You've probably seen the brightly-colored La Placita complex as you enter downtown on Broadway from the west. But maybe you rolled right past Plaza de la Mesilla, the remnant of a Tucson landmark standing across the pavement from the Tucson visitors center. What you'll notice most is the gazebo:
Under the shade of the trees close by are picnic benches where you can cool off and enjoy food from La Placita vendors:
There's more to this story. According to a page on The Arizona Womens Heritage Trail, “La Placita was a communal plaza used mostly by the Mexican and Mexican American residents of Tucson from the 1860s to the 1960s. When urban renewal occurred in the Tucson downtown during the 1960s, a committee, made up primarily of women, saved a small part of the plaza, located near Congress and Broadway Streets.” You can find more on The Historical Marker Database page.
Location: On the north edge of La Placita, just west of where Broadway and Congress merge.
Hours: 24 hours, as far as I know — though most Tucson parks are closed overnight.
Parking: is metered on downtown streets. Evenings and weekends are free (so far).
Under the shade of the trees close by are picnic benches where you can cool off and enjoy food from La Placita vendors:
There's more to this story. According to a page on The Arizona Womens Heritage Trail, “La Placita was a communal plaza used mostly by the Mexican and Mexican American residents of Tucson from the 1860s to the 1960s. When urban renewal occurred in the Tucson downtown during the 1960s, a committee, made up primarily of women, saved a small part of the plaza, located near Congress and Broadway Streets.” You can find more on The Historical Marker Database page.
Location: On the north edge of La Placita, just west of where Broadway and Congress merge.
Hours: 24 hours, as far as I know — though most Tucson parks are closed overnight.
Parking: is metered on downtown streets. Evenings and weekends are free (so far).
