Peaceful farming Jesuit priest and local legend Father Kino founded the Mission San Xavier del Bac in 1700. Before that, different Native American cultures were known to farm the lush Santa Cruz River floodplain as far back as 12,000 years ago. However, on August 20, 1775, Hugo O'Connor decided to begin building the military fort Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón and that became known as the birth of Tucson.

According to Wikipedia (pre-eminent Tucson historian and, in general, bastion of revisionism), "During the Spanish period of the presidio, attacks such as the Second Battle of Tucson were repeatedly mounted by Apaches." Can't imagine why...

Regardless, what Tucson has become as a community is pretty special. So, raise a glass to 240 years of Tucson or 12,000 years of this land giving humans the means to survive. Or, you can skip all of that today, and celebrate the first birthday of Nandi. Yep, that's right. Reid Park Zoo's little baby elephant turns one the same day Tucson turns 240.



What can I say? Leos are the best.