Tucson, Arizona

====Western Tucson====
[[File:Panorama-nw.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|Panorama of western suburbs]]

The West Side has areas of both urban and suburban development. It is generally defined as the area west of I-10. Western Tucson encompasses the banks of the Santa Cruz River and the foothills of the [[Tucson Mountains]]. Area attractions include the International Wildlife Museum and Sentinel Peak. The Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa serves travelers and residents.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://tucson.com/news/blogs/streetsmarts/street-smarts-starr-pass-blvd-has-telegraph-line-link/article_ed43b3c5-5d48-55ae-a7c8-483c8747778f.html|title=Street Smarts: Starr Pass Blvd. has telegraph-line link|author=David Leighton|newspaper=Arizona Daily Star|access-date=September 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912155422/http://tucson.com/news/blogs/streetsmarts/street-smarts-starr-pass-blvd-has-telegraph-line-link/article_ed43b3c5-5d48-55ae-a7c8-483c8747778f.html|archive-date=September 12, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> As travelers pass the Tucson Mountains, they enter the area commonly referred to as "west of" Tucson or "Old West Tucson".<ref>[http://oldwesttucson.com Old West Tucson] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921133933/http://oldwesttucson.com/ |date=September 21, 2017 }}. Old West Tucson. Retrieved on July 12, 2013.</ref> In this large, undulating plain extending south into the [[Altar Valley]], rural residential development predominates. Attractions include [[Saguaro National Park|Saguaro National Park West]], and movie set/theme park developed at the [[Old Tucson Studios]].

On Sentinel Peak, just west of downtown, a giant "A" was installed in honor of the University of Arizona, resulting in the nickname "A" Mountain.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://tucson.com/news/local/tucson-oddity-what-s-with-crater-on-edge-of-a/article_d306b1d1-1519-510d-b926-4b3eb3e703e3.html|title=Tucson Oddity: What's with crater on edge of 'A' Mountain?|author=Tom Beal|newspaper=Arizona Daily Star|access-date=July 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163444/https://tucson.com/news/local/tucson-oddity-what-s-with-crater-on-edge-of-a/article_d306b1d1-1519-510d-b926-4b3eb3e703e3.html|archive-date=June 12, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Starting in about 1915, an annual tradition developed for freshmen to whitewash the A, which was visible for miles. After the September 11 terrorist attacks, the A was painted red, white, and blue.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tafoya |first=Nathan |date=September 29, 2003 |title=Freshmen get blue on A-Day |url=https://wc.arizona.edu/papers/97/25/01_2.html |access-date=May 9, 2023 |website=Arizona Daily Wildcat}}</ref> At the beginning of the [[Iraq War]] in 2003, antiwar activists painted the A black. Competition ensued, with various sides repainting the A in different colors until the city council intervened and made the red, white, and blue colors official. In 2013, the color scheme changed back to white.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tucson.com/news/local/tim-steller-big-a-will-revert-to-white-so-let/article_5ffe3c11-d694-56da-be46-60c2a5d3c44e.html |title=Tim Steller: Big 'A' will revert to white, so let's color this battle over |website=tucson.com |access-date=January 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308174522/http://tucson.com/news/local/tim-steller-big-a-will-revert-to-white-so-let/article_5ffe3c11-d694-56da-be46-60c2a5d3c44e.html |archive-date=March 8, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Peak-2020">{{Cite web |title=A Mountain, or Sentinel Peak |url=https://www.library.pima.gov/content/a-mountain-aka-sentinel-peak/ |access-date=May 9, 2023 |website=Pima County Public Library}}</ref> Another color may be decided by a biennial election. With the tricolor scheme, some observers complain the shape of the A is hard to distinguish from the background of the peak. Since 1993, the A has been painted green for St. Patrick's Day. It has also been given other color schemes for different causes.<ref name="Peak-2020" />