Heritage Videos
Cultivating Identity Series
Episode 1: “How Heritage Foods Connect Past, Present, & Future,” produced by the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area 2023, explores how ingenious methods of food cultivation were developed to sustain the Tohono O’odham and their ancestors, and why it is critical to keep these practices and traditions alive. (7:44)
Episode 2: “Edible Plants of the Sonoran Desert,” produced by the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area in 2025, explores how certain drought-resistance, native plants of the Sonoran Desert have sustained life in here for more than 12,000 years. Many plants continue to be a source of sustenance to the Indigenous People of this Valley and their knowledge offers a plan for future sustainability. (10:07)
Desert Song (Discovery Road Episode)
Watch this 30-minute episode about the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area. An exclusive director’s cut of the Discovery Road episode which features the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area and explores how a desert river, ranching, birdwatching, wildlife, and Native American traditions are preserving nature, history, and culture in southern Arizona.
Butterfield Trail
“How the Butterfield Trail Shaped Tucson” was a project that was partially funded by the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area.
Flora & Fauna
Photo by Wendy Islas
Grand Prize Winner (2023). Magnificent saguaro with the Milky Way taken in Marana.
Photo by John Lee Compton
1st Place Winner (2023). Black Vultures at Panther Peak Wash Trail, south of Picture Rocks Road.
Photo by Taylor Rivera
2nd Place Winner (2023). Cattle in Lochiel.
Photo by Anthony Roberts
3rd Place Winner (2023). Echinopsis genus, sometimes known as hedgehog cactus, sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus, Tubac, AZ.
Photo by Taylor Rivera
Horned Owl on a sign, San Rafael Valley.
Photo by Quentin Johnson
Flowering prickly pear cacti, Babad Do’ag Trailhead.
Photo by Quentin Johnson
Red-spotted toad, Seven Falls Trail.
Photo by Quentin Johnson
Arizona fishhook pincushion cactus, Tumamoc Trail.
Photo by Karen Wytmans
Cactus growing in the rocks near Kentucky Camp.
Photo by Karen Wytmans
Trees near Kentucky Camp.
Photo by Karen Wytmans
Wild grass and shrubs near Kentucky Camp.
Photo by John Lee Compton
Sonoran Desert Tortoise found at 7602 West Ina Road, Tucson.
Photo by Judith Rockey
Close-up details of Yucca Bacatta leaves from Northwest Tucson.
Photo by Judith Rockey
Close-up details of Agave leaves from Northwest Tucson.
Photo by Judith Rockey
Close-up details of Agave leaves from Northwest Tucson.
Photo by Wendy Islas
A great blue heron at Pena Blanca Lake near Rio Rico/Nogales, AZ.
Wendy Islas Entry 2
A night blooming Cereus, Peniocereus Greggi (Queen of the Night) in the last hours of her 24-hour bloom at Tohono Chul, in Tucson.
Photo by Anthony Roberts
An Echinopsis genus flower, sometimes known as hedgehog cactus, sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus.
Photo by Anthony Roberts
An Echinopsis genus flower, sometimes known as hedgehog cactus, sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus.
Photo by Erica Freese
Yellow-breasted chat perched on a bird bath.
Photo by Erica Freese
A male costa’s hummingbird.
Photo by Erica Freese
A greater roadrunner feeding her chicks.
Photo by Anfaney Gladwin
Jumping cholla cactus (Cylindropuntia fulgida) branches.
Photo by Anfaney Gladwin
A majestic saguaro cactus standing tall next to a wooden cross.
Photo by Anfaney Gladwin
A majestic saguaro cactus standing tall next to a wooden cross.
Culture & History
Photo by Patrick Christman
1st Place Winner (2023). Día de los Muertos ofrenda at Tumacácori National Historical Park.
Photo by Judith Rockey
2nd Place Winner (2023). Pipa Players at Tucson Meet Yourself.
Photo by Wendy Islas
3rd Place Winner (2023). Petroglyph in Saguaro National Park West.
Photo by Taylor Rivera
Ranching on the Empire Ranch.
Photo by Taylor Rivera
Gathering on the Empire Ranch.
Photo by Karen Wytmans
Old textiles found in Kentucky Camp.
Photo by Patrick Christman
Tumacácori NHP Dia de los Muertos, Mortuary, Church, Graveyard.
Patrick Christman Entry 3
Tumacácori NHP Multi-Cultural Fiesta traditional food preparation.
Photo by John Lee Compton
Windmill from F. Ronstadt Hardware at 7600 West Ina Road, Tucson.
Photo by Judith Rockey
A pipa player at The Tucson Meet Yourself Festival.
Photo by Judith Rockey
A pipa player at The Tucson Meet Yourself Festival.
Photo by Wendy Islas
The aftermath of a monsoon as it passed over the Tumacácori Mission in Tumacácori National Historical Park in Tumacácori, Arizona.
Photo by Wendy Islas
San Xavier Mission during a monsoon sunset in Tucson.
Lifestyle & Recreation
Photo by Taylor Rivera
1st Place Winner (2023). On horseback at the Empire Ranch.
Photo by Wendy Islas
2nd Place Winner (2023). Hiking the Sunset Trail in the Bear Wallow area in the Santa Catalina Mountains.
Photo by Anthony Roberts
3rd Place Winner (2023). Enjoying a cool, refreshing break from the heat in Madera Creek at Madera Canyon.
Photo by Taylor Rivera
Horseback on the Empire Ranch.
Photo by Quentin Johnson
Lanterns on Luminaria Nights de Tubac.
Photo by Quentin Johnson
A warm campfire, Tubac.
Photo by Karen Wytmans
Large saguaro cactus found near the winery in Sonoita.
Photo by Karen Wytmans
Tall metal structures found near the Coronado National Forest.
Photo by Patrick Christman
Tumacácori NHP Multi-Cultural Fiesta Apache crown dancers.
Photo by Patrick Christman
Tumacácori NHP Multi-Cultural Fiesta mariachis.
Photo by Patrick Christman
De Anza National Historic Trail color guard expedition reenactors.
Wendy Islas Entry 7
Celebrating the All Souls Procession – Tucson’s Día de Los Muertos-inspired event.
Wendy Islas Entry 8
Hiking the Sunset Trail in the Bear Wallow area in the Catalina Mountains in Tucson.
Wendy Islas Entry 9
Paddle Boarding at Peña Blanca Lake near Rio Rico/Nogales, AZ.