June 2026 Tidbits from the Museum Series

1536-1856 Spanish-Mexican Era

By Manny Trujillo

The span of the Spanish and Mexican Eras of the Calabasas (Rio Rico) community, Northern Sonora and Southern Arizona is considered to be from 1536-1856 (320 years).

Spanish influence and control were from 1536-1821 (285 years). Spain relinquished control to Mexico in 1821 by the outcome of the War of Independence. The Mexican military left the Presidio of Tucson in 1856, returning to Sonora as a result of the acceptance of the Gadsen Purchase.

United States control has been from 1856 to present. Numerous historical events have occurred during this chronological period that has greatly influenced the growth and economies of the existing Sobaipuri Indian communities and the Spanish-Mexican immigrant society. The area was visited by conquering Conquistadors like Francisco Vasquez de Coronado (come by and see our Spanish-Mexican Era display as well as our Arizona Coronado Project), as well as Juan Bautista de Anza II, who moved north to establish the settlement of present day San Francisco. Padre Eusebio Kino established his missions across Sonora and Southern Arizona.

Additional inhabitants of the area were members of a California column of volunteers (1^st U.S. Dragoons) attached to the U.S. military who occupied the now abandoned Calabasas Mission. Other temporary inhabitants were those fortune seekers traveling to California known as the “49ers”, through the Santa Cruz Valley, and mining and ranching operations.