City history
A look at Tucson's evolution from an indigenous settlement to a modern desert metropolis, shaped by railroads and astronomical science.
Chapter one
Indigenous name
"At the base of the mountain"
The name is believed to be an anglicized version of an O'odham word describing the area's proximity to the mountains.
At the base of the mountain
The name is an anglicized phonetic version of the indigenous O'odham term.
Chapter two
The arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad introduced standardized time to the region, replacing local solar time.
Arizona moved to permanently discontinue daylight saving time, keeping Tucson on MST year-round.
Chapter three
Tucson was officially incorporated as a city to manage its growing desert population.
The Southern Pacific Railroad reached Tucson, revolutionizing commerce and timekeeping.
Arizona was admitted as the 48th state, with Tucson as a key cultural center.
The University of Arizona and surrounding regions solidified Tucson's role in global astronomy.