2005 00:07
Hi Carla, I cannot imagine how difficult that was to witness the destruction of El Conquistador. Two of the first stories I first heard about Tucson was the destruction of this hotel and the building of the El Con Shopping Center and the demolition of the Barrio. Thanks for your input on the direction the city is going. Peg

Carla King		11-Aug-2005 04:38
This is just wonderful! I grew up in Tucson and was a teen when they tore down the El Conquistador hotel, a time of total disregard, and I cried to see it demolished. I feel even worse now, seeing the arch at a gated community. With a crappy metal and glass door to boot! Thanks for this wonderful record of the bit of beauty in Tucson that still remains among the crap that has evolved there.

Ron Horloff		28-Jun-2004 02:24
A fascinating tour of Tucson. You've captured the flavor of the Old West as well as anyone. Ron

Clayton Esterson		24-May-2004 15:23
A delightful documentation of the jewels of the Old Pueblo.

Jeff Cochran		28-Apr-2004 04:11
Interesting Architecture.

Mike		20-Apr-2004 21:00
Peg, These are terrific photos. I am an architect working on the design for a building in downtown Tucson, and found this while doing my research. While I'm aware of the strong art deco influence in parts of downtown, I have yet to discover what inspired that direction, in an area so heavily influenced by Mexican, Spanish and mission styles. Thanks so much for sharing these wonderfully composed photographs! Mike

orson		16-Apr-2004 03:12
Peg, What a pleasure to see your Tucson images! To the best of my knowledge there are no comparable photos on the internet. A friend today recommended your site. Earlier this month I had gone through the entire directory of Google images looking for Tucson photos. You see I have been photographing Tucson since 1967, both in stills and film. No other contemporary photog has been that interested in the subject, particularly what remains of the historic past. Only the late Jack Shaeffer showed much of an interest, and he was more of a hard nosed photojournalist than historian. His archive is at the Arizona Historical Society where, I note, you shot Geronimo's binoculars. I would like to communicate with you directly, instead of this forum. Again my e-mail is orson85@msn.com I have two final comments. Your captions are excellent. I thirst for additional info on the structures. While not a criticism, it would have been more dramatic if you had taken the shots in the early morning or late afternoon. I am particularly fond of those late afternoon golden tones, especially as they play off adobe or wooden structures. I am off to write about your ghost town gallery.

Peg Price		19-Nov-2003 20:04
Thanks, Malcolm. You're absolutely right about the skewed look and keystoning. Maybe I'll take a few and work with them to see if they can be straightened up a bit. I appreciate you comments and suggestions. Peg

malcolm		19-Nov-2003 15:13
Hi Peg, I really enjoyed looking at your pictures. The colours and composition are great. I think a few of the shots would present themselves better if objects like doors and walls were a little less skewed (IMHO). Very nice.

click on thumbnails for full image