The Presidio San Agustín del Tucson Museum

What The Presidio San Agustín del Tucson Museum does

The Presidio San Agustín del Tucson Museum is a non-profit historic site operated by the Tucson Presidio Trust for Historic Preservation, a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1984 that assumed daily operations of the museum in 2015 and expanded in 2024 to also operate the Fort Lowell Museum under an agreement with the City of Tucson. The organization occupies the reconstructed northeast corner of the original 1775 Spanish Presidio fort in downtown Tucson, Arizona, with a second site at Fort Lowell Park on the city's east side. Core offerings are built around historic reconstruction and living-history interpretation using period-accurate structures (an 1860s Sonoran Row house, a 2,000-year-old indigenous pit house, Early People's Park, an Officer's Quarters reconstruction), supported by docent-led tours, an extensive walking-tours program led by the 2.5-mile Turquoise Trail, a 360-degree virtual tour, and a research-backed content library covering 4,000+ years of Tucson Basin heritage.

Revenue is generated across multiple streams: museum admission ($5–$9 per visitor, with discounts for seniors, military, and Pima County residents), annual memberships tiered from $25 (student) to $60 (small business), walking tours ($20–$45 per person), school field trips ($6–$8 per child plus supply fees), summer camps ($52–$280 per week), venue rentals of the Territorial Patio and full Presidio Enclosure for weddings and corporate events, a gift shop, fee-based adult presentations ($125–$150), and tax-deductible donations including recurring options. The go-to-market motion is event-driven and community-led — a calendar of living history days, cultural celebrations, lectures (Salon & Saloon, Tucson Tavern Series), workshops, summer camps, school outreach, and venue rentals — amplified through partnerships with Downtown Tucson Partnership, Brandylion Spirits, Barrio Brewing Company, and a network of cultural and archaeological organizations, alongside content marketing via the website blog, social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), and a semi-annual email newsletter.

The museum is staffed by a small paid team of 1–10 augmented by a docent and volunteer program, with governance by a Board of Directors drawn from archaeology, museum education, faith community, public affairs, and former City of Tucson leadership. Customer segments span K–12 schools (field trips, kit rentals, in-class presentations for grades 3–12), general public tourists and local residents (self-guided and docent tours, walking tours), private event hosts (weddings, corporate events), adult community organizations (fee-based presentations), and members/donors (annual memberships and tax-deductible contributions), with both Arizona-residency and cultural-heritage-tourism pricing tiers supporting distinct demand profiles.

Name

The Presidio San Agustín del Tucson Museum

Legal name

The Tucson Presidio Trust for Historic Preservation

Website

https://tucsonpresidio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Presidio San Agustín del Tucson Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating two reconstructed historic sites in Tucson, AZ — the 1775 Spanish Presidio and Fort Lowell — offering docent-led tours, walking tours, school field trips, summer camps, venue rentals, and living-history events to visitors, K–12 students, and private event hosts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage Museum / Historic Site

NAICS

Museums (712110), Historical Sites (71212), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAJADAB

History Museums

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Museums, Galleries & Cultural Institutions

SECONDARYTHAJACAC

Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Attractions & Landmarks (Observation Decks, Monuments, Scenic Sites)

SECONDARYTHAJAAAB

Cultural Heritage & Historic District Tours

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Guided Tours (City, Cultural & Historical)

SECONDARYTHAJADAI

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Museums, Galleries & Cultural Institutions

Keywords

• Historic site preservation
• Living history education
• Heritage walking tours
• School field trip programs
• Cultural heritage museums

