Tubac, Arizona
About
Tubac, Arizona, “where art and history meet,” is nestled in the Santa Cruz Valley in the high Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona. Light domes bloom at both ends of the valley — metropolitan Tucson, with a million residents, is 76 km (48 miles) north, and Ambos Nogales, the twin cities straddling the border of Arizona and Mexico, is 38 km (24 miles) south. Tubac’s official population is 1,375, but that number swells with second-home owners and tourists in the winter.
First populated a thousand or more years ago by the indigenous Hohokam, Tubac, Arizona lies along the trail of missions established by Father Eusebio Kino. The Tumacácori Mission, in an International Dark Sky Park, is just south of Tubac. It was from Tubac that Juan Bautista de Anza led an expedition in 1775, eventually establishing the Presidio in San Francisco. A 7-km (4.5-mile) section of the 3,000-km (1,900-mile) AnzaTrail winds through Tubac’s historic landscape, connecting the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park to the Tumacácori National Historical Park. This pathway through history invites visitors to tread in the footsteps of early explorers like de Anza and Father Kino, through thriving ecosystems and seasonal migrations of avian species along the Santa Cruz River.
Modern Tubac thrives as a hub of culture and conservation. Recognized for its vibrant art scene, the town harmonizes contemporary pursuits with a commitment to environmental stewardship while nurturing a legacy of human habitation spanning millennia.
The renowned Smithsonian’s Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory is just 20 km (12.5 miles) northeast of Tubac. The Observatory pioneers studies of galaxies, supernovae, and exoplanets.
The potential threat of uncontrolled light pollution led residents to coalesce in efforts to protect Tubac’s pristine night sky. Members of the Tubac Dark Sky Committee made sky quality measurements, inventoried outdoor public lighting, and took steps to become an International Dark Sky Community. Residents, local government, and businesses worked to enact an improved outdoor lighting code. This code and ongoing efforts of the Tubac Dark Sky Committee will minimize light pollution, protect dark skies, reduce energy consumption, and ensure that pioneering astronomical work at the Whipple Observatory continues.
Tubac, Arizona is working jointly with the Tumacácori National Historical Park, which was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2018, and with the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, which is currently applying to be certified as an International Dark Sky Park. Together, the three entities form a strong voice and destination to promote the preservation of dark skies.
Area
28.1 Sq. Km
Designated
2024
Category
International Dark Sky Community
Address
Tubac Community Center Foundation
50 Bridge Rd
Tubac, AZ 85646
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Click here to find ideal environmental conditions for enjoying dark skies near the Isle of Tubac, AZ (31.61, -111.05).
