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Polaroid of the Week: Tubac, Arizona's Wild West Legacy in Bronze Sculpture

Polaroid of the Week: Tubac, Arizona s Wild West Legacy in Bronze SculptureEven after extended stays in Tucson, we're continually uncovering exciting local gems. Last week, we drove south, just 20 miles from the Mexican border, to Tubac—a charming artist haven famed for its exceptional arts and crafts shops showcasing bronze sculptures, pottery, and hand-painted Mexican porcelain.

Established in 1753 as a Spanish Presidio, a colonial military outpost along the historic Camino Real linking Mexico to Spanish California settlements. Like Tombstone and other southern Arizona towns, the area drew rugged miners, ranchers, and farmers. As mining and agriculture waned, Tubac reinvented itself as a vibrant artists' colony over recent decades.

The featured bronze sculpture honors Tubac's gritty past, portraying cattle ranchers battling Apache warriors, Mexican bandits, Confederate militia, and desert predators like snakes and coyotes.


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