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

Presidio Wall & Pithouse

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, January 1, 2010

1. Presidio Wall & Pithouse Marker

Inscription. This marker locates the northeast corner of the adobe wall which surrounded the Royal Spanish Presidio San Agustin del Tucson. It is thought that a bastion, used as a lookout and as a defensive position, stood here. The site was excavated in 1954 by archaeologists who discovered beneath the wall a prehistoric Hohokam Indian dwelling, part of a village which existed here about 800 A.D. This pithouse, so named because the floor is below the level of the ground, provides evidence that Tucson is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in America.

[Spanish marker]
Muralla Presidial y Casa-en-Hoyo
Este marcador señala la esquina noreste de la muralla de adobe que rodeaba el real presidio español de San Agustín del Tucsón. Uno de los cuatro baluartes de vigilancia y defensa del presidio estaba aquí. Arqueólogos, escarbando aquí, descubrieron bajo la muralla una vivienda prehistórica de un pueblo de indios Hóhokam que existía aquí c. A.D. 800. Esta casa-en-hoyo, así llamada por su piso bajo nivel de tierra, es evidencia que Tucsón es una de la ciudades más antiguamente y continuamente pobladas de Norte América.

Erected by Tucson-Pima County Historical Commission and Arizona Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities

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• Military • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Arizona, The Presidio Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1954.

Location. 32° 13.478′ N, 110° 58.391′ W. Marker is in Tucson, Arizona, in Pima County. It is in El Presidio. It is at the intersection of North Church Avenue and West Washington Street, on the right when traveling south on North Church Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 260 N Church Ave, Tucson AZ 85701, 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. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: N.E. Corner Adobe Wall of Spanish Presidio of Tucson (a few steps from this marker); Siqueiros-Jácome House (within shouting distance of this marker); Court Street (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Stork's Nest (about 300 feet away); Council Street (about 400 feet away); Meyer Street (about 500 feet away); La Casa Cordova (about 500 feet away); Plaza Militar (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tucson.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Convent Street (was about 500 feet away but has been confirmed missing).

Related markers. Click here

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, January 1, 2010

2. Presidio Wall & Pithouse Marker

Spanish translation of marker text.

for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.

Presidio del Tucson: A Modern Reconstruction image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard Denney, September 13, 2010

3. Presidio del Tucson: A Modern Reconstruction

Marker on the wall of the Presidio describes the modern reconstruction guided by archaelogists and historians.

Pithouse Display and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard Denney, November 21, 2010

4. Pithouse Display and Marker

Marker reads: Pit House, A prehistoric Native American village was present in this area about 2,000 years ago. At that time, people lived in small, circular houses. Here you can see the floor of one such house. The holes around the edge held saplings that were bent over to created a domed roof. A small fire hearth was located in the center of the floor. A family of four may have taken shelter in this house during the winter months. Centuries later, the Spanish unknowingly built the east wall of the presidio over the edge of the pithouse.

Closeup of pithouse floor image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard Denney, November 21, 2010

5. Closeup of pithouse floor

This photo shows pithouse holes for saplings (around edge) and fire hearth (center).

Presidio Wall image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, January 1, 2010

6. Presidio Wall

Photo of Marker in Context image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard Denney, September 13, 2010

7. Photo of Marker in Context

Marker visible across intersection next to the outside part of the Presidio's reconstructed wall.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 6, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,836 times since then and 22 times this year. Last updated on May 13, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 6, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 3. submitted on October 21, 2010, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 4, 5. submitted on November 25, 2010, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 6. submitted on January 6, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 7. submitted on October 21, 2010, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.