Engraved on the pavement on the south side of the new Gutierrez Bridge (formerly called the Cushing Street Bridge), west of the I-10 over the Santa Cruz wash are these words:

Jesuit Priest Father Eusebio Francisco Kino was the first European to map the region of modern day Southern Arizona and Northern Sonora. His definitive Pimeria Alta map that located many now familiar historic landmarks was completed in 1702. Father Kino died March 15, 1711 in Magdalena, Mexico (Discovery Date and Time: March 15, 9:30 a.m.)

Today March 15, 2013, exactly 302 years after Padre Kino’s death many of us gathered at the Gutierrez Bridge before 9:30 a.m. to watch the sun shine through the image of one of the San Xavier del Bac Mission towers laser-cut in the shade canopy over the bridge, to align with that history and map embossed into the sidewalk along the pedestrian walkway. (You really have to see it to believe it, as I did on February 19, 2013 when I watched the shadow of the propeller blade image on the canopy align with pioneer Charles Hamilton’s bi-plane embossed image on the pavement.)

Photos above and below taken by former Tucson Citizen reporter Teya Vitu, which may help you to understand how the architect David Dobler of Structual Design Inc. aligned the 12 historic pavement images with the laser-cut drawings on the overhead canopies. He worked with bridge artist Brenda Semanick on this creation.

Shadow on San Xavier mission aligning at 9:30 a.m. with historic embossed history of Father Eusebio Kino, courtesy of Teya Vitu

Further background explanation and photos of this solar art project and bridge construction can be found at freelance writer Teya Vitu’s article “Solar Art Greets Pedestrians on new Luis G. Gutierrez Bridge” (click here).

Architect Dobler was present today to explain his work, as well as Charity Bidegain who created the facebook page for this project: www.facebook.com/luisggutierrezbridge which has photos and information about other Discovery Dates.

Attorney Mark O’Hare of the Kino Heritage Society passed out copies today of Padre Kino’s map of the Pimeria Alta, and info on an E-book which is on their website. The book is entitled “Padre Kino and the Trail to the Pacific”. Also on their website is a link about the newest book of the German Jesuit missionaries written by my husband UA Distinguished Professor Albrecht Classen, “Early History of the Southwest Through the Eyes of German-Speaking Jesuit Missionaries, A Transcultural Experience in the Eighteenth Century”.

Attendees at today’s solar alignment Discovery Date including architect David Dobler, Mark O’Hare of Kino Heritage Society, UA Professor/author Albrecht Classen, courtesy of Teya Vitu

Discovery Date solar calendar events at Luis G. Gutierrez bridge, with exact days/times:

Feb. 19 at 8:45 a.m.: First airplane flight by Charles Hamilton
Feb. 21 at 8:45 a.m.: First Rodeo (Fiesta de Los Vaqueros) Parade
March 15 at 9:30 a.m.: Date of Father Eusebio Kino’s death
March 20 at 8:30 a.m.: First Southern Pacific Railroad train to arrive
April 10 at 9:30 a.m.: First Mariachi conference
May 25 at 10:30 a.m.: Phoenix Mars Lander lands on Mars
June 1 at noon: The first electric streetcar
June 24 at 10:30 a.m.: El Dia de San Juan as proclaimed by explorer Francisco Coronado
July 3 at 10:45 a.m.: The monsoon seasons begins
Aug. 20 at 9:30 a.m.: The Presidio San Agustin de Tucson founded
Oct. 14 at 8:45 a.m.: Tucson Pressed Brick Company (founder Quintus Monier’s death date)
Oct. 26 at 8:15 a.m.: Commander Juan Bautista de Anza arrived at Santa Cruz River, on way to California

Upcoming in a few days will be the March 20 Discovery Date event when you can watch the shadow on the railway spike align with the historic pavement image of the first Southern Pacific train to arrive in Tucson. Be there just before 8:30 a.m.

Kino Heritage Festival events on May 19:

12:30 and 1:15 pm
Two Mission Tours by The Docents of Patronato San Xavier – Tour 45 minutes
The mission tours by the Patronato are conducted daily and are opened to the public. The Patronato San Xavier is a nonsectarian, nonprofit organization founded by Southern Arizona community leaders in 1978 to promote the restoration, maintenance and preservation of Mission, a National Historic Landmark. The docents are volunteers from the community, trained in the history, architecture, and culture of the Mission San Xavier and its surroundings. See www.patronatosansavier.org.

2:00 to 2:20 pm
Opening Remarks and talk on the history of Father Kino and the People of San Xavier del Bac (in the Church).

