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A look at what Tucson was like in the early 1990s
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A look at what Tucson was like in the early 1990s

  • Jan 7, 2020
  • Jan 7, 2020 Updated Jul 21, 2020

Here's a look at moments captured in Tucson from 1990 to 1991. 

Water rescue

Water rescue

A firefighter balances on a ladder during a rescue of Martin Samaniego (standing) after he drove into the Rillito on July 20, 1990. 

Rick Wiley / Tucson Citizen

Drag-racing busts

Drag-racing busts

Pima County Sheriff's deputies talk with youths during an effort to combat drag racing at Los Reales and Swan on Oct. 20, 1990. 

David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Old Tucson shootout

Old Tucson shootout

Dave Haas, left, and Lee McKechnie perform tricks with their pistols in front of school children at Old Tucson. May 6, 1990. 

Arizona Daily Star file

Roy P. Drachman

Roy P. Drachman

Roy P. Drachman is seen here on top of A mountain on May 14, 1991. Drachman, a prominent businessman and Tucson icon for decades, died Jan. 10, 2002. 

Bruce McClelland / Arizona Daily Star

San Xavier restoration

San Xavier restoration

From left to right: Nick Morales, Danny Morales, Roger Burrell, and Gary Oliver work on the San Xavier restoration on July 2, 1990.  

Bruce McClelland / Arizona Daily Star

Trick or treating

Trick or treating

Cecilia Bracamonte with Breanna Bracamonte, 18 months, participate in trick or treat activities at UMC in 1991.

A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star

Halloween spiders

Halloween spiders

Elise Michelle Stickles, dressed as a spider, hangs out at her web, also known as Todd Stickles at the Halloween Festival at Reid Park, October 27, 1990. 

Jim Davis / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show

Kids look at rocks and minerals at the 1990 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. 

Jim Davis / Arizona Daily Star

Toothpick bridges at Fenster

Toothpick bridges at Fenster

Teacher Stuart Gooding places more weight to test the load-bearing ability of a toothpick bridge built by Amy Hooper, standing on the far left. Students at the Fenster School of Southern Arizona were studying physical sciences as part of their physics and chemistry class on December 12, 1990. 

Bruce McClelland / Arizona Daily Star

Joe M. Mendez

Joe M. Mendez

Joe M. Mendez was the first Mexican-American to graduate from University of Arizona College of Pharmacy. This photo shows him on the job at his pharmacy, Medical Arts, 4107 S. Sixth Ave., in 1991. 

Tucson Citizen file

Davis-Monthan Boneyard

Davis-Monthan Boneyard

Rows of B-52s sit on the hard desert soil at the D-M boneyard. The dry air and hard soil are the two main reasons the “boneyard” is located here. The dryness preserves the airframes, and the hard soil prevents the heavy planes from sinking into the ground.

Bruce McClelland, Arizona Daily Star file

Dunking Lew Murphy

Dunking Lew Murphy

Former Tucson Mayor Lew Murphy shouts at the crowd to try and dunk him during the United Way campaign kickoff at Reid Park Bandshell on Sept. 13, 1990. 

David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Dr. Richard Carmona

Dr. Richard Carmona

Dr. Richard Carmona at a SWAT Team training at the Pima Pistol Club in Catalina in 1991. Carmona served as the medical officer for the Pima County Sheriff's Department's SWAT division. 

Mari A. Schaefer / Arizona Daily Star

Catalina Chamber Orchestra

Catalina Chamber Orchestra

A photo of the Catalina Chamber Orchestra taken in 1991.  

Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star

El Tour de Tucson

El Tour de Tucson

Bikers parked at an aid station during the 1991 El Tour de Tucson. 

Bruce McClelland

Bernard "Bunny" Fontana

Bernard "Bunny" Fontana

University of Arizona field historian Bernard "Bunny" Fontana sits in his office at the UA Main Library on August 15, 1990. 

