State Route 79

Arizona 79 travels between Oracle Junction, north of Tucson, and Florence Junction, east of Phoenix. The road is also known as the Pinal Pioneer Parkway between Oracle Junction and Florence.
Arizona 79 is former US 80 and US 89, renumbered to Arizona 79 in 1992. This routing of US 80 and US 89 dates back to 1926, with some cleanup work performed when the road was paved during the 1940s. This section of old US 80 and 89 was one of the last sections of US 80 to be paved in the country, and not completed until 1945. In 1977, US 80 was removed from this road, and in 1992, US 89 was removed from this road.
Originally, the route number (79) was assigned to Arizona 89A between Prescott and Flagstaff. This route was designated as Arizona 79 between 1927 and 1941, when it was renumbered as U.S. 89A. The second use of this number was between 1954 and 1973 for what is now Interstate 17 between Cordes Junction and Flagstaff.
Arizona 79 was designated as the Pinal Pioneer Parkway on January 10, 1961, to commemorate this being one of the oldest roads in Arizona - dating back to use as an Indian trail, as well as use by the Spanish and as a stagecoach road. This was also part of the early 1900s north-south and east-west territorial road.

SR 79 enters the Pinal Pioneer Parkway here. The Parkway was designated in 1961 as a scenic route, with a 1000 foot right of way established to preserve the scenic views of the desert along the road.
06/17/07
SR 79 travels through densely vegetated Sonoran desert, through a 1000 foot wide right of way designed to preserve views along the corridor.
06/17/07
SR 79 leaves the Pinal Pioneer Parkway here, marking the end of the scenic road designation.
06/17/07
Florence is the home of the oldest active state prison in Arizona. This sign warns travellers not to pick up hitchhikers due to the nearby prison.
06/17/07
Advance signage for Business SR 79, connecting to SR 287. Business SR 79 is the original alignment of U.S. 80 and U.S. 89 through Florence, bypassed in 1959.
06/17/07
SR 79 enters the city of Florence here. Florence was established in 1866, and named for Governor Safford's sister, Florence. The city is the county seat of Pinal County and home of the Arizona State Prison - Florence.
06/17/07
Turn left on SR 287 to reach the Florence Business District, or turn right to enter the state prison. SR 79 has been following the fence line of the State Prison through Florence.
06/17/07
SR 79 ends at U.S. Highway 60, in the 2004-vintage Florence Junction traffic interchange. Take U.S. 60 West into Phoenix (following the historic route of U.S. 80), or U.S. 60 east to Globe here.
06/17/07

SR 79 enters the city of Florence here. Florence was extablished in 1866, and is now known as the county seat of Pinal County and a prison town.
11/10/07
SR 79 meets the Hunt Highway here. The Hunt Highway travels through Queen Creek to end up at the SR 87/587 junction in Chandler.
11/10/07
Turn right for Business SR 79 and Arizona 287 through downtown Florence. Business SR 79 is the original routing of U.S. Highway 80 and 89, bypassed in 1959.
11/10/07
Now on the south side of Florence, we meet the other end of Business SR 79, which is signed here as a road to SR 287.
11/10/07
SR 79 is designated as the Pinal Pioneer Parkway from here to Oracle Junction. This sign marks the northern end of the scenic route. Second photo by Josef Muench, printed in Arizona Highways, January 1966.
11/10/07
01/15/66
The Tom Mix Monument commemorates fallen silent film star Tom Mix. Mix, one of the biggest stars of the 1920 and 1930s, died near this spot in a 1940 car accident, when he ran off the road while on a detour (as part of the construction of the present highway).
11/10/07
The Tom Mix Monument commemorates fallen silent film star Tom Mix. Mix, one of the biggest stars of the 1920 and 1930s, died near this spot in a 1940 car accident, when he ran off the road while on a detour (as part of the construction of the present highway).
11/10/07
The Pinal Pioneer Parkway was established in 1961 to preserve the open feel of this undeveloped highway. A 1000 foot wide easement was established to preserve the views.
11/10/07
This historic photo shows some of the original signage along the Pinal Pioneer Parkway. Notice the trio of road signs for U.S. Highways 80 and 89, and SR 789, which was signed along this road. Photo by Josef Muench, printed in Arizona Highways, January 1966.
01/15/66
Photo Credits:
- Kevin Trinkle: 01/15/66, 06/17/07, 11/10/07
Page Updated Saturday December 08, 2007.