St. Augustine Cathedral

History & Significance

Cathedral · Est. Parish roots 1776; current cathedral built 1896–97, façade 1928, dedicated 1968

St. Augustine Cathedral in Tucson, Arizona traces its origins to the 1776 chapel of the Royal Presidio of San Agustín. The present church was begun under Bishop Peter Bourgade in 1896–1897, with its distinctive cast-stone Mexican Baroque façade added in 1928. It serves as the cathedral and mother church of the Diocese of Tucson, established in 1897.

Mexican Baroque (cast-stone façade inspired by Querétaro Cathedral)

• •Cathedral and mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson
• •Parish roots trace to the 1776 chapel of the Royal Presidio of San Agustín del Tucson
• •Elevated to cathedral status in 1868; present brick church built under Bishop Peter Bourgade 1896-1897
• •Cast-stone façade in Mexican Baroque style added in 1928, inspired by the Cathedral of Querétaro, Mexico
• •Interior rebuilt 1966-1968 and rededicated; major $1M+ renovation completed and rededicated by Bishop Gerald Kicanas in 2011