Santa Cruz Catholic Church

Santa Cruz Catholic Church at Sixth Avenue near the Santa Cruz River features white painted walls and a distinctive bell tower as its main architectural elements. Inside, a rectangular skylight illuminates the altar area while a continuous choir loft stretches above the eastern entrance.

Construction started in 1916 under Bishop Henry Granjon of Tucson, and its bells rang out to announce the end of World War I in November 1918. Those bells became a symbol of the city's connection to major historical events.

The church blends Spanish Colonial Revival style with Islamic design elements, visible in its minaret-like tower and baroque decorative details. Visitors notice this mix in the curved forms and ornamental features that cover the exterior.

The building is easily located on a main street in the southern part of the city and stands out visibly from the road. Visitors should keep in mind it serves as an active place of worship with specific times for services and gatherings.

This is one of Arizona's largest mud-adobe structures, built with unstabilized bricks made at the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation. The choice of these materials reveals the strong connection between the building project and the local community.