Top Stairs and Railings of Tucson
Tucson: Life, Work, and Community in the Desert City
Tucson is a city that opens up to you slowly. Stay a little longer, and its depth starts to show. Even though Tucson is the second-largest city in Arizona, it doesn’t rush to impress. In fact, residents have described it as a big city with a small-town feel. It greets you with mountain views and desert skies, but convenience is weaved into daily life as Tucson is easily accessible via Interstate 10, major highways, and the Tucson International Airport.
Tucson’s Rich and Tasty History
Tucson holds the distinction of being one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in North America. For thousands of years, indigenous peoples (including the Hohokam) inhabited the area and built canal systems to farm the desert. Later on, Tucson was founded as a Spanish fort in 1775, known as Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón. The merging of indigenous, Spanish, Mexican, and American cultures helped Tucson evolve into a city with a rich history and a patchwork of vibrant cultures.
One of the many ways residents and visitors experience Tucson history is through flavors. In 2015, Tucson was acknowledged as the first US UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, an award that celebrated its centuries of food heritage and unique culinary scene. The city’s cuisine features native indigenous influences, reflected by the use of native crops like beans, squash, and corn. Spanish and Mexican influences shine in flavorful tortillas, tamales, and carne seca. Tucson is also known for its modern Southwestern and farm-to-table restaurants that use food as a tool for environmental and social sustainability. Discover heavenly dishes that delight the senses in these Tucson food places:
- Tumerico - This is an inventive restaurant offering an array of vegetarian-vegan Latin-American dishes. Try their jackfruit tacos or tamale plate for a redefined plant-based dining.
- Blue Willow Restaurant & Gift Shop - This restaurant, founded in 1978, has been the go-to spot for families and weekend brunch dates. Breakfast classics and lunch favorites are served in a welcoming space with a garden patio. In their gift shop, you’ll find a lovely collection of teapots, chopstick holders, and more.
- Redbird Scratch Kitchen + Bar - This scratch kitchen favorite puts a huge emphasis on serving comfort food done creatively and locally. Everything from wings and burgers to nachos and shrimp ceviche are house-made, keeping locals coming back for more.
Tucson’s Living Legacy: Historic Sites and Architecture
The historic sites and distinctive architecture of Tucson also reveal much about its character and the way life is lived here. At the heart of the city, you’ll find Downtown Tucson, which is centered around the Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón (the original Spanish fort). A stroll here lets you witness the preserved adobe buildings, small plazas, and historic hotels reminiscent of original Spanish and Mexican town layouts. Hotel Congress is a historic hotel in the area that opened in 1919, famous for its live music, bars, and restaurants.
History buffs can step back in time at
Presidio San Agustin Museum, which is a reconstruction of the original Spanish fort. Visitors enter through an 1860s Sonoran house and learn how Tucson residents lived before the smartphone era. To witness the largest collection of Sonoran row houses in the US, you can go on a Barrio Viejo Walking Tour, which also lets you explore Tucson’s oldest neighborhood that was once a social and economic hub.
Meanwhile, lovers of art will find pleasure walking down the streets of Congress and Fourth Avenue, filled with creative murals and small local shops. Many commercial buildings in the downtown area give off a historic charm through adobe storefronts, brick facades, and decorative metal work. Get in touch with Top Stairs and Railings if you need custom metalwork for your Tucson awnings, railings, or signage.
The Chuck Huckelberry Loop, called The Loop for short, is perhaps the most loved public amenity in Tucson, and it’s a big part of how people move around and exercise. The Loop features over 130+ miles of connected paths, car-free and designed for walking, jogging, cycling, and even skating. It connects residents to major parks, nature preserves, and most conveniently, to Marana and Oro Valley. The Loop extends into Marana, connecting you to its parks and residential communities. The Loop also follows the Cañada del Oro and Rillito River paths, serving as a bridge between Tucson and Oro Valley’s trail network.
Nature and Neighborhood Design in Tucson
Tucson is shaped as much by its landscape as by its history. With a nature-forward urban design, you can expect neighborhoods that feel open and linked to nature. Most homes are low-rise and single-story by design, offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. If there’s one neighborhood that gets universal affection, it would be Sam Hughes, known for its historic homes, tree-lined streets, and quiet residential feel. It’s also close to coffee shops, bookstores, and the University of Arizona.
When locals aren’t being neighborly over at Sam Hughes or soaking up the vibrant energy of Fourth Avenue, they’re often out exploring Tucson’s abundant natural beauty. A popular nature spot here is the Saguaro National Park, although it’s a bit unique in how it’s located. The national park is split into two districts (east and west), both at the edges of Tucson. The eastern portion offers views of older, larger saguaros and a challenging hiking experience. Meanwhile, the western part features younger saguaros, easier trails, and classic desert views.
On the northeast edge of Tucson, you’ll find the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area within the Coronado National Forest. A key activity here is taking an audio-guided tram ride into the canyon (also called Sabino Canyon Crawler), with various stops to explore shorter trails or for picnics. You can also go on a wildflower hike or an evening tour to spot nocturnal creatures using blacklights.
A Hub of Innovation and Opportunity
Despite having a small town feel, Tucson is an economic powerhouse, showcasing strengths in aerospace and defence, logistics, and healthcare. One major economic engine is the Tucson International Airport, supporting freight and commercial activities. Nearby the airport is the Tucson Airport Employment Zone (TAEZ), which features over 4,000 developable acres and offices of renowned employers like Amazon, FedEx, and RTX. Just five miles southeast of downtown Tucson, you’ll find the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, known as one of the region’s largest employers. Their presence helped attract a cluster of private firms specializing in aircraft systems, missiles, and space technology.
Speaking of technology, Tucson also shines when it comes to innovation that supports research commercialization and collaboration between academia and the industry. The University of Arizona is one of Tucson’s biggest innovation hubs and is recognized for space sciences and astronomy, optics, climate research, and biosciences. Tied to the university is a network of innovation campuses called
Tech Parks Arizona. The UA Tech Park at Rita Road is a research and business campus with tech and R&D companies, as well as labs and collaborative spaces. The other tech park at The Bridges is a mix of lab, office, and community spaces that attracts startups and established tech firms.
Expanding research institutions are also fueling the growth of Tucson’s healthcare industry.
TMC HealthCare is one of the largest community healthcare providers in the city, offering a wide range of medical and specialty services. Meanwhile, Carondelet Health Network operates multiple locations across Tucson. Its facilities are also strategically located to serve the residents of nearby areas like
Catalina Foothills and Oro Valley, making it the most accessible provider for the northern suburbs.
Tucson hums with opportunity, from advanced tech to healthcare, and yet it never feels overwhelming. With a robust economy and a lifestyle that blends history and nature, Tucson isn’t just a place to live, but a city to thrive today and in the years to come.
We understand the product we make perfectly, and while no customer is the same, we'd like to think that we generally understand the range of metal work Arizonans are looking for. Some shop for the perfect southwestern accent or design their own, while others want a modern concept that still fits the motif. We mix and match style pieces and flourishes based on the request and the situation for each individual. Whether you're looking for cantilever stairs, a monumental floating stairscase or a simple exterior staircase that needs to be functional and long lasting, we've got your back. Railings, awnings, pergolas, or unique fabrication; you've come to the right place because we handle it all. Give us a call today at 520-658-2111.
