Historic Period

Historic Period. . In this part of America, the first documented European contact with American Indians occurred in the late 1600s when the Jesuits established missions along the rivers near here., Padre Eusebio Kino and his fellow missionaries first visited the Tucson Basin in 1692. Over the following centuries, Indian people were heavily affected by Spanish, Mexican, and American settlers., The Spanish Period (1692-1821) , From 1692 to 1821 the Spanish established more than two dozen missions and presidios (military outposts) in southern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico. These Spaniards introduced new forms of religion, dress, speech, mining, domestic animals, agricultural crops, tools, and diseases., The Mexican Period (1821-1853) , Mexican independence in 1821 brought more change. More Mexican farmers, ranchers, and miners moved into southern Arizona taking some of the best land for farms and ranches., The American Period (1853-present) , The United States gained this territory through the Gadsden Purchase of 1853. The American Indian people now lived under a third flag in as many centuries. Southern Arizona boomed with prospecting and mining after the American Civil War. Many miners searched for gold with limited success. However, copper proved to be the most important metal in Arizona during the twentieth century. Large scale mining operations, such as the Silverbell Mine across this valley, can be seen all over southern Arizona. Although the Tucson Mountains did not contain rich deposits of ore, prospectors worked more than 140 claims in the Tucson Mountain District of the park., Although many changes have affected the American Indians of the southwest, they continue to practice many traditional activities. The annual saguaro fruit harvest on park land is but one of these significant traditions still practiced by the Tohono O'Odham people., Historic Period , 1692-1821 . Spanish Period , 1821-1853 . Mexican Period , 1853-present . American Period