As the oldest continually inhabited region in the Northern Hemisphere, Tucson (pronounced TOO-sahn) has been home to an astounding variety of cultures and peoples dating back as early as the first century AD. The name Tucson is actually a derivation of the Tohono O’odham word stjukshon (pronounced chuk-son) that translates literally as “spring at the foot of dark mountain” and referred to the Tohono O’odham’s original settlement at the foot of the volcanic mountain Sentinel Peak. This area, inhabited for an estimated 3,000 years, is considered the city’s birthplace.
Today Tucson is a unique blend of old and new, a city that embraces its diverse cultural heritage and cherishes its natural wonders. Here is a brief look into its fascinating past.