TUCSON, THE OLD PUEBLO...Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and Old West combine to make this a most unique American city

Tucson is situated in a high desert valley surrounded by 4 mountain ranges. The central downtown area features century-old adobe homes, Victorian mansions, imposing office buildings, museums and many restaurants within easy walking distance of each other

Left: Contrasting with modern office buildings the Pima County Courthouse was designed by Roy Place in 1928 and features Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival style architecture

Downtown also features the city's major performing arts events, provided by the Tucson Convention Center and the Temple of Music and Art presenting the main venues for opera, symphony and dance performances.

The area consists of three historic districts—El Presidio, Armory Park, and Barrio Historico—provide convenient focal points for a walking tours.

Tucson downtown shopping and office complex is one of the few newer developments

Scattered throughout Tucson are buildings influenced by the cities' Spanish past, like this monastery on Country Club Blvd.

Like many cities around the world Tucson has given up much of its traditional architecture for something new. In the 1960s there was a move to demolish early city Barrios originally built by Spanish settlers. As a result part of the downtown Barrio Viejo was flattened to make way for a new barnlike convention center. While many lament the destruction of much of Tucson's history the city has become more aware of importance of preserving the region’s long and colorful history.

In the past 30 years the downtown area has experienced slower growth as businesses moved to less congested parts of the city. While downtown Tucson today features the usual glass towers found in most cities, huddle in their shadows can still be found many buildings constructed during the 20s to the 50s. A grand Rio Nuevo program has been in the works for many years to revive the downtown area by restoring older buildings, building new hotels and attracting residential development.