Missions and Missiles

     I know these are an unlikely duo, but our continued exploration of Arizona led us to these sites in early March.  A day trip started with a drive to the Titan Missile Museum in Sahuarita, AZ.  The Titan II missile was the largest missile ever built by the US and it was really huge.  We looked down at it from above ground and then walked or took an elevator down to the underground silo.  There we visited the launch control center and experience a simulated launch.  At one time 54 Titan II missiles were in place, but after the last site was deactivated in 1987,  this remains as the only site left.  There are a variety of tours available with many given by former Air Force Missileers.  You can even make reservations to spend the night in the crew's quarters, for $500.00 a person.  The Titan II was a last resort missile and intended only to be used for retalitory strikes.
 

     Next we headed further south of Tuscon to Tubac and the remains of the mission church San Jose de Tumacacori.  Only a portion remains standing today.  The mission was built by Jesuits in the early 1700's and then after they were expelled from New Spain (as it was called then), Fanciscans were assigned to the mission.  In the early 1770's they redecorated the church and around 1800 started building a larger church, but stopped due to lack of funds.  The occupation of the area was dependent on Indian attacks and the war with Mexico.  Following the Gadsden Purchase in 1853 the site became part of the United States.  Tumacacori was established as a National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908. 

 

      Our last stop of the day was north to the beautiful San Xavier Del Bac Mission, built in 1783.  It is known as the White Dove of the Desert and is located in the center of a Papago Indian settlement along the banks of the Santa Cruz River, just 9 miles southwest of Tucson.   It is the oldest intact European structure in Arizona. 

     The church's interior is filled with wonderful original statuary and mural paintings.  

     It was a great day and one that left us filled with awe at the structures we had seen, one capable of such massive destruction and the other two giving such magnificent inspiration.  

     Dancing on down the Arizona roads.......................Katy, Gary, Rusty and Spicy