300 Years of Spanish History in Downtown Tucson: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

3.9
(23 reviews)

1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes (approximately)
Offered in: English

See Downtown Tucson’s historic mansions and homes on this affordable self-guided walking tour.

• Find out how downtown Tucson transformed from a prehistoric village into an architecturally rich neighborhood where some of the Southwest’s leading architects left their mark
• Hear from producer Jim Turner, a historian in Arizona who’s authored or co-authored nine books on the state’s history
• Do it all in an hour or linger at stops along the way with complete control over when you start and finish
• Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it
• Use the virtual tour option at home

Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive a ticket with instructions and a unique code listed under “Before You Go”. Then simply install the VoiceMap app and enter your code.

The app displays directions to the starting point, and when you’re in the right place, just pop in your headphones and tap start. VoiceMap has automatic GPS playback, with turn-by-turn directions. It also works offline.

What's Included

VoiceMap App for Android and iOS
Lifetime access to this tour in English
Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Food/Drink
Smartphone and headphones
Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route
Transportation

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Before arrival, please install the VoiceMap mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. This is a self-guided audio tour that you can start, pause, or restart at any time and complete at your own pace. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.

End point
El Charro Café Downtown

The tour ends in front of El Charro Café.

Itinerary

Duration: 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes (approximately)
  • (Pass by)

    This self-guided walking tour starts outside the Presidio San Agustín del Tucson Museum, once an 11-acre Spanish fort, where you’ll learn what daily life was like for early settlers in the late 1700s.

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    You'll pass by Sonoran row houses made of adobe bricks like Casa de Cordova, which was restored and dedicated by First Lady Betty Ford in 1974.

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    The tour passes by what historians call the "mansions on main street" which include the Tucson Museum of Art.

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    The tour passes by Café a la C’Arte where you’ll find delicious pastries

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    You'll pass by the J. Knox Corbett House which, like many of Main Avenue’s sophisticated 1890s and early 1900s mansions, owes its appearance to two innovative and imaginative architects, Henry Trost and David Holmes.

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    The tour passes by the Christopher Franklin Carroll Centennial Park. You'll hear about the park while you walk.

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    The tour passes by the Franklin House. You'll hear about the original owners while you walk.

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    The tour passes by El Presidio Bed and Breakfast. You'll hear about what the B&B was like previously under different owners.

    Admission ticket free
  • El Charro Café Downtown (Pass by)

    The tour ends in front of El Charro Café, the oldest Mexican restaurant in Tucson and home of the chimichanga.

    Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Service animals allowed
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Supplied by VoiceMap Audio Tours

Tags

Private Sightseeing Tours
Audio Guides
Architecture Tours
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Walking Tours
Low Supplier Cancellation Rate
Low Last Minute Supplier Cancellation Rate
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

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Rating

3.9 Based on 23 23 reviews
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