Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area
Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area
Light blue hummingbird silhouette against a transparent background.

Accomplishments

    2024

        • Partnered with the Town of Patagonia and the Sky Island Tourism Association to install a wayfinding sign in downtown Patagonia featuring the region’s Sky Islands and Desert Seas while highlighting other things to do in the area (pictured)
        • Collaborated with the Town of Oro Valley and the Oro Valley Historical Society to create a wayfinding sign connecting people to the Ranching Traditions of Steam Pump Ranch and nearby experiences in Oro Valley
        • Partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson Pascua Yaqui Clubhouse and Mission Garden to complete a two-sided mural along Grande Avenue to illustrate the history and traditions of Tucson’s Birthplace
        • Created signage at Marana Visitor Information Center (MVIC) to welcome visitors to the NHA
        • Participated in the City of Nogales Downtown Revitalization Study to create a vision and plan for a more active downtown area
        • Installed NHA Passport Stamps at new locations including MVIC, Southern Arizona Heritage & Visitor Center and Presidio San Agustin del Tucson
        • Joined other community organizations to remove over 2,000 pounds of trash from the Stanta Cruz River
        • And more!

    Ribbon cutting of Patagonia Wayfinding Sign

    2023

    • Produced Heritage Food and Desert Farming video, Cultivating Identity: How Heritage Foods Connect Past, Present & Future; and companion brochure (pictured)
    • Supported Cienega Watershed TravelStorys GPS Virtual Audio Tour
    • Created Heritage Experiences Print & Interactive Digital Map
    • Launched Heritage Grants Program and awarded nearly $200,000 toward important projects in support of our Management Plan
    • Removed more than 100 bags of trash and other debris from locations along the Santa Cruz River with the help of 50+ volunteers and participating organizations like HDR, Tucson Clean & Beautiful, and United Way
    • Installed new bilingual signage at Guy Tobin Trailhead in Rio Rico
    • Collaborated with Tubac Center of the Arts on Celebrate Santa Cruz Valley! art exhibit which opened in September 2023 and continued showing at Discover Marana Visitor Center
    • Established a Partnership Council to further advise our Board of Directors in the management of the National Heritage Area
    • Installed watershed mural by Derrick Gonzales at Watershed Management Group
    • Held an inaugural photo contest for the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area
    • In production on a traveling exhibit which will debut at The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures

      Cultivating Identity video thumbnail

      2022

       

          • Completed our second Heritage Mural, Yoeme Unidos, by artists Anitra “Yukue” Molina, Ignacio Garcia, and seven youth artists from the Pascua Yaqui Clubhouse of the Boys and Girls Club of Tucson (pictured)
          • Strengthened collaborative partnerships with stakeholders throughout the Santa Cruz Valley
          • Hosted a panel of experts to share the history of corn at the Pueblos del Maiz fiesta as well as a Fall lecture series
          • Hired Executive Director to help implement strategies and manage operations
          • Began implementing installation of heritage area interpretive exhibits at partner sites
          • Received approval of our final Management Plan with the Department of the Interior

      Yoeme Unidos Mural. Pictured from left to right: Jennay (16), Erik (12), Juliette (14), Raul (15), Santi (14), Johnny (10). Not pictured: Elijah (18).

      2021

      • Worked with the City of Nogales to create our first Heritage Mural, Las Primas, by artist Alejandra Trujillo (pictured)
      • Completed first draft of the Management Plan.
      • Conducted five public webinars to gather input about the Management Plan
      • Hired our first staff member, our Marketing and Outreach Coordinator

        Las Primas, by artist Alejandra Trujillo

        2020

            • The Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area is pleased to begin work with Heritage Strategies, LLC to develop a management plan to guide the programs and projects of the SCVNHA. LEARN MORE.
            • Hosted a two-part visioning workshop with consultants and SCVNHA Steering Committee
            • Partnering with residents, government agencies, nonprofit groups and private businesses to collaboratively plan and implement locally led programs and projects that celebrate the defining places, landscapes and cultural traditions of the Santa Cruz Valley

        Pond at Canoa Ranch

        2019

        • The Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Alliance regrouped and filed articles of incorporation with the State of Arizona and secured a 501c3 tax exempt status with the IRS.
        • The Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Board of Directors was rebuilt
        • Congressional designation of the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area was signed into law on March 12, 2019: Press Release: President Signs Bill Promoting Southern Arizona’s Culture & Heritage. LEARN MORE.
        • The Tucson Pima-County Historical Commission presented the Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Alliance and Congressman Raul Grijalva an Historic Preservation Award for the Designation of the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area. LEARN MORE

        Tucson Presidio

        2016 – 2018

        • Interest and support of the Heritage Area designation continues to build with support from advocates and allies throughout the Santa Cruz Valley

        2015

        • The Heritage Alliance went into hiatus awaiting congressional approval of its proposal, assembled by its stakeholders and submitted by Arizona Representative Raul Grijalva, to be recognized as a National Heritage Area.

