Programs
“The great force of history comes from the fact that we carry it within us, are unconsciously controlled by it in many ways, and history is literally present in all that we do.”
Current Events
Paquimé & Casas Grandes: UNESCO World Heritage Site
Less than a day’s drive away from southern Arizona is a UNESCO World Heritage Site commemorating the ancient civilization of Paquimé. Its labyrinthine adobe ruins and archaeological sites are located in northwestern Chihuahua, Mexico, specifically in the charming Pueblo Mágico community of Casas Grandes.
Saturday, February 22, 2025 / 2 PM
Tubac Presidio
1 Burruel St, Tubac, AZ 85646, USA
Who was Juan Bautista de Anza?
This presentation will explore the life of Juan Bautista de Anza, delving into his origins and the challenges he faced as a Spanish frontier soldier in Northern New Spain, now the American Southwest. Learn about the incredible journey of nearly 250 people and 1,000 head of livestock who traveled over 1,500 miles through some of the most arid and dangerous terrain in North America to establish the Alta California outpost.
Saturday, March 8, 2025 / 2 PM
Tubac Presidio
1 Burruel St, Tubac, AZ 85646, USA
Past Events
Mexico’s Taco Culture
Did you know there are certain tacos for certain meals of the day in Mexico? That’s right! Dive into the history of food and the collisions of cultures as we explore one of the strongest symbols of not only Mexican cuisine but of Mexico itself, the taco.
Saturday, December 7, 2024 / 2 PM
Tubac Presidio
1 Burruel St, Tubac, AZ 85646, USA
Origins: Mexico's Día de Muertos
Traditions relating to and reflecting on loved ones and family members who have passed on from this life can be found across the cultures of humanity.
In this presentation by public historian Alex La Pierre, you will learn how geography, history, nature, and culture impacted the folk and religious traditions relating to the commemoration and celebration of death in Mexico and by extension, the American Southwest.
Saturday, October 19, 2024 / 2 PM
Tubac Presidio
1 Burruel St, Tubac, AZ 85646, USA
Who was Padre Kino?
Discover the captivating life and legacy of one of the most important figures in the history of the Southwest and Mexico, Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino, by public historian Alex La Pierre.
While his name graces geographical locations, streets, and businesses, there is a deeper story to be told about the region's first peacemaker and how he has impacted our past, and present.
Tuesday September 17, 2024 / 6 PM
Rio Rico Community Center
391 Avenida Coatimundi, Rio Rico, AZ 85648.
Free Event
Tucson History & Context
Tucson has had a transformative timeline over the last thousands of years as a community living in the Sonoran Desert.
This presentation by public historian Alex La Pierre offers an opportunity to learn about a diversity of historical, geographical, and cultural factors that have led to Tucson's unique sense of place and heritage in the landscape of the American Southwest.
Saturday, August 24, 2024 / 10 AM
Tubac Presidio
1 Burruel St, Tubac, AZ 85646, USA
Sonora’s Heartland: The Río Sonora Region
Don't miss this chance to learn about the geographical and historical heart of our neighbor to the south, Sonora, during this compelling intercultural presentation by public historian Alex La Pierre.
A verdant river valley flanked by the Sierra Madre mountains, this is the ancestral homeland of the Ópata and the territory of some of the earliest Jesuit missions and Spanish colonial silver mines in the northwest of Mexico.
Friday, July 19, 2024 / 5 PM
Tubac Presidio
1 Burruel St, Tubac, AZ 85646, USA
Álamos: A Colonial Silver Town in the Dry Tropics
You are invited to join us on a vicarious trip to Álamos, Sonora, located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains, from the comfort of Tubac Presidio's historic schoolhouse.
Saturday, April 27, 2024 / 2 PM
Tubac Presidio
1 Burruel St, Tubac, AZ 85646, USA
Who was Padre Kino?
Discover the captivating life and legacy of one of the most important figures in the history of the Southwest and Mexico, Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino, by public historian Alex La Pierre.
While his name graces geographical locations, streets, and businesses, there is a deeper story to be told about the region's first peacemaker and how he has impacted our past, and present.
Saturday, March 23, 2024 / 2 PM
Tubac Presidio
1 Burruel St, Tubac, AZ 85646, USA
Volcanoes & Sea: Rocky Point and El Pinacate UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
Take a vicarious trip to Rocky Point and El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar UNESCO Biosphere Reserve from the comfort of The Presidio with Borderlandia director Alex La Pierre. Learn about how the fishing port nestled on the shores of the Sea of Cortez got started and transformed over the years into a destination.