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Museum Admission: General admission fees for entry to the Presidio Museum ($9 adults, $6 children ages 6-13, free for ages 0-5 and members) and Fort Lowell Museum ($5 adults, free for children 13 and under and members). Discounts available for seniors 64+, military, and Pima County residents.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership tiers (Individual $40, Family $50, Small Business $60, Student $25) providing free admission, guest passes, newsletter delivery, and program discounts. One membership covers both Presidio and Fort Lowell Museums.
3. Venue Rentals: Rental of Territorial Patio and/or entire Presidio Enclosure for weddings, receptions, dinners, and private events. Includes optional historic demonstrations (soldier drills, food display, weaving). Alcohol must be ordered through the museum's site-specific liquor license.
4. Group and Docent Tours: Docent-led group tours for 10+ people at $5 per person, plus optional demonstrations (Colombian Exchange, Cochineal Dye, Colonial Medicine) for an additional $3/person. Private walking tours available at various price points.
5. Adult Presentations: Fee-based 45-minute presentations for adult groups: $125 for non-profit organizations, $150 for others. Covers transportation up to 30 miles. Topics include Presidio history, Territorial Tucson women, murals, Santa Cruz River history, and Tucson culture.
6. Walking Tour Fees: Various walking tours priced at $20-$45 per person (members receive discounted rates). Tours include Turquoise Trail, Mansions of Main Ave, Pioneer Women, Death After Dark, Fort Lowell Park, Santa Cruz River History, and others.
7. Donations: Tax-deductible donations accepted with automatic recurring donation options. Donations of $50 or more automatically include a one-year membership. The museum also accepts Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs and donor-advised fund contributions.
8. Summer Camps: Weekly summer camps at Presidio Museum ($250 member/$280 non-member per week) and Fort Lowell Museum (limited to 12 participants). Daily rates available at $52 member/$57 non-member. Includes hands-on history, culture, and science activities.
9. Gift Shop Sales: The gift shop sells books on Tucson and Southern Arizona history, Talavera and Majolica pottery, regional foods, t-shirts, desert botanical soaps, and souvenirs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Presidio San Agustín del Tucson Museum operates as a historical preservation attraction and educational venue on the site of Tucson's original 1775 Spanish fort. It offers paid museum admission with self-guided and docent-guided tours of the reconstructed fort, an extensive Walking Tours program (anchored by the 2.5-mile Turquoise Trail), K-12 educational field trips aligned with Common Core curriculum, summer camps, venue rentals for weddings and private events, living history demonstrations, cultural celebrations, an adult presentation/outreach service, and an annual membership program. In 2024, it expanded operations to include the Fort Lowell Museum on Tucson's east side.

