Downtown in Tucson in Pima County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Pennington Footbridge

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, January 10, 2010

1. Pennington Footbridge Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Memorial to Elias Pennington, pioneer rancher, farmer, miner, freighter and lumberman. In 1857, he came from Texas with his twelve children settling in various locations around southern Arizona for several years. Near this site, in 1863, Pennington set up a pit for whipsawing timber in the arroyo just south of the old presidio wall. Tragically, by 1870, Elias and five members of his family were dead – victims of the hardships and dangers of frontier life. "Calle del Arroyo" was later renamed Pennington Street in their honor.

Spanish
Puente de Pennington
Memorial a Elías Pennington, pionero ranchero, agricultor, minero, fletador, y maderero. En 1857 vino de Texas con sus doce hijos, estableciéndose en varios locales del sur de Arizona por algunos años. Cerca de este sitio en 1863 Pennington hizo un foso para serruchar madera en el arroyo al sur de la antigua muralla del presidio. Tragicamente, para el año de 1870 Elías y cinco miembros de su familia fueron muertos – víctimas de los peligros de la vida fronteriza. “Calle del Arroyo” después fue renombrada “Pennington Street” en su honra.

Erected by Tucson-Pima

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County Historical Commission and Arizona Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.

Location. 32° 13.352′ N, 110° 58.414′ W. Marker is in Tucson, Arizona, in Pima County. It is in Downtown. It can be reached from Pennington Street. Marker is on east footbridge over Pennington Street, connecting El Presidio Plaza and Pima County goverment complex. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 165 W Alameda St, Tucson AZ 85701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Sky Islands,

in the Sonoran Desert,

and in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Borderlands

and in the Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also the Gadsden Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Vietnam War Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge (a

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, January 10, 2010

2. Pennington Footbridge Marker

This is the Spanish version of the marker.

few steps from this marker); Allande Footbridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Plaza de las Armas (within shouting distance of this marker); S. E. Corner Adobe Wall of Spanish Presidio of Tucson (within shouting distance of this marker); Exchange at the Presidio (within shouting distance of this marker); Pima County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Commemorating the Raising of the First American Flag within the Walled City of Tucson (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tucson.

Pennington Footbridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, January 10, 2010

3. Pennington Footbridge

Marker is on wall of footbridge. View is from El Presidio Plaza looking south across footbridge towards the Pima County government complex.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, January 30, 2010

4. Pennington Footbridge

View west of Spanish translation marker looking down Pennington Street with Allande Footbridge and Federal Building in background.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, January 30, 2010

5. Pennington Footbridge

View northeast from Pennington footbridge of Pima County Courthouse.

Photographed by Audelis Hernandez Zoref, May 13, 2025

6. Pennington Footbridge Marker

The marker on the bridge wall with El Presidio Plaza in the background.

Pennington Footbridge Marker in Spanish image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Audelis Hernandez Zoref, May 13, 2025

7. Pennington Footbridge Marker in Spanish

Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 14, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,762 times since then and 44 times this year. Last updated on May 5, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 14, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 4, 5. submitted on January 31, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 6, 7. submitted on May 19, 2025, by Audelis Hernandez Zoref of Tucson, Arizona. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.