El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar is a vast wilderness area home to some of Mexico's stunning geological formations. During the presentation, we will travel through the reserve, you'll see towering volcanic peaks, otherworldly craters, and expansive fields of lava rock.
Saturday, February 10, 2024 / 2 PM
Tubac Presidio
1 Burruel St, Tubac, AZ 85646, USA
Sonora’s Spirit: Bacanora
Dive into the distillation process of Sonora’s Sierra Madres with Alex La Pierre during this special presentation. We’ll uncover the roots of agave culture in northwestern Mexico by way of geography, history, and culinary arts. Leave with an understanding of mezcal, tequila, sotol and bacanora and what makes them distinct.
You’ll be able to identify some of the producers, learn about their process, and how some of the brands are now working with environmental groups to protect agave habitats during this public program.
Sunday, October 29, 2023 / 2 PM
Tubac Presidio
1 Burruel St, Tubac, AZ 85646, USA
The Moorish Southwest: African & Arabic Influences in the Borderlands
Join public historian Alex La Pierre as he explores elements of Islamic Spain within the context of colonial New Spain, the present-day U.S.-Mexico borderlands.
The presentation is a regional comparison designed to acknowledge the Moorish origins of material and immaterial culture that were carried over the Atlantic, projected into the borderlands, and can still be noticed today.
Saturday, October 14, 2023 / 10:00 AM
Tubac Presidio
1 Burruel St, Tubac, AZ 85646, USA
Beef, Wheat & Chiltepín: Sonora's Culinary Heritage
Find out how the confluence of geography, environments, cultures, economics, and religion shaped the culinary culture of the Sonoran Desert in this seminar with public historian Alex La Pierre. If you ever wondered what makes Sonoran cuisine unique and what sets it apart in Mexican Gastronomy, this program is for you.
Saturday, October 7, 2023 / 10:00 AM
Tubac Presidio
1 Burruel St, Tubac, AZ 85646, USA
The First Revolution: Mexico's War of Independence
In commemoration of Mexico's Independence Day, Borderlandia in collaboration with the Tubac Presidio, offers this public history opportunity to learn about the history of Mexico's first revolution, its war of Independence from Spain which lasted from 1810-1821.
This program will cover all of the important main aspects of the war from its origins to its important personalities to its final outcome. Take this chance to learn about the history they never taught you in school and what it means for us today.
Saturday, September 9, 2023 / 10:00 AM
Tubac Presidio
1 Burruel St, Tubac, AZ 85646, USA
Arizona's Adobe Architecture
Join Alex La Pierre for this presentation featuring Arizona’s own architectural style and original air conditioning unit, the adobe Sonoran Row House.
While many of us are aware of other Southwestern architectural traditions, such as the Pueblo Revival or Santa Fe style that persist into the present, far less has been shared about Arizona’s own vernacular building tradition.
This presentation will uncover the origins of the adobe Sonoran Row House, explore existing examples and their qualities, discuss their historic preservation as well as explain the efforts to make Tucson’s Barrio Viejo a National Historic Landmark.
Saturday, July 8, 2023 / 10:00 AM
Tubac Presidio
1 Burruel St, Tubac, AZ 85646, USA
The First Filibusters: French & American Incursions into Sonora
Filibuster is a term that evokes political theatrics, however, this presentation seeks to change that perception. The original meaning of the word described foreign and often stateless mercenaries, who sought to carve out territories in Latin America.
Public historian Alex La Pierre will focus on the Sonoran incursions made by French and American filibusteros that left lasting impacts on the heritage of the state.
Gain a deeper understanding of the French interventions and heritage in the borderlands by attending this talk.
Saturday, May 6, 2023 / 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Tubac Presidio
1 Burruel St, Tubac, AZ 85646, USA
The Saint Patrick's Battalion & the Mexican American War
Filibuster is a term that evokes political theatrics, however, this presentation seeks to change that perception. The original meaning of the word described foreign and often stateless mercenaries, who sought to carve out territories in Latin America.
Public historian Alex La Pierre will focus on the Sonoran incursions made by French and American filibusteros that left lasting impacts on the heritage of the state.
Gain a deeper understanding of the French interventions and heritage in the borderlands by attending this talk.