Product overview

The Presidio San Agustín del Tucson Museum operates as a historic preservation and educational attraction offering a unified portfolio of visitor experiences centered on Tucson's Spanish and Mexican military heritage dating to 1775. The core offering is museum admission with self-guided and docent-guided tours of the reconstructed Presidio fort, complemented by an extensive walking tours program (including the flagship Turquoise Trail), educational field trips, summer camps, venue rentals, and living history/cultural events. Since 2024, the organization also operates the Fort Lowell Museum, expanding its portfolio to cover the Apache Wars period. The museum provides virtual tour access and outreach presentations for remote or off-site audiences. Membership programs, workshops, a book club, and special event programming round out the visitor engagement model.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Presidio Museum Admission General museum admission allowing visitors to explore the reconstructed Spanish fort built in 1775, including an 1860s Sonoran Row house, a 2,000-year-old pit house, and the Early People's Park exhibit. Pricing: $9 adults, $6 children ages 6-13, free children 0-5, with $3 discounts for seniors 64+, military, and Pima County residents. Free for members.
• Walking Tours Program Diverse guided walking tour offerings across Tucson exploring Spanish Colonial architecture, historic landmarks, and cultural sites. Most tours priced $35 general / $20 member, with premium tours (Santa Cruz River History, Modern Streetcar) at $40 general / $25 member.
• Turquoise Trail Walking Tour A 2.5-mile loop through downtown Tucson marked by a turquoise painted line, showcasing Spanish Colonial architecture and historic landmarks from 1775. Available as guided tour, self-guided with paper map ($2), or mobile app ($5 for iOS and Android).
• Group Tours Docent-led museum tours for groups of 9 or less at regular admission rates, or $5 per person for groups of 10+. Optional demonstrations available for additional $3/person including Colombian Exchange, Cochineal Dye, and Colonial Medicine.
• Educational Programs and Field Trips School field trip programs for 3rd-12th grade students aligned with Common Core curriculum, including Hands-on History ($6/child + $25 supply fee), Friday at the Fort ($8/child + $40 supply fee), Museum in a Box ($30 for 7-day rental), and in-class presentations. Programs run October-April at both Presidio and Fort Lowell Museums.
• Summer Camps Hands-on history summer camps for children ages 8-12 at both Presidio and Fort Lowell locations. Weekly camps include activities such as making piñatas, pottery, costumes, native plant treats, and cultural demonstrations. Weekly rates: $250 members / $280 non-members; daily rates available. 10% sibling discount available.
• Venue Rentals Event venue rental of the Territorial Patio (accommodating 70-100 people) or Entire Presidio Enclosure (up to 375 people) for weddings, receptions, dinners, and private events. Historic demonstrations including soldier drills, food displays, and walking tours of original Presidio footprint can be added. Catering by recommended partners La Cocina or El Charro.
• Museum Membership Program Annual membership tiers: Individual ($40), Family ($50), Small Business ($60), and Student ($25). Benefits include free admission to both Presidio and Fort Lowell Museums, 2-5 guest passes depending on tier, semi-annual newsletter delivery, 10% discount in gift shop, and special member pricing on all programs and events.
• Living History Days and Cultural Events Living History Days featuring blacksmithing, food preparation, soldier drills, cannon firing, and period children's games. Cultural events include Mexican Independence Day, Día de los Muertos ofrenda exhibition, Frontier Holiday Celebration, and Native Nations events. Operational October-April.
• Salon and Saloon Lecture Series Monthly lecture series held at Barrio Brewing Co. covering various aspects of Arizona history, delivered by historians, authors, and archaeologists. One $15/$20 per ticket (members/non-members).
• Presidio Museum Virtual Tour 360-degree virtual tour of the Presidio Museum accessible online, covering the main entrance/gift shop, Timeline Exhibit, Territorial Patio, food storage area, Presidio Courtyard/Parade Grounds, Soldiers' Quarters, and Early People's Park. Functions as an off-site digital preview/visit experience.
• Fort Lowell Museum Second museum operated by Tucson Presidio Trust at 2900 N. Craycroft Rd., Tucson, AZ. Features a reconstruction of an Officer's Quarters along Cottonwood Lane and shares the history of the U.S. Army fort (1873-1891), Apache Wars, and Hohokam village history at the confluence of Tanque Verde Creek and Pantano Wash. Open Thursday-Saturday. Admission: $5 adults, free for children 13 and under and members.
• Workshops Hands-on workshop experiences allowing participants to engage with history and heritage through direct activities and demonstrations of period-appropriate crafts, foods, and skills.
• Adult Presentations and Outreach 45-minute historical and cultural presentations for adult groups (nonprofits, retirement communities, civic clubs) covering Presidio history, Territorial Tucson women, public art and murals, Santa Cruz River history, and Tucson culture. Pricing: $125 non-profit organizations / $150 other organizations. Additional $25 charge for distances up to 50 miles with presenter approval. Transportation covered up to 30 miles.
• Tucson Tavern Series Lecture Lecture offering in collaboration with Brandylion Spirits (Tucson Tavern Series): $15 members / $20 non-members. Includes presentation and Q&A. Limited to 20 participants.
• Fire & Ice Summer Event Series Last Fridays Downtown Experience summer event series co-presented with Downtown Tucson Partnership and Brandylion Spirits, featuring lantern tours, musket demonstrations, blacksmithing with Xerocraft, and themed cocktails. Regular museum admission or FREE for members.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200,000 Turquoise Trail brochures printed and distributed since founding in 2006.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Downtown Tucson PartnershipcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 June 2026Co-presenter of the Fire & Ice summer event series (Last Fridays). The Downtown Experience is a joint summer event series between the Presidio Museum and Downtown Tucson Partnership, featuring lantern tours, musket demonstrations, and blacksmithing.
