The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum sits in the foothills of the Tucson Mountains, along Kinney Road just south of the west section of Saguaro National Park. Despite the name, it is part zoo, part botanical garden, part natural history museum, part aquarium and part art gallery. All of it is devoted to the Sonoran Desert region.
Founded in 1952 by William H. Carr, with support from conservationist Arthur Newton Pack, the museum was built around a simple idea: visitors should meet desert animals and plants outdoors, in settings that look like the desert. Today it is one of Tucson’s best-known attractions.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: West of Tucson, Arizona (Tucson Mountains)
- Opened: September 1, 1952
- Size: 98 acres total, with about 21 acres open to visitors
- Walking paths: About 2 miles (3.2 km)
- Species: Over 230 animal species and about 1,200 plant varieties
- Annual visitors: Approximately 400,000
- Famous for: Raptor free-flight demonstrations, hummingbird aviary and the Warden Aquarium
What You’ll See
The paths wind through desert habitats that hold animals native to the region. Mountain Woodland is home to cougars and Mexican wolves, and the Hummingbird Aviary supports a propagation program. The Life Underground and Riparian Corridor exhibits show desert life that many visitors never see. The Warden Aquarium opened in January 2013 and covers the region’s waters. Raptor free-flight demonstrations feature untethered birds native to the area.
Plants are a big part of the visit. About 1,200 plant varieties are represented, so the grounds work as a botanical garden as well as a wildlife park.
A Nonprofit Desert Institution
The museum is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums and the American Public Gardens Association. It has charged admission since 1953. Admission, memberships and donations fund it, and it receives no tax support.
Because the paths are outdoors, plan your visit around the heat. Check the official site for current hours and ticket prices before you go.
Explore more: Zoos & Aquariums.
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum FAQs
Where is the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum?
It is in the foothills of the Tucson Mountains, west of Tucson, Arizona. It sits along Kinney Road just south of the west section of Saguaro National Park.
Is the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum a zoo?
It is partly a zoo. It is also a botanical garden, natural history museum, aquarium and art gallery. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and holds over 230 animal species.
How big is the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum?
The grounds cover 98 acres, and about 21 acres are open to visitors. Roughly 2 miles (3.2 km) of walking paths run through them.
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Photo: Unknown / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.