The Presidio Trail, also known as the Turquoise Trail, is a downtown walking trail connecting more than 25 historic downtown sites. The bright turquoise line to the west of the Joel D. Valdez Main Library is the Presidio trail. The trail is about 2 ½ miles long.
Brochures about this trail are available at the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau, 100 South Church Avenue, and at various hotels and restaurants.
Presidio San Agustín del Tucson: "a smartphone app is available for the trail through Vamonde. Simply download Vamonde to your phone from your app store and then search for “Turquoise Trail”. The Turquoise Trail app will begin where you are standing using your phone’s GPS and will also give you directions to the next stop along with information about each stop."
Historical downtown locations are connected by a turquoise-colored line painted on the sidewalk for most of the length of the trail. The 25 sites are located in a loop around Downtown, from the Presidio Wall south to Carrillo Elementary School, then northeast to the Hotel Congress and northwest to finish at the Telles Block, which is now Old Town Artisans. The bright blue turquoise color was chosen because it was the only paint that the City of Tucson had available that did not signify a water line or underground utility.
See also: Blue Line near the Joel D Valdez Main Library, opens a new window
Sources:
"Headin' out on the Turquoise Trail." Downtown Tucsonan. March 6, 2006. Page 7.
”A walk along the Turquoise path” Arizona Daily Star, December 1, 2005. Page B1.
"Turquoise Trail, opens a new window" Presidio de San Augustine website.
Find the information you need by calling the library's Infoline at 520-791-4010 or by sending your question to Ask a Librarian.
