Barrio Historico
Barrio Historico
4.5
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4.5
40 reviews
Excellent
19
Very good
14
Average
6
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Rumples
Tucson, AZ11,719 contributions
Apr 2015 • Couples
Barrio Historico covers about 20 blocks between Cushing Street and 18th Street and between Stone Avenue and the railroad tracks. It is one of my favorite areas of Tucson because of its history (settled in the mid-to-late 1800s), its Sonoran architecture and the bright colors.
I always take our visitors to this old part of town to give them insight into the city's heritage. The barrio began when residents started to build homes and open businesses beyond the original Presidio walls. Mostly made up of working-class Mexicans, the neighborhood also included other ethnic groups, such as Chinese, who arrived to work on the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1880..
A prevalent architectural style is Sonoran with the oldest surviving examples dating from the 1840s when this area was part of Mexico. Details include thick-walled adobe, flat roofs, high parapet walls and doors placed flush with the inside wall. Sonoran row houses are one-story and stand by the property line, following the 19th century Hispanic lifestyle of using the street as social space. In Arizona, this urban style can only be found in Tucson.
Many other architectural styles exist here, including Victorian and American Territorial. Although it is easy to drive here, I recommend taking a walk through at least part of the neighborhood to get a better feeling for the area. It includes private residences -- some undergoing or waiting to undergo restoration -- and offices. One possible short exploration would be to start on foot at Meyer Avenue and Cushing Street; head east to Convent Avenue; go south to 17th Street; turn west and then north on Main Avenue, returning to Cushing Street. At 400 Main Avenue, stop to see El Tiradito (the Wishing Shrine), which is a National Historic Landmark and a traditional place for Mexican Americans to pray and to place written wishes in an adobe wall.
I always take our visitors to this old part of town to give them insight into the city's heritage. The barrio began when residents started to build homes and open businesses beyond the original Presidio walls. Mostly made up of working-class Mexicans, the neighborhood also included other ethnic groups, such as Chinese, who arrived to work on the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1880..
A prevalent architectural style is Sonoran with the oldest surviving examples dating from the 1840s when this area was part of Mexico. Details include thick-walled adobe, flat roofs, high parapet walls and doors placed flush with the inside wall. Sonoran row houses are one-story and stand by the property line, following the 19th century Hispanic lifestyle of using the street as social space. In Arizona, this urban style can only be found in Tucson.
Many other architectural styles exist here, including Victorian and American Territorial. Although it is easy to drive here, I recommend taking a walk through at least part of the neighborhood to get a better feeling for the area. It includes private residences -- some undergoing or waiting to undergo restoration -- and offices. One possible short exploration would be to start on foot at Meyer Avenue and Cushing Street; head east to Convent Avenue; go south to 17th Street; turn west and then north on Main Avenue, returning to Cushing Street. At 400 Main Avenue, stop to see El Tiradito (the Wishing Shrine), which is a National Historic Landmark and a traditional place for Mexican Americans to pray and to place written wishes in an adobe wall.
Written 13 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SDSteve
San Diego, CA408 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
If you enjoy seeing and photographing this beautiful historical adobe architecture, with such colorful doors and windows, don't miss spending some time in this part of Tucson. My best suggestion is to find the neighborhood using Google Maps, and then spend a few minutes driving around to get the lay of the land. Then park your car and get on foot and enjoy some of these colorful properties up close. The people here take tremendous pride in their homes, and I found them to be very friendly. So take the time to engage them and express your interest and gratitude for this wonderful neighborhood they have sustained and beautified. There are official walking tours of the area as well, however you may prefer to go at your own pace and take the time to appreciate what you are seeing. You could spend anywhere from an hour to a half a day here enjoying the variety of homes, windows, doors and architectural elements.
Written 19 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LynHS77
Omaha, NE75 contributions
Jan 2015 • Friends
We had general directions to the area and had to ask several people on the street to find what the friend we were traveling with remembered of the area. We finally headed down Stone St and with a few twists and turns found the most colorful block: on MEYER. I think I took pictures of most of the colorful houses, interesting gates and other iron work. There was a photography club there and you park parallel in front of the houses... So after they left, my pictures were better :)
Written 1 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MargateP
Linglestown, PA157 contributions
This neighborhood is located down the street from St. Augustine Cathedral. According to the Tucson Official Destination Guide, the neighborhood is bordered by Stone Avenue on the east and Cushing Street on the north -- I just drove up and down the streets in the area. It contains brightly painted adobe houses dating back to the mid 1800s. Some are quite pretty and photogenic.
Written 7 June 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anna R
Lacey, WA291 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
Meyer Street near 17th and Cushing will get you close to this colorful area. If you want to take photos (which is about the only reason you might want to go), do not go on a Wednesday! This is trash/ recycle day and the containers block many of the shots. This area is obviously going through a transformation, as many of the houses are being re- stuccoed and painted. The houses are well kept and very interesting. It looks like what might be a really fun area in the future. It took us a total of about 15 minutes to drive through. Hopefully, this gives you enough info to decide whether or not to check it out.
Written 20 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
H T
Columbia, MO26 contributions
Vibrant colored adobe homes. Great way to see how early Tucson must have looked. Be sure to see the Tiraditio, preferably at night, perhaps one of the oddest sites on the National Register of Historic Places (candlelight shrine for victim of tragic love triangle). Cushing St. Bar is worth the stop for architecture (saguaro ribbed ceilings) & food -or even just a drink at the bar. Cheaper place to eat is El Minuto (next to the Tiradito).
Written 1 January 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roxanne C
1 contribution
Oct 2018 • Couples
I really had to drive around and search for the houses I was looking for but Meyers Street was gorgeous. Not sure if I found all the really colorful ones. Wish there was a map with an exact walking and driving route. Lunch at 5 Points Market was a real treat too!
Written 24 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cynthia L
Belle Fourche, SD19 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
Beautiful! Park at Meyer/19th, walk back. Continue on Meyer @ 19th and around the block to the left. Really a treasure, when you find it.
Written 5 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aundreeuh
The Woodlands, TX248 contributions
Sept 2017 • Couples
If you enjoy Southwestern pueblo architecture, you will really enjoy this. We drove around so we could see more and I couldn't stop oohing and ahhhing over all the beautiful, eclectic and colorful homes. I love this style of home and all the personality that is added through the colors, gates and gardens- really adds to it. But you'll need to have correct expectations. This is a neighborhood, not an attraction. Don't expect signage. You have to drive/ walk around & discover it on your own (which is half the fun).
Written 8 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
An0nyMs
Tucson, AZ1,573 contributions
Nov 2017 • Friends
Also called the Barrio Viejo (Old Neighborhood) and a few other names, this used to be a traditional Tucson neighborhood until the blocks north of it were torn down in an urban-renewal frenzy to build the convention center and etc. north of here. Most of it has now been taken over by creative types and offices of law firms, etc. It's a fascinating neighborhood full of color and character(s).
Written 23 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tomcat
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Where would be a good place to park, if I'd like to walk through the neighborhood?
Written 10 January 2019
There is street parking available all over the neighborhood. I would drive a few blocks and park where you think you'd like to get a closer look. Then go a few more blocks and park again.
Written 13 January 2019
annlerner
Tucson, Arizona
I'd like to walk through the Barrio Viejo in Tucson I understand that it's a bit run down, but could anyone suggest the best route to walk ?
Written 26 March 2018
It is a few block area Near 100 South Stone Ave, Between I-10 and Stone Ave, Cushing and 17th Street.
Written 19 November 2016
I would like to know a great place to stay in a hotel or B and B near barrio district.
Written 20 January 2015
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