Sosa-Carrillo-Fremont House Museum, Tucson

The Sosa-Carrillo-Fremont House Museum is a historic adobe home in downtown Tucson. Built in the Sonoran tradition, it showcases the architectural style common in the region during the 19th century and offers a look into the lives of the families who shaped early Tucson. It remains a meaningful stop for visitors interested in the city’s cultural history and its early neighborhood layout.

The main house standing today was built around 1878 by Leopoldo Carrillo, though an earlier adobe structure from the Sosa family—dating to the 1850s or 1860s—once stood on the property. The name reflects the layered history of the two families. The “Fremont” association came later, even though historians are unsure whether John C. Fremont ever lived in the home. In 1881, the Carrillo family leased the property, likely for Fremont’s daughter, and the name remained linked to the site. This eventually led to its current, more historically accurate name: the Sosa-Carrillo-Fremont House.

For many years the home was owned by the Arizona Historical Society. In 2023, it was transferred to the Rio Nuevo District and is now operated by Los Descendientes del Presidio de Tucson. Today it houses the Mexican American Heritage and History Museum.

Visitors can explore the restored rooms and courtyard on guided tours that highlight the stories of the families who lived here. The museum also hosts lectures, workshops and cultural programs throughout the year, offering travelers an engaging way to experience Tucson’s diverse heritage.