Saint Augustine Cathedral, Tucson (must see)

The Cathedral of Saint Augustine is one of Tucson’s oldest active religious sites, with origins that trace back to a small chapel founded here in 1776 during the Spanish colonial period. A larger church, completed in 1868, served the expanding Catholic population that settled in the region throughout the 19th century.

The cathedral you see today blends old and new elements. Its 1897 Mexican Baroque façade was preserved during a major reconstruction completed in 1968, when most of the building behind it was rebuilt to improve stability and usability. The result is a structure that retains its historic front while reflecting mid-20th-century updates to the interior layout.

If you stand directly in front of the main entrance and look up, you will see the coat of arms of Pope Pius XI positioned above the central doorway. From this spot, you can also take in the façade’s twin towers, sculpted niches, and carved ornamentation. These features intentionally echo the architectural style of Mission San Xavier del Bac, linking the cathedral to earlier mission traditions in the region. As you walk slowly along the exterior walls, look for the stained-glass windows and stone trim that show the building’s layered construction history.

When you enter the cathedral and step into the nave, look straight ahead toward the sanctuary to find the Pamplona Crucifix. This carved wooden figure, believed through carbon dating to date from the 12th or 13th century, now hangs on the rear sanctuary wall behind the main altar. As you walk further into the space, you will pass side chapels with devotional statues, painted architectural details, and the custom-built pipe organ crafted by Tucson organ maker David McDowell.

Today, the Cathedral of Saint Augustine serves as the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson. It hosts regular Masses, community gatherings, and diocesan ceremonies, and visitors are welcome during scheduled services or during posted hours for quiet prayer.

Tip: Interior access is most reliable on weekends, and confessions are typically offered on Wednesdays and Fridays.