            Freshly made flour tortillas

            2014

            • Partnered with the City of Tucson and University of Arizona to prepare and submit an application for Tucson to be recognized by UNESCO as a City of Gastronomy. This community effort recognizes our long-standing heritage food traditions and more than 4,000 years of agricultural history.
            • Co-hosted a heritage speaker series at the Joyner-Green Valley Branch Library in partnership with Pima County Natural Resources, Parks, and Recreation.

              The 2013 Santa Cruz Harvest Dinner was held at Maynard’s Market in the historic train depot.

              2013

              • Partnered with the University of Arizona to host the Cultural Groups Workshop bringing together the region’s agencies and organizations that interpret, promote, and preserve components of the Santa Cruz Valley’s rich cultural heritage. 
              • Received the Governor’s Award for Innovative Promotions for the Uniquely Tucson Destination Downtown responsive website UniquelyTucson.com. In partnership with Visit Tucson, Uniquely Tucson highlights locally owned business, heritage destinations, and historic buildings along the modern streetcar route.
              • Launched a Heritage Speaker Series in downtown Tucson, highlighting the 10 distinctive experiences of the Santa Cruz Valley.

                La Fiesta de Tumacácori is an annual celebration of culture and heritage at Tumacácori National Historic Park. Photo courtesy Patrick Christman.

                2012

                • Co-sponsored the Santa Cruz Nature and Heritage Festival in Rio Rico, AZ.
                • Updated, printed and distributed 25,000 copies of the regional heritage tourism map Heritage Experiences of the Santa Cruz Valley. The map highlights 100 local businesses, public parks, or other heritage destinations.

                  The Uniquely Tucson walking map was a guide to the locally-owned businesses, historic buildings, and heritage destinations along Tucson’s modern streetcar route.

                  2011

                  • Co-hosted the Santa Cruz Harvest Dinner in celebration of Food Day, which fed 200 people local and heritage foods and was sponsored 30 local businesses.
                  • Co-sponsored the free 2nd Annual Santa Cruz Valley Organic Farm and Garden Tour, including a new Patagonia loop.
                  • Co-sponsored A Community Conversation: Building a Thriving Downtown, a free community presentation and discussion about heritage-based economic development. Attended by 150 community leaders, business owners, elected officials, and interested residents.
                  • Formed a private-public partnership to create the Uniquely Tucson walking map, a guide to the locally-owned businesses, historic buildings, and heritage destinations along Tucson’s future modern streetcar route. 

                    The 2010 Santa Cruz Valley Organic Farm and Garden Tour

                    2010

                    • Launched a program to develop a regional food brand to increase community awareness of southern Arizona’s locally grown and heritage food products.
                    • Co-sponsored the Santa Cruz Valley Organic Farm and Garden Tour, a free, self-guided tour of seven farms throughout the SCVNHA.

                      The chiltepin pepper is the genetic “mother” of all chiles and grows in the wild in the SCVNHA.

                      2009

                      • Published the region’s first Local & Heritage Foods Directory to help guide consumers to local producers, restaurants, grocers, farmers markets, food histories, and agricultural heritage of the Santa Cruz Valley. 
                      • Developed and launched the online, interactive regional heritage tourism map, Heritage Experiences of the Santa Cruz Valley, which was a finalist for the Governor’s Tourism Award in 2009. 
                      • Initiated the regional heritage foods program and conducted a sold-out heritage foods workshop and exposition.
                      • Co-sponsored the Sabores Sin Fronteras/Flavors Without Borders symposium and heritage food festival to document, celebrate and conserve farming and food folkways that span the U.S./Mexico borderlands.
                      • Received funding and resolutions of support from every jurisdiction in the region in support of the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area designation.
                      Beige city hall building stands in the background of a green soccer field where players in red and yellow run

                      City of Nogales building. Photo courtesy or the City of Nogales.