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Tour San Xavier del Bac
October 20, 2023 @ 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm MST
Join us for a private tour of San Xavier del Bac led by Starr Herr-Cardillo. San Xavier’s spectacular baroque interior and ambitious dome and vault construction make it a unique and premier example of Spanish Colonial art and architecture in the United States. This tour will cover the history of San Xavier del Bac, with an emphasis on architectural and art history, while discussing ongoing preservation and conservation work and the complexity of preserving a living church within a tribal nation. Patronato San Xavier funds and directs ethical conservation, conducts scientific research, and conveys the significance of Mission San Xavier del Bac, a National Historic Landmark, in the community of Wa:k, part of the Tohono O’odham Nation.
Starr Herr-Cardillo is the Conservation Program Manager for Patronato San Xavier. In her role, she is responsible for coordinating and overseeing conservation and preservation work across the mission campus, from in-house preventive maintenance to major deferred maintenance and capital campaigns. Growing up in Tucson, she was inspired to enter the field by a deep appreciation for the southwestern landscape, adobe vernacular architecture, and regional building traditions.
She holds an M.S. in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania and B.A. in Geography and a graduate certificate in Heritage Conservation from the University of Arizona.
Food vendors and the gift shop will be open until about 5 PM, so maybe participants could arrive a little earlier if they want to shop. Parking is free and there should be plenty of space. Most of the tour should be ADA accessible; there may be a few spots that involve a step or two. The church closes at 4 pm, so the tour will have sole access to the interior of the mission, so the group can move through the space and talk as we go. There’s no admission fee, but a $5 donation per person is requested.
This field trip is open to AAHS Members and is limited to 20 participants. To register email AAHS1916@gmail.com. If this link doesn’t work for you copy and paste the email address into your mail program.