Tanque Verde Ridge near Tucson in Pima County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Desert Homes

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 25, 2012

1. Desert Homes Marker

Inscription. Safford Freeman and his family settled in this area in the early 1930s after applying for a patent under the Homestead Act. They were granted 640 acres to farm, graze, or mine. Here Mr. Freeman constructed a three room adobe home, along with several outbuildings and a well. The mound of dirt before you is what's left of their home.

In the early 1950s, the Freeman Homestead, along with many other home sites, was purchased by the National Park Service to protect all the lands within Saguaro National Park.

Erected by Saguaro National Park - National Park Service,.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 32° 9.657′ N, 110° 43.762′ W. Marker is near Tucson, Arizona, in Pima County. It is in Tanque Verde Ridge. It can be reached from Freeman Homestead Trail. It is a short (0.4 mile) hike to reach the Freeman Homestead.
Directions to hike: After passing through the entrance station at Saguaro National Park, turn right on South Loop Road and follow the road southeast for 1.4 miles to the Freeman Homestead Nature Trail. Follow the trail to the Desert Homes Marker. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3693 South Old Spanish Trail, Tucson AZ 85730, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Arizona’s Sky Islands,

in the Sonoran Desert,

and in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American 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.

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At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Home for Saguaros (approx. 1.4 miles away); Where Have All the Saguaros Gone? (approx. 2.6 miles away); Officer Erik Hite (approx. 6.8 miles away); Thiokol Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster (approx. 8.1 miles away); Sikorsky MH-53M Pave Low IV (approx. 8.1 miles away); Mil Mi-24D Hind-D (approx. 8.1 miles away); Boeing Vertol CH-46E Sea Knight (approx. 8.1 miles away); Bell HTL-7 Sioux (approx. 8.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tucson.

Additional keywords. Freeman Homestead

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 25, 2012

2. Desert Homes Marker

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 25, 2012

3. Desert Home

Corner of home is in foreground.

Photo on Desert Homes Marker image. Click for full size.

circa 1936

4. Photo on Desert Homes Marker

circa 1930

5. Photo on Desert Homes Marker

Trailhead for the Desert Homes Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 25, 2012

6. Trailhead for the Desert Homes Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 7, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 964 times since then and 38 times this year. Last updated on May 6, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 7, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.