The goal of Spanish colonization was simple: to remake New Spain in the image of Old Spain. All aspects of daily life would be subject to transformation—food, language, clothing, agriculture, and religion. Tumacacori went from being an O'odham village to a frontier mission, to a headquarters mission in a matter of decades. The O'odham became known as the Pima and Papago and they were baptized with Spanish names, given Spanish-style clothing, and assigned Spanish jobs.
The O'odham people carry with them the legacy of colonization. Exploring their history requires empathy, inference, and respect for their oral tradition. The descendants of mission-era communities still live all around this area.
This map and interpretive guide will help provide context for your visit, with information not just about the physical structures but also the ways in which Tumacacori’s inhabitants influenced each other and the region.
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