2:30 to 3:00 pm
Classic Music Concert by the Tucson’s Dolce Musica Quintet. The members of the woodwind quintet are Barb Bayless, Christie Blute, Lorraine Callahan, David Eckertand, Sherry Jameson who are members of the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra (in the Church).
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3:00 to 4:30 pm
Courtyard Reception with Book Signing, Art Show, Live Music and other entertainment in the beautiful Mission San Xavier courtyard and arcades.

Book Signing
Artist and author Edna San Miguel will sign her recent book “Mission San Xavier … A Story of Saints and Angels, Art and Artists”. Edna beautifully tells the story of our internationally famous mission in both English and Spanish text along with her enchanting illustrations. She relates the mission’s history, architecture and statuary and other art and the efforts of the international team of conservators to preserve it. Edna’s book is published by the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Press. See www.ednasanmiguelart.com

Art Show featuring local artists including art displayed by artist and author Edna San Miguel and Joan Grecchi.

Live Music and other entertainment including traditional music of Arizona and Sonora.

The Mission Museum and the Mission Gift Shop will be open during its regular hours.
See the Mission’s website at www.sanxaviermission.org.

Note: The two tours are at 12:30 and 1:15 pm. The main festival events start at 2:00 pm.

The San Xavier Mission and the Kino Heritage Society are joining with communities across Sonora and Arizona during the month of May by having the Kino Festival at the San Xavier Mission on Saturday afternoon May 19th from 12:30 to 4:30 pm.

Our Festival is part of the regional celebrations in Arizona and Sonora from May 16th to May 20th that honor the life of Jesuit missionary and explorer Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino.

The Tubac Presidio State Historical Park (Friday May 18 to Sunday May 20) and the Tumacacori National Historical Park (Wednesday May 16- Special Mission Guevavi and Calabasas Tour; Thursday May 17 Events at Park Headquarters) are also participating and having their own Kino Festivals.

The flyer above has a beautiful image of the pen and ink drawing of Ted DeGrazia’s (courtesy of the DeGrazia Foundation) of the San Xavier Mission and its people.

More details for San Xavier, Tubac and Tumacacori Festivals when they become available at www.padrekino.com.

Tumacacori National Historic Park would appreciate an RSVP on the tour to (520) 398-2341, extension 0.

Anita Badertscher
Acting Chief of Interpretation
Tumacácori National Historical Park
P.O. Box 8067
Tumacacori, AZ 85640
(520) 398-2341, ext. 74 (enter 174#), or 0 for the visitor center.

Here’s some free events occurring in Tucson, leading up to the State of Arizona’s 100th Birthday celebration.

On February 14, 1912, Arizona became the 48th state and the last of the contiguous states to be admitted to the United States of America. But the lens through which we look at Arizona goes back much further than 100 years and as well peers forward to the years ahead.

The Colleges of Letters, Arts and Science invite you to explore with us Arizona’s rich history and its promise for the future.

In January 2012 we embark upon a journey of reflection and discovery in Southern Arizona venues from Tumamoc Hill to the Tucson Scottish Rite Cathedral, from San Xavier del Bac to the UA Poetry Center, in activities and events that encompass our cultural heritage and showcase the diversity of people and places that make us what we are.

Our exploration culminates with Arizona 100: A Celebration on Saturday, February 11, 2012, as the community comes together in Centennial Hall on the university campus for a multifaceted view of our past, present and future.

Sponsored with generous support from the University of Arizona’s offices of the President, Provost and Vice President for Research and by Confluence: Center for Creative Inquiry, join us as the University of Arizona celebrates Arizona – 100 and Counting!

Go online now to get complimentary tickets to some of these events, starting Sat. January 21 — The Arizona Radio Hour (with musical theatre company Encore!) at the Tucson Scottish Rite Cathedral downtown at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are also required for the AZ 100: A Celebration closing event at Centennial Hall on Feb. 11, followed by a reception in front of the AZ State Museum. Website: www.Az100.arizona.edu, or call 520-621-9062.

Other events:

Tumamoc Hill Open House (two weekends: Jan. 21, 22, 28, 29 – 10 a.m to 5 p.m.);

UA Poetry Center event on Jan. 26 with opening reception (5 to 7 p.m.) for an exhibit entitled “Voices from Arizona’s Past: Sharlot Hall & Hattie Lockett”;

Architectural tour on Jan. 28 of Mission San Xavier del Bac by architect Bob Vint at 11 a.m., followed by a concert by the Tucson Arizona Boys Choir at 1 p.m.