The Arizona Historical, Southern Arizona Division is the oldest cultural institution in Arizona. The Downtown Museum is located in the Wells Fargo Building. "History in the Heart of Tucson" exhibits span the two centuries from Tucson's origins as a Spanish Presidio in 1775 to the modern era, and feature service to the community by police, fire, military, justice, library, education and businesses. The museum houses rare and unique collections that preserve the history of Arizona and northern Mexico from the coming of the first Europeans in 1540 through the territorial period to modern times. The museum's research library is a diverse, cultural resource used by scholars throughout the nation, and its archives preserve rare photographs and documents providing a rich historical record.