Bruce McClelland / Arizona Daily Star

The first Boeing 707

The first Boeing 707

The first Boeing 707, a prototype airplane seen here in 1990, was restored for flight by Boeing workers at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base after being "mothballed" in Tucson for 18 years. The plane was being flown to Moses Lake near Seattle before it found a home with the Smithsonian annex at Dulles International Airport. 

Bruce McClelland / Arizona Daily Star

Border Patrol in 1990

Border Patrol in 1990

U.S. Border Patrol agents at the Nogales station unload bails of marijuana, each with a core of cocaine bricks, after a vehicle stop in 1990. The trunk was so full the smugglers put the spare tire in the back seat. The woman driver thought she was carrying marijuana, which commands a lower fee for the driver.

Rick Wiley / Tucson Citizen

Tucson buddhist temple

Tucson buddhist temple

The Tucson buddhist temple in 1991. 

Tucson Citizen file

DPS officers killed in 1990

DPS officers killed in 1990

A vehicle driven by James Benjamin Sheets struck DPS Sgt. John Blaser and Officer David Gabrielli before colliding with a railroad crossing signal at Valencia and Nogales Highway in Tucson.

Bruce McClelland / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show

Dealers preparing their displays for the Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil showcase near I-10 and Congress in 1991. 

David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

University of Arizona Homecoming

University of Arizona Homecoming

TV personality Geraldo Rivera rides in a Ford Mustang during the 1990 UA Homecoming Parade on the UA Mall.

Mari A. Schaefer / Arizona Daily Star

University of Arizona homecoming

University of Arizona homecoming

The Pride of Arizona tuba section marches along with the band on UA Mall during the 1991 Homecoming parade.

Mari A. Schaefer / Arizona Daily Star

Sabino Canyon

Sabino Canyon

Maria Reyna, left, and friend Gena Vidal have a water fight in a pool at Sabino Canyon National Recreation Area north of Tucson during record heat on June, 26, 1990. 

David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

La Fuente

La Fuente

Frank Davis, left, and Frank Flores, co-owners of La Fuente in 1990, when the restaurant celebrated its 30th anniversary.

Benjie Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Old Tucson gunfighters

Old Tucson gunfighters

Dave Hass, center, and other actors at Old Tucson Studios perform a skit for Tucson-area students. About 30 schools participated in a free day at Old Tucson on May 8, 1990. In addition to the skit, there was a Wild West show, a high school rodeo competition, a children's dance group and a band.

A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star

Pima County Fair fun

Pima County Fair fun

A ride operator watches the Kamikazee at the Pima County Fair in April, 1990. 

Rick Wiley / Tucson Citizen

Pima County Fair

Pima County Fair

Billy Zahne works on constructing a roller coaster at the 1990 Pima County Fair. 

Benjie Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Fugitive capture

Fugitive capture

Pima County Sheriff's deputies/detectives bring a fugitive to the sheriff's office on Mission Road in 1990. 

Arizona Daily Star file

Fingerprint dusting

Fingerprint dusting

Pima County Sheriff's ID technician Duane DeMontigny dusts for fingerprints after a bank robbery at 444 W. Orange Grove Road on Nov. 13, 1991. 

Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star

La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo

La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo

Quadrille de Mujeres stand before the crowd during the La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo in 1990. 

Jackie Bell / Arizona Daily Star

Mount Lemmon Cafe

Mount Lemmon Cafe

Savory pies at the Mount Lemmon Cafe in Summerhaven on Sept. 23, 1990. 

Rick Wiley / Tucson Citizen

Summerhaven

Summerhaven

A busy weekend in Summerhaven in Sept, 1990. 

Rick Wiley / Tucson Citizen

John Denver

John Denver

Singer John Denver during a Tucson Open media event in 1991.

Arizona Daily Star

UA women's basketball

UA women's basketball

University of Arizona women's basketball coach Joan Bonvicini works with players at McKale Center in 1991, her first year as coach.

Mari Schaefer / Arizona Daily Star

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