Historic Preservation Resources 

There are many ways to learn more about matters related to historic Tucson. They fit into two major categories: regulatory and historic. Some information will fall clearly into one of these two categories but some may not. Links to both are included below, organized by the resource home. Depending on the browser you are using, you may get a redirect notice which should not be a cause for concern. 

This Site's Resources

 Click Here to view Preservation resources on this site. 

Pima County and City of Tucson Resources

Regulatory Resources - The resource that you may find most helpful is the site for the Tucson Planning & Development Services Department. On this page you will find contact information, links to various services, upcoming events and more. More information specific to historic preservation can be found here. At the top of this page is a link to a PDF outlining the historic review process.

Development Center Online - Sometimes you may need to get into the details of city code (city laws): 

• • If you scroll down to paragraph 7.1, the specific code requirements for each of the five HPZs are covered here.

• • Here are more details about the HPZs.

City of Tucson, City Clerk https://www.tucsonaz.gov/clerks/boards?board=9. Legal Action Reports and Minutes of Historic Zone and Tucson-Pima County Historic Review Boards.

City of Tucson Historic Preservation Office - https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Planning-Development-Services/Historic-Preservation. This should be your starting point for your design review application. 

City of Tucson Property Research Online (PRO) - https://www.tucsonaz.gov/PRO/pdsd  

Map Tucson -https://maps.tucsonaz.gov/maptucson/  View a map with many layers to choose including boundaries of historic Preservation Zones and National Register Districts in Tucson  

Pima County Assessor’s Office - http://www.asr.pima.gov/Home/ParcelSearch Images of the Assessor’s Record Map of blocks for the City of Tucson

Arizona Resources 

Arizona State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) - www.azstateparks.com/shpo/  

Information about tax incentives for historic properties   

Arizona Memory Project - https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/ -  This site gives you access to a huge amount of information (over 266,000 items) about Arizona's history. By using filters or the search feature, you can focus the information presented. The Browse All button in the upper left or this link, https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/nodes/browse, will let you narrow what is shown. This link, https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/nodes/browse?datefrom=&dateto=&keywords=&orderby=node_id&order=asc&ntids=W10=&filter=eyJudGlkcyI6WzZdLCJmYWNldCI6eyIyNjYiOlsiVHVjc29uIl19fQ==&a2z=W10=&page=1&viewtype=grid&type=all&digital=0&in=0&access=0&has=W10=&bid=0&meta=W10=&metainc=W10=, is the product of filtering to show images of early Tucson. Even filtered, it found 2680 images. 

Archaeology Southwest - https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org - This organization is focused on preservation of archaeological sitters. Here is how they introduce themselves: Archaeology Southwest practices Preservation Archaeology, a holistic, collaborative, and conservation-based approach to exploring and protecting heritage places while honoring their diverse values. We compile archaeological information, make it accessible and understandable, share it with the public and decision-makers, advocate for landscape-scale protection, and steward heritage properties and conservation easements. We are committed to real and ongoing collaboration with Indigenous communities. Our headquarters are located on the Homelands of the Tohono O’odham Nation and the lands of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. Here is the link to an article titled PIONEER FAMILIES OF THE PRESIDIO SAN AGUSTÍN DEL TUCSON,  https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/pdf/presidio_families.pdf. This lengthy document, listing the names and some information about the early settlers, is very relevant to the earliest settlement of Tucson. 

 National Resources 

Library of Congress, Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) - http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/hh/ - Keyword = Tucson 

Library of Congress, Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps - This link, https://www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps/?all=online&fa=location_state:arizona%7Clocation_county:pima+county, is filtered to show the eight digitized maps of Tucson for 1889 to 1949. 

National Association of Preservation Commissions - https://napcommissions.org  

National Park Service Technical Preservation Services - https://www.nps.gov/tps  Preservation briefs for repair and construction of specific building elements 

National Trust for Historic Preservation - https://savingplaces.org  

Illustrated Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings (Secretary of Interior) - https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards/rehabilitation/rehab/index.htm

More information will be added to the these pages over time.