TUCSON, ARIZONA

[Skyland]

Tucson is the second-largest city in Arizona and one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the US with almost 1 million inhabitants. The city was founded in 1776 and remained until 1821 under Spanish rule. After it was ruled by the Mexicans until 1853 it became part of the USA. Since 1885 Tucson is home to the University of Arizona, with 36,000 students one of the largest universities in the West. The city is surrounded by the beautiful Sonoran desert which is full of the unique Saguaro cacti.
Until today the city is under influence of Hispanic culture which is expressed in architecture, music and lifestyle. Enjoy the wonderful Southwestern Adobe buildings, the beautiful campus and the small downtown skyline.

1.Downtown

Tucson Skyline Panorama - in the background University of Arizona (red buildings) and Mt Lemmon ca. 2800m, 9160 ft



The small skyline consists of: Pima County Legal Services 76m, Bank of America Plaza 80m, UniSource Tower 101m, White building=Library





North Stone Ave





La Placita Village - famous for its outdoor cinema





Pima County seat





San Augustin Cathedral





2.Barrio Historico

















3.Tucson Adobe Architecture

































4.The University of Arizona



The oldest building of the University - Old Main (1891)









University Mall





Student Union











University viewed from downtown:



This historic light railway connects the University with downtown



5.Tucson Nature

Catalina Mountains



Saguaro National Park 20 min from downtown by car



Mount Lemmon viewed from downtown



Tucson from Mt Kimball



Skiing in Tucson (Mt Lemmon) - The southernmost skiing area in the US

[VansTripp]

Nice pic.

[Bonjourtoledo]

I loved Tucson--my grandparents were winter birds there as they stayed in Colorado in the mountains in the summer. They lived in Tucson from 1972 till 1998 as they moved back home here in Ohio to live with my parents. I have such great memories of Tucson as I spent there every winter during the holiday break.

[612bv3]

Tuscan looks very beautiful. Thanks for sharing your pics.

[Rainier Meadows]

man Tucson shots are very rare!

Love the colors!

[VansTripp]

I don't see any many Phoenix pic

[aUen]

cool pics.

[M.Poirot]

nice.

[Bond James Bond]

I like the snow.

[dewback]

Nice pictures

[airmale007]

I go to Tucson every year... it's beautiful.

[Skyland]

Upscale Tucson

[SDfan]

What is this?? People disscusing something on the west coast forum???

Tuscan looks really nice, bigger skyline would make it even nicer though.

[612bv3]

I want one of those houses.

[urbanphx]

Great pictures! I love Tucson. Thanks for sharing ...

* You should also join and post these in the Interior West forum at www.skyscraperpage.com - we need more Tucson representation over there.

[B@dGuYoM]

i love this city !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Phoenix Ashes]

Tucson tore down half its historic barrio in the late 60s for an ugly convention center. I often wonder what it would be like (more Santa Fe, less Albuquerque?) if it was still there. The city itself has been swamped in recent years by Republicans who like McMansions with Disney desert landscaping. Edward Abbey once wrote that Tuscon is a bright but doomed city. The doom is the cancerous growth on the edges.

[Skyland]

Phoenix Ashes: You are right - what happened in the 60ies was a crime. Anyway I am hopeful that the Rio Nuevo project will revitalize downtown. On Congress you already have good nightlife that is connected to 4th avenue and further to Main Gate Square near the campus. While the foothills are definitely more "phoenician" in style - the areas around downtown and the UA area are still "democratic" and have preserved their tucsonian identity. Despite the architectural crimes commited in the 60ies, Tucson has preserved its atmosphere as lively, slightly alternative college city. People are actually rediscovering the old remaining barrio architecture and moving downtown. In some areas you can hate Tucson, then you drive 5 more minutes and you are overwhelmed by its beauty.

[Skyland]

Some Hotels/Resorts in Tucson:

Arizona Inn since 1930:






Marriott University Park:




Marriott Starpass Resort:




Hilton Tucson East:


Hilton El Conquistador:



Loews Ventana Resort:


Westward look Resort:


Lodge on the desert:




Sheraton:


La Paloma Resort:



Radisson Suites:


Radisson Downtown:


Hotel and Club Congress Downtown:


Peppertrees B&B:

[Harry Potter]

Excellent pictures. I also enjoy Tucson, as the city, very much. The only thing that I am really angry about is that the city is meant for cars. If you don't have a car, your basically stuck in one side of the city for ever.
It is pretty rare to see even something as common as buses in Tucson, and taxi's are just totally out of the question.
It is good that the city is making great attempts to 'replan' the city, and make it more pedestrian friendly.

I personally prefer the town of Oro Valley. It's a lot better planned than Tucson, and even though it doesn't have any REAL history, it's a great town.
There are many mistakes that Tucson has made, that Oro Valley makes sure not to have. For example, Tucson made a terrible mistake making the city when it didn't fill in the gaps after the city termendesly expanded. Oro Valley on the other hand is totally filling in every little space after it buildings.