Tucson — Timetable with Destiny

1692-Father Kino, the Spanish missionary and explorer, visits Indian villages of Tumacacori and Bac south of Tucson.

1700-Kino lays foundations for the first San Xavier del Bac Mission.

1752-Military forces strengthened at Tubac, south of Tucson.

1769-Franciscan priests launch missionary work in what subsequently became Southern Arizona; Father Francisco Tomas Garces visits San José del Tucson Mission.

1776-Tucson established as a Spanish fort; soldiers arrive from Tubac.

1797-Probable date for completion of second San Xavier del Bac Mission.

1820-Friar Arriquibar takes census of Tucson, counts 395 residents.

1823-Mexico wins independence from Spain; Tucson passes into Mexican hands.

1846-U.S. declares war on Mexico; Mormon Battalion arrives at Tucson from Fort Leavenworth, Kan., raises first American flag over Tucson.

1848-Treaty ending Mexican War cedes most of Arizona-excluding Tucson to U.S.

1854-Area south of Gila River, including Tucson, acquired by U.S. through Gadsden Purchase.

1856-Mexican troops leave Tucson for the last time. Local citizens hold convention and ask Congress to separate Arizona from the Territory of New Mexico. Post office established. Solomon Warner arrives with first American merchandise to open a store in Tucson.

1857-First passenger and mail stages arrive in Tucson.

1858-Butterfield's Overland Mail begins operating between St. Louis and San Francisco, passing through Tucson.

1859-The Rev. J. P. Machebeuf, Vicar General of New Mexico, makes his "Journey of Death" from Santa Fe to Tucson, an event immortalized many years later in Willa Cather's "Death Comes to the Archbishop." Water-power flour mill put into operation at Silver Lake, south of Tucson.

1860-Convention held at Tucson to write the territorial constitution. The proceedings of the convention become the first book printed in Arizona.

1861-Butterfield stage route discontinued through the Southwest. Civil War breaks out. Government supplies in Tucson are burned by Union troops to keep them from falling into Confederate hands. Confederate Council of Tucson is formed and a delegate elected to the Confederate Congress.

... continued from preceding page 1862-Confederate soldiers occupy Tucson. Battle of Picacho Pass takes place between fragmentary units of Union and Confederate forces the only Civil War engagement fought in Arizona. Union soldiers occupy Tucson.

1863-Abraham Lincoln signs act creating Territory of Arizona.

1864-Charles N. Poston, first territorial delegate to Congress, leaves Tucson for Washington.

1866-Military headquarters for Arizona moved from Prescott to Tucson and established in Military Plaza, which is re-named Camp Lowell.

1867-Tucson made capital by territorial legislature.

1868-Tucson's first American public school opens.

1869-First ice cream made in Tucson, sells for $5 a quart.

1871-First election of Tucson mayor and council.

1873-First public school for girls opens. City offers free lots to citizens for six months' residence on them and $100 in improvements. First telegraph line reaches Tucson. Town stages its historic "necktie party"-the lynching of four men by a mob incensed over the murder of a local merchant and his wife.

1878-First Protestant church established in Tucson.

1879-Capital moved to Prescott.

1880-Southern Pacific railroad reaches Tucson. Arizona's first non-military hospital opened by the Sisters of St. Joseph.

1881-Tucson holds its first legal hanging.

1882-Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman visits Tucson.

1885-Legislature appropriates $25,000 to start the University of Arizona.

1886-Tucson Rangers assist U.S. Army in final push against Apaches. First board of regents of the University meets to accept 40 acres of land donated by Tucson gamblers.

1887-University begins construction of its first building.

1891-University opens.

1906-Restoration work starts on San Xavier del Bac Mission.

1916-Part of old capitol buildings torn down.

1938-Last of old capitol buildings razed.

1941-Davis-Monthan Air Force Base established.

1942-Consolidated-Vultee aircraft plant established, launching Tucson's wartime and postwar industrial development. Plant subsequently passed into hands of Grand Central Aircraft Co., then Douglas Aircraft Co., which now operates it. 1951-Hughes Aircraft Co. comes to Tucson.