Mission San Cosme y Damián de Tucsón facts for kids
Mission San Cosme y Damián de Tucsón as it appeared in 1881, heavily decayed
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 Location in Arizona
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| Location | Tucson, Arizona, United States |
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| Coordinates | 32°12′48″N 110°59′13″W / 32.21333°N 110.98694°W |
| Name as founded | Misión de San Agustín del Tucson |
| Patron | Augustine of Hippo |
| Founding date | 1692 |
| Founding priest(s) | Eusebio Francisco Kino |
| Founding Order | Jesuits |
| Current use | Nonextant |
The Mission San Cosme y Damián de Tucsón (also known as Spanish: Misión San Cosme y Damián de Tucsón) was an important old Spanish mission. It was first called Mission San Agustín del Tucson (Spanish: Misión de San Agustín del Tucson). This mission was located in what is now Tucson, Arizona.
It was started in 1692 by a Jesuit missionary named Eusebio Francisco Kino. At first, it was a "visiting chapel" (called a visita). This meant it was a smaller church connected to the bigger Mission San Xavier del Bac nearby. Today, almost nothing is left of the original mission buildings.
Where the Mission Was Located
The mission was built along the western side of the Santa Cruz River. It was at the bottom of a hill called Sentinel Peak, also known as "A" Mountain. A village of the Sobaipuri people, called Chuk Shon, was very close by. Chuk Shon means "at the foot of the black mountain."
History of the Mission
The mission was built near the Sobaipuri village of Chuk Shon. Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino gave this area the name San Cosmé del Tucson. In 1692, Father Kino set up a "visiting chapel" here. This chapel was part of the larger Mission San Xavier del Bac.
Later, in 1768, the mission grew bigger. It was also made stronger and renamed Mission San Agustín del Tucson. This happened after the Franciscans took over from the Jesuits in the missions. Soon after, in 1776, a fort called Presidio San Augustin del Tucson was built. This fort was on the east side of the Santa Cruz River. The town of Tucson grew up near this fort, along the river.
The mission was finally left empty in 1828. Its land was sold, and the buildings were not taken care of. Over time, they were destroyed.
For many years, from 1950 to 2010, the mission site was used as a landfill by the city of Tucson.
The Mission Site Today
Since 2010, a group called Friends of Tucson’s Birthplace has been taking care of the site. They are working to turn the old landfill and mission area into a historical and nature park. This new park is called Tucson Origins Heritage Park. It helps people learn about the history of the area.
See also
In Spanish: Misión de San Cosme y Damián de Tucsón para niños
