Photos: A history of winter visitors
Tucson is a favorite winter refuge for people who want to flee the snow and cold. Our mild winters bring events and tourists as well as part-time residents for several months.
Photos: A history of winter visitors
Citizen Photo Feb. 24, 1971: Mr. and Mrs. Otto R. Eicher (in noose) were welcomed to Tucson's Fiesta de los Vaqueros in traditional western style, as the city's Vigilantes and Barbara Bell, a rodeo princess, told them to reach for the sky on Interstate 10-and stick around for five days, courtesy of the City of Tucson and Tucson Jaycees. The Eichers, from Sandusky, Ohio, were selected at random.
Photos: A history of winter visitors
Citizen Photo November 5, 1965: Swank western layouts like this one at Tanque Verde Guest Ranch (now Tanque Verde Ranch) on East Speedway are a big magnet for winter visitors. Advance reservations are running far ahead of the year-earlier pace, report guest ranch owners. Guest ranchers are just one segment of the Tucson economy expected to boom with this year's tourist rush.
Photos: A history of winter visitors
Citizen Photo Tucson Open golf tourney February 6, 1958
Photos: A history of winter visitors
Johnny Miller sets record at the Final day at the Dean Martin Tucson Open. Arizona Daily Star file photo taken 1/19/75 by Jose Galvez.
Photos: A history of winter visitors
Citizen photo Feb. 7, 1955: Only about 30 miles from the desert floor of the Tucson valley, the heights of Mount Lemmon offer year-round attractions for residents and winter visitors alike. Presently, the main attraction atop the mountain is winter recreation with hundreds of ski enthusiasts using the tow, dotting the run. The area has been developed by the U.S. Forest Service in recent years for winter and summer use; further development is planned.
Photos: A history of winter visitors
Sunshine Climate Club Photo 1950s: A pair of Sunshine Climate Club models command this replica of the Butterfield Stage due to arrive in Tucson. Their prospector friend is Vigilante Harry Blacklidge. Driver of the coach (left) is Judy Martin and her shotgun guard is Pat Coleman.
Photos: A history of winter visitors
Sunshine Climate Club Photo 1950s: A lot of Tucsonans were waiting for the Butterfield stage to roll into Tucson today, but few were as eye-catching as Sue Rowton. The stage, along with a Post Office caravan, is traveling as part of the centennial observance of the Overland Mail route. It was scheduled to arrive about 4 o'clock, with a parade and other festivities enlivening the celebration.
Photos: A history of winter visitors
Hal Gras hold a feeding baby wildcat for schoolchildren during a Desert Ark program in this undated photo taken at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. The museum has been a favorite destination for winter visitors to Tucson since it opened in 1952.
Photos: A history of winter visitors
This was a promotional stunt by the Sunshine Climate Club to welcome the Cleveland Indians to town for their spring training season Feb. 28, 1955. This took place on "A" Mountain. Wong and Sheaffer photo.
Photos: A history of winter visitors
Shirley Starkey modeling for Sunshine Climate Club, 1950. The Sunshine Climate Club was founded in 1922 to promote tourism in Tucson.

