We headed out to the Arts and Crafts Fair in Tumac. Shortly after we turned south onto I-19, we saw the exit for Mission San Xavier. The mission is a National Historic Landmark and was founded as a Catholic mission by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692. Father Kino was the priest who inspired DeGracia when he created his Mission in the Sun that we visited on Monday. Construction of the current church began in 1783.
This mission is the oldest intact European structure in Arizona. The church's interior is filled with marvelous original statuary and mural paintings. The inside is breathtaking. There are arches, murals on the rounded ceiling and intricate wood carvings and paintings on the walls.
It is still an active church with the mission of ministering to the religious needs of its parishioners. It is located on the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation. The O'odham tribe had sent sent a messenger to ask Father Kino to come and teach them modern agricultural techniques used by the Spanish. He obliged and also taught them Christianity and Spanish.
You can see on the church wall and in other places the "symbol of the People." This is sometimes called the "man in the maze." The man at the top symbolizes birth (of man, family, or tribe). As the figure goes through the maze, he encounters many turns representing changes. As he progresses deeper, he acquires strength, knowledge, and understanding. Near the end of the maze, he repents, cleanses, and reflects back on wisdom gained. The dark center at the end of the maze represents death and eternal life.
No one knows where the symbol came from but it was also found near Phoenix at the Casa Grande National Monument. We also saw a symbol that was very similar to this in the petroglyphs at the V-Bar=V Ranch last week. Strangely enough, Ancient coins discovered near the Isle of Crete in the Mediterranean stamped with the same symbol.
After touring the grounds and hiking around the hill adjoining the mission, we got back on the road to Tubac. Our directions said to get off at exit 34. We were at exit 80 and noticed that we were making very good time -- even for a speed limit of 75. Then we noticed that the signs were stating distances in kilometers. Fortunately the "mile posts" were actually "kilometer posts" or we would have really been confused.
As we got off at exit 34 we were greeted by police cars and a number of folks in neon vests directing us to parking and collecting $6.00. We parked and walked the short distance to Tubac Road and encountered "occupy Tubac." There were craft tents lining every street and alley. There were horse-pulled trollies, golf cart=pulled trollies and even a bicycle=pulled cart for two. And there were all the permanent craft stores that Tubac is known for. We had a great time looking at all the wonderful wares and artwork. We found some treasures for ourselves and gifts for folks back home. We went around the circuit once to scope it out, then went for a tour of the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park.
Persidio means fort and was used to protect the inhabitants from outsiders -- usually the Apaches. Tubac was occupied, then abandoned several times. In the 50's it was found by artists and became an arts and craft center. This festival is the 53rd annual one. Tubac has evolved over the years into a great destination for quality southwest arts and crafts.
About 3:00 we went to Shelby's Bistro for Lunch/Dinner. Then we headed south a few miles on the local road to Tumacacori National Historical Park. The site contains the physical remains of the mission church San Jose Tumacacori and associated cemetery, mortuary chapel, lime kiln, and a reconstructed native O’odham home. We went on the self-guided tour. The bell tower of the church was never finished. You can see how the building was constructed with brick and then covered in adobe mud. The white adobe of the main church was treated with lime.
We headed home on I-19 and soon encountered a border patrol stop. There was a "work dog" sniffing all the cars and everyone had to stop. The officer took one look at us and waved us on. We passed the exit for The Titan Missile Historical National Monument and decided to pass that one up. As we headed home and noticed it was sunset time so stopped at the Mission San Xavier again to take some pictures.
Tomorrow we are off to the Gem Show again at the Convention Center.
We headed out to the Arts and Crafts Fair in Tumac. Shortly after we turned south onto I-19, we saw the exit for Mission San Xavier. The mission is a National Historic Landmark and was founded as a Catholic mission by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692. Father Kino was the priest who inspired DeGracia when he created his Mission in the Sun that we visited on Monday. Construction of the current church began in 1783. 
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