A Tubac Mystery
Did you know that there was (and hopefully still is) a piece of FDR New Deal 1930s history in Tubac, Arizona?
It was a shrine to Father Juan de San Martin who was the first priest to staff the first mission built in what is now Arizona - Guevavi - at the beginning of the 18th century. The grotto was built in the late 1930s by the Federal Art Project and National Youth Administration and was part of a series of twelve shrines known as "Camino de los Padres."
As you can see in the picture of the dedication, the Santa Rita Mountains give a good indication of a general location. It has been said that the grotto was removed and dismantled when the highway, today's I-19, was put in. Some say the grotto was re-assembled behind St. Ann's. However, the statue inside the grotto today is not Padre San Martin but of the Virgin Mary.
Does anyone have any details on the whereabouts of the original statue? Or recall seeing the original grotto and statue? Drop us a line.
Join us on our Tubac’s Heritage Tour to learn more about this fascinating place in the Southwest.
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