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INTRODUCTION

El Presidio Park is located in downtown Tucson’s historic district on 160 W Alameda St, between Tucson City Hall and the Pima County Courthouse. This historic location has had multiple uses since 1539, when the space was first utilized. In 1775, the park was transformed into Tucson's original presidio, or “military post or fortified settlement” by Colonel Hugo O'Connor of the Spanish Army (1). After the construction of the first Pima County House in 1870, the park was renamed Court Plaza. At the time of the mid-80’s, this area became known as Barrio Libre, or Free Zone, for it’s peaceful civility between the sides of the Mexican American war. The fort’s walls were dismantled after the Americans arrived, but they commemorated the site’s past with markings on the gravel where the wall of San Agustin del Presidio stood from 1775 to 1856. The park was later renamed again, and has since evolved into the space seen today.

EL PRESIDIO PARK TODAY

Today, El Presidio Park lies in the core of downtown sitting right in between Tucson City Hall and Old County Courthouse, making it one of the oldest parts of Tucson, AZ. The site is free of charge and opened to the general public. It is serviced frequently with rose gardens, a large fountain, trees, and other features to provide a pleasurable ambiance. Events ranging from political gatherings, to weddings, to local events such as Tucson Folk Festival and the Tucson Meet Yourself Festival are held here. Some of these events celebrate the multi-cultural spirit that exists in the past and present of El Presidio.

PARK'S MONUMENTS & THEIR HISTORY 

The Mormon Battalion of 1846

One of El Presidio Park’s main features is their large statue created by Clyde Ross Morgan in honor of the Mormon Battalion of 1846. According to the Ensign Peak Foundation, a business dedicated to preserving historic sites and monuments relating to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “the monument is a 2-ton, 19-foot-tall bronze statue of battalion members Christopher Layton and Jefferson Hunt raising the U.S. flag and engaging in peaceful trade with Teodoro Ramirez, a prominent Tucson merchant” (5). This statue depicts members of the Mormon Battalion receiving aid from residents of Tucson on their long, arduous journey from Illinois to San Diego. This monument was dedicated to the city of Tucson on December 14, 1996, the 150th anniversary of the Mormon troops visit to Tucson, by the Tucson Mormon Battalion Monument Foundation “through the support of many individuals dedicated to preserving and honoring Arizona’s historical heritage” (4).

The monument’s plaques offer more insight into the history behind the piece, describing the Mormons’ journey and details about some of the key individuals in the story. The Mormon Battalion was formed in 1846, due to persecution faced by Mormons following the death of their prophet, Joseph Smith. In order to make a better life for his people, Brigham Young, the new leader of the Mormon church, “wrote to President James Knox Polk requesting federal aid for their exodus” (4). The United States declared war on Mexico while Young was waiting for a response from the president, and the aid that the Mormons received was dependent on this fact. 

General Stephen W. Kearny (1794–1848) of the U.S. Army was tasked with enlisting “‘a few hundred Mormons’ as part of his Army of the West” (4). The end result was the five companies of the 101st United States Army Battalion consisting of twenty-two officers, 474 enlisted men, 37 women, and 53 children. The Mormons reached Tucson on December 16, 1846 with only 350 men and 4 women remaining. They met with the local residents, including members of the O'odham and Pima tribes, and Mexican citizens, as Tucson was a Mexican territory at the time. The Battalion stayed peacefully in the presidio, and they traded with the locals for clothing and other provisions. During their stay, the Mormons displayed the first United States flag to fly in Tucson. After refreshing their remaining men, it took the 101st battalion 13 more days to reach their final destination in San Diego, arriving on January 29, 1847 and aiding in the eventual settlement of the southwest United States. 

The monument’s plaques also describe some of the key people who were present during the Battalion’s peaceful occupation of the presidio. The first of these men is Teodoro Ramirez, a rancher, merchant, and school teacher, who helped trade with the Mormons, and who became the first U.S. justice of the peace in Arizona. The plaques also describe Jefferson Hunt and Christopher Layton, two members of the Battalion who were instrumental in creating a relationship with Tucson’s residents and later, colonizing California.