• Barrio Brewing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2025Venue for the monthly Salon & Saloon lecture series (held at 800 E 16th St). The brewery released a Presidio Pale Ale in collaboration with the museum to celebrate Tucson's 250th anniversary.
• Border Community AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner in pursuing IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility) initiatives. The museum collaborates with community organizations to advance cultural awareness and diverse historical interpretation.
• Old Pueblo ArchaeologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner in pursuing IDEA initiatives. Old Pueblo Archaeology provides archaeological expertise and interpretive resources supporting the museum's public history programs.
• Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage AreaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner in pursuing IDEA initiatives. Supports heritage preservation and cultural programming aligned with the region's historical significance.
• Los Descendientes del Presidio de TucsonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner in pursuing IDEA initiatives. Descendants organization focused on preserving the history of Presidio de Tucson families, aligning with the museum's mission of multicultural historical interpretation.
• Tucson Rodeo Parade MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner in pursuing IDEA initiatives. The Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum preserves rodeo heritage, complementing the museum's regional historical programming.
• Brandylion Spirits and Tea HousecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAdjacent spirits establishment at 200 N. Court Ave. co-hosts $5 Friday Nights, Tucson Tavern Series lectures, and serves as the starting/ending point for several walking tours. Also hosts the Members' Book Club monthly.
• Tucson-Pima County Historical CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting sponsor of the Celebration of All Things S-cuk Son / Tucson 251+ Anniversary event on August 20, 2026.
• City of TucsoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Tucson Presidio Trust operates under agreements with the City of Tucson. In 2007, the City reconstructed the northeast corner of the Presidio as part of the Rio Nuevo redevelopment. In 2024, the Trust signed an agreement with the City to also operate the Fort Lowell Museum.
• Rio Nuevo (Downtown Redevelopment District)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Tucson Parks and Recreation Department oversaw the Presidio reconstruction in 2007 as part of the Rio Nuevo downtown redevelopment district. The Tucson Presidio Trust acted as a friends organization and subsequently took over daily operations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tucson Botanical Gardens: A Tucson heritage attraction operating themed gardens with paid admission, memberships, events, and educational programming. It is a direct peer because it competes for the same general Tucson visitor and member segments with similar pricing tiers and community-event programming.
• Tumacácori National Historical Park: A Spanish-colonial mission and heritage site in southern Arizona operated by the National Park Service with admission, docent-led tours, and educational programming. It is a direct peer because it presents overlapping Spanish-colonial-era missionary heritage and competes for the same regional and educational visitors.
• Arizona State Museum (University of Arizona): A University of Arizona museum focused on Southwest, Indigenous, and Hispanic heritage with exhibits, educational programming, and research. It is a direct peer because it overlaps directly on Tucson-based heritage interpretation, K-12 curriculum-aligned educational offerings, and Indigenous cultural programming.
• Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum: A Tucson-based nature and cultural heritage museum with zoo, botanical garden, and interpretive exhibits. It is a direct peer because it competes for the same general Tucson visitor and K-12 field-trip audience with mixed paid admissions, memberships, and event programming, and Presidio Museum's Executive Director previously worked there.
• Old Tucson: A Western theme park and film location on Tucson's west side offering historic-site admission, living history demonstrations, and group/school events. It is a direct peer because it competes for the same tourist, family, and K-12 field-trip audiences with heritage-themed admissions and demonstrations.
• Arizona Historical Society: A statewide historical society operating museum sites (including the Arizona History Museum in Tucson) with exhibits, educational programming, and memberships. It is a direct peer because it competes for the same historical-interpretation, K-12 field-trip, and adult-presentation demand in Tucson, and a Presidio Trust board member serves there as Education Team Lead.
• Tucson Museum of Art: A downtown Tucson art and cultural-heritage museum offering admission, memberships, docent tours, and educational programs. It is a direct peer because it competes for the same downtown Tucson tourist and member base, overlapping on venue rentals, walking-tour-style programming, and K-12 engagement.
• Mission San Xavier del Bac: An active Spanish-colonial mission south of Tucson offering tours, cultural events, and educational programming. It is a direct peer because it presents the same Spanish-colonial Tucson heritage narrative and overlaps directly on docent-led tours, cultural events, and school field trips.

Broad incumbents

• Pima Air & Space Museum: A larger Tucson attraction operating a specialty aviation museum with admissions, docent-led tours, and school field trip programs. It is a broader-incumbent peer because it overlaps with the Presidio on field-trip, docent-tour, and downtown-Tucson-tourist acquisition channels, but operates at a substantially larger scale and aviation theme.

Emerging players

• Reid Park Zoo: A smaller Tucson attraction with paid admission, memberships, and educational programming. It is an emerging-player peer because it competes for the same family, tourist, and K-12 field-trip audiences, but operates a distinctly different (zoological) interpretive theme and has its own nonprofit membership structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC0Qi3uo9dX-U9JFgaL-brvg
• Facebookfacebook.com/TucsonPresidio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tucsonpresidio
• Instagraminstagram.com/tucsonpresidiomuseum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Presidio San Agustín del Tucson Museum