For proof of Tubac’s status as a history hotbed, look no further than this sparse, unassuming property right in the thick of town. The park preserves the ruins of the Tubac Presidio (Spanish for fortress), built by Spanish explorers as protection in 1752. This glimpse into Spanish Colonial history is a true gem, since many similar presidios founded in Arizona, California and Mexico have since been demolished or covered up by development. Head underground and see excavated portions of the 1752 commandant’s quarters. There are also neat artifacts and exhibits about Tubac’s rich history, including the Washington Printing Press, which published Arizona’s first newspaper in 1859.