Bust of John F. Kennedy

This bronze bust was created by artist Hardy R. Grant for a sculpture contest hosted by the Pima County Democratic committee. This contest was hosted shortly after John F. Kennedy’s assassination with a $5000 prize for a bust of the president (7). It was then unveiled as a permanent installation at the park on November 22, 1964, exactly one year after John F. Kennedy’s assassination. In December of 2013, the bust was stolen from its podium. It was not recovered until April the following year. According to the news site AZCentral, the bust was found in a wash on the west-side of Tucson, but it had only sustained minimal damage to the base (6). It has since been returned to its original location in the park.

The Battle of the Bulge Monument

This monument is dedicated to the soldiers who fought in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. It was gifted to the city of Tucson from The Southern Arizona Chapter LIII because some of the surviving soldiers from this battle were in the organization. The Battle of the Bulge took place from December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945. According to the monument’s inscription, there were 600,000 American soldiers present at the battle over the course of these two months; “81,000 of them were casualties; 19,000 of these died” (8).

The park contains additional memorials of different kinds. For examples, there's a veterans’ memorial, the 1987 El Soldado Cuero statue, among others pieces of art.  

RULES, REGULATIONS, AND CONTACT INFORMATION

El Presidio Park is open from Sunrise to Sunset. 

  • Skateboarding and glass containers are not allowed.

  • Pets must be on a leash. 

  • To organize events or for camping overnight, a permit is required through the City of Tucson's Parks and Recreation Department. 

    • A separate permit is required if alcohol is involved.

In-depth rules and regulations for the park can be found at: www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks/Park-Rules#section-2

Accommodations

  • Benches

  • Drinking Fountain

  • Fountain

  • Monuments

  • Parking Garage

  • Access to Bus Stops 

  • Public WiFi

  • No Ramadas

  • No Restrooms

For more information contact the Pima County Parks and Rec Department at:

Phone: 520-791-4873

Fax: 520-791-4008

NEIGHBORING SITES AND BUSINESSES

  • Tucson City Hall

  • Arizona Superior Court

    • Arizona Superior Court Law Library and Resource Center

  • Pima County Courthouse

    • Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum

    • Five-To-Oh! Coffee 

  • Tucson Museum of Art

  • Joel D Valdez Main Library

  • Baggin’s Gourmet Sandwiches

  • YMCA

  • Presidio San Agustin del Tucson Museum

  • Street - Taco and Beer Co.

  • Art House Centro

El Soldado Cuero (1987)Restored John F. Kennedy Statue (1964)

Former location of fort's wallMormon Battalion

Battle of the Bulge MonumentVeterans' Memorial

Sources:

  1. “Presidio.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presidio. Accessed 17 Feb. 2024.

  2. https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks/El-Presidio-Plaza

  3. https://www.elpresidiobbinn.com/j3site/el-presidio-historic-district

  4. The Mormon Battalion of 1846 Monument Plaques

  5.  https://ensignpeakfoundation.org/the-mormon-battalion-in-tucson-az/

  6. https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/2014/04/01/arizona-bronze-jfk-bust-stolen-from-tucson-park-recovered/7165759/

  7. https://occupiedtucsoncitizen.org/?p=3402

  8. Battle of Bulge Monument Plaque

  9. http://raycomnbc.worldnow.com/story/25134318/stolen-presidio-jfk-statue-found-in-unusual-way?config=H264/

  10. http://gallery.87thinfantrydivision.com/MonumentsMemorialsandMuseums/United-States/Tucson-Arizona-Presidio-Park/i-Mcg6Zrt

  11. https://www.lds.org/ensign/1979/07/the-mormon-battalion-march-184647?lang=eng

  12. http://www.city-data.com/articles/El-Presidio-Park-Tucson-AZ-City-park.html

  13. https://www.visittucson.org/business/el-presidio-park

  14. https://www.tucsonaz.gov/parks/parks

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