Sunday, March 19, 2023 / 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Tubac Presidio
1 Burruel St, Tubac, AZ 85646, USA
Who was Juan Bautista de Anza?
This presentation will overview the namesake's life, uncover Anza’s origins and highlight the trials and tribulations of his career in Northern New Spain. Find out what it was like for the approximately 250 people and 1,000 head of livestock who trekked over 1,500 miles across one of the aridest and most dangerous parts of North America to establish one of the most important cities in the United States.
Saturday, February 18, 2023 / 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Tubac Presidio
1 Burruel St, Tubac, AZ 85646, USA
500 Years: The First Circumnavigation of the World
Join public historian Alex La Pierre for this talk commemorating the 500th anniversary of the first circumnavigation of the world by the Magellan Elcano Expedition from 1519-1522. The story of this expedition to the Spice Islands, which ended up circling the globe, is one of the most incredible in the history of humanity. Find out who were some of the important personalities of the expedition, how many ships and persons set out from Seville, Spain in 1519, and how many returned in September of 1522. You’ll learn about the political intrigues of the time between Portugal and Spain, mutinies, the fate of Magellan, and how the expedition was seen to completion by a Basque mariner, Elcano, a figure worthy of much more historical attention.
Saturday, October 8, 2022 / 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Tubac Presidio
1 Burruel St, Tubac, AZ 85646, USA
Tucson History & Context
Join us at the Historic County Courthouse as a part of the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration in partnership with Visit Tucson and hear from Alex La Pierre in a free presentation taking place in the Dillinger Courtroom.
Tucson has had a transformative timeline over the last thousands of years of its history as a community of people living in the Sonoran Desert. This presentation offers an opportunity to learn about some of the historical, geographical and cultural factors that have led to Tucson's unique sense of place and heritage in the landscape of the American Southwest.
Friday, September 23, 2022 / 10 AM
Dillinger Courtroom
Historic County Courthouse
The First Revolution: Mexico's War of Independence
In commemoration of Mexico’s Independence Day, Borderlandia offers this free public history opportunity to learn about the history of Mexico’s first revolution, its war of Independence from Spain which lasted from 1810-1821. This program will cover all of the important main aspects of the war from its origins to its important personalities to its final outcome. Take this chance to learn about the history they never taught you in school and what it means for us today.
Friday, September 16, 2022 / 1:30 - 3:00 PM
Tubac Community Center
50 Bridge Rd., Tubac, AZ 85646
Contributions / Coffee Funds Accepted.
El Cafecito
You're cordially invited to attend this El Cafecito virtual conversation with Professor Verónica Moraga of the University of Chicago Department of Romance Languages and Literatures and Alex La Pierre of Borderlandia this:
Wednesday, February 23 at 3:30 PM (Arizona) / 4:30 PM (Chicago).
El Cafecito is a program of the Spanish Club at the University of Chicago.
IG: @uchicagospanish
Borderlandia's Books Beyond Borders series presents
Mujeres del Desierto Women Of The Desert
Friday, January 14, 2022 / 4 PM / Webinar Via Google Meet
Special Guest: Perla G. Merazc, author and director of the Museo de la Lucha Obrera of Cananea, Sonora, Mexico
Perla G. Merazc of northern Sonora was motivated to write the short story, "Women of the Desert" from a report she saw about women migrants. Many of these women die from the lack of consideration by the people who they contract to "help" cross the desert and are left abandoned in this arid place. "Women of the Desert" is defined by the following phrase: They travel the desert to reach a place to which they are going to serve, and that they will never have the right to belong.
Out of 600 article submissions by female Mexican writers across the country, Perla's story and 24 others were selected for inclusion in the publication of the Cuarta Antología de Escritoras Mexicanas.
Perla considers it an honor that her story "Women of the Desert" has been selected to be part of the Anthology of Mexican Writers because this important space presents the vision of many Mexican women who have the opportunity to make their imagination and creativity known.
Borderlandia Exposition
December 9, 2021
1:30 - 3:00 PM / Tubac Community Center
Join a new binational initiative of civil society seeking to build understanding in the place we call home - the borderlands at this debut public exposition. Get to know our background, philosophy, and direction. As both Americans and Mexicans, let's build a community around building understanding and appreciation for all of our region’s rich cultural and natural heritage. Learn about all of our upcoming trips!