A Living Tapestry of Traditions

The 48th state was admitted to the union in 1912, but the region’s cultural traditions date back centuries before that. Indigenous communities called this area home more than 10,000 years ago. Descendants of those nomadic hunter-gatherer societies developed agricultural techniques that enabled tribal communities to thrive along waterways for centuries.

Spanish explorers changed the desert landscape with an elaborate system of missions while American pioneers created outposts near free-flowing rivers and mining operations. All the while, Indigenous communities and Hispanic residents infused the region with the multicultural experience visitors enjoy today. Arizona is one of only a handful of places where visitors can attend a powwow, a fiesta and a rodeo all in one place.

Visitors also enjoy shopping for traditional jewelry, pottery and textiles at tribal communities in Arizona. Cultural museums preserve cherished artifacts from the region’s original inhabitants and tales from the Wild West continue to shine a light on Arizona’s rugged, remote towns. The entire city of Ajo is an architectural gem that would fit seamlessly into the countryside of Mexico, while historic barrios in Tucson add to the modern city’s multicultural personality. On trips throughout Arizona, find immersive cultural experiences that are rooted in the past.