Tumacacori National Historical Park is a popular destination for history enthusiasts and those fascinated by our country's past. The park prides itself on its strong volunteer base - the folks who donate their time and skills to keep the park in operation along with the park's paid staff and park rangers.

Western National Parks Association employee: Gabby Cook, area manager with park services at Tumacacori called me about one longtime volunteer who really deserves a round of applause for all her efforts.

Dorothy Williamson, 90, has volunteered at Tumacacori National Historical Park for the past 15 years. A resident of Rio Rico, Williamson volunteers every Saturday and says she really enjoys it. Prior to volunteering at Tumacacori, Williamson spent four years volunteering at the Rio Rico Library.

Williamson says she enjoys history and geography, so the transition to the park was a natural for her. Like all park volunteers, before she started her volunteer work, she had to attend an orientation session to learn about Tumacacori and other related sites in the park.

"We are like family here, so I feel right at home with everyone," Williamson adds. "I really like talking to the park visitors, too. They appreciate our help."

To keep herself busy between visitors, Williamson folds the estimated 2,500 brown paper bags to go to the Tumacacori Mission for the annual Christmas Eve luminaria display. They light more than 2,000 candles around and through the old mission each year.

"I really volunteer to give something back to the community," she says. "It feels good to help out wherever I can."

Tumacacori National Monument was created in 1908 and in 1990 it became Tumacacori National Historical Park by an act of Congress. The park tells the story of the first Europeans who came to Southern Arizona and of the native people who inhabited the area.

Its purpose is to protect and preserve the ruins of Tumacacori, Calabazas and Guevavi missions and to foster public understanding and appreciation of their significance. Physical remains of the mission church San Jose de Tumacacori and the associated cemetery, mortuary chapel, lime kiln, and convento are all on the self-guiding tour, along with a reconstructed O'odham house and the mission orchard. Visitors enter the park through an adobe visitor center built in 1937, with its adjacent museum and patio gardens.

Photographers especially enjoy the earth colors and shadows of the mission buildings. The mission courtyard and garden just off the visitor center provide a peaceful, quiet place to relax and reflect. Many bird species are seen at the mission due to its proximity to the Santa Cruz River.

The main park area is at 1891 E. Frontage Road in Tumacacori, at Interstate 19, Exit 29. The park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The entrance fee is $3 per person age 16 or older, and is valid for seven days. Call (520) 398-2341 for more information or visit www.nps.gov/tuma. New volunteers are welcome.

If you visit the park on a Saturday, say 'hello' to Dorothy.

(Contact the writer at rford@gvnews.com)