During your visit to this Tucson attraction explore 21 acres of gardens, native plant species and animals in Earth Sciences, Mountain Woodland, Desert Grassland, Warden Aquarium, Cactus Garden, Desert Loop Trail, Cat Canyon, Walk-in Aviary, Desert Garden, Pollination and Hummingbird Gardens and Life on Rocks. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum complex also houses cafés and restaurants Ironwood Terraces, Ocotillo Café and Phoebes Coffee Bar as well as two gifts shops where you can shop for authentic southwestern souvenirs.
Attractions at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Earth Sciences Center
The Earth Sciences Center, housed within an artificial cave, features the truly “living” science of geology from the forces that create wonderlands in the underground caverns, to the jewel-like products that come from tremendous tectonic forges. Examine the formation of a cave or learn about the animals that dwell within them such as bobcats, pack rats, ringtails and barn owls. A side tunnel within the Earth Sciences Center offers a realistic caving experience. As you follow the exhibits through the Earth Sciences Center, they will lead you to a room containing the NASA-funded Earth from Space: A Satellite’s View of Earth exhibit. Within the exhibit, videos reveal a satellite view of wildfire, drought, water, extreme weather and other large-scale changes that occur on our planet. Adjacent to A Satellite’s View of Earth is the Arizona-Sonora Desert’s mineral collection, praised as one of the finest regional mineral collections in the world. At the core of the collection are minerals from the Sonoran Desert Region of Arizona, Sonora and Baja California.
Mountain Woodland
In the Mountain Woodland discover a habitat based on the Madrean pine-oak woodlands. As you make your way through the exhibit you will see animals similar to those you might find in nearby mountain ranges such as mountain lions, black bears, white-tailed deer, Mexican grey deer, thick-billed parrots, Merriam’s turkeys and American kestrels.
Desert Grassland
As you wander through the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum’s Desert Grassland, native grasses will surround you as yucca tower overhead. Animals frequently found in desert grasslands such as black-tailed prairie dogs, great blue heron and Sonoran green toads will greet you.
Warden Aquarium
Opened in January of 2013, Warden Aquarium illustrates the freshwater rivers that flow through the Sonoran Desert region and the Sea of Cortez. Both are critical to this desert’s title as the “lushest desert on earth.” Learn about the role of the region’s rivers including the mighty Colorado and the Gulf of California in Rivers to the Sea. While one of the galleries in Warden Aquarium explores the region’s freshwater rivers and aquatic life, the other features the Sea of Cortez and representative sea life. A touch tank can also be found in Warden Aquarium and houses marine invertebrates such as serpent stars, chestnut cowries, sea hares and hermit crabs.
Cactus Garden
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum’s Cactus Garden is a collection of cacti and succulents organized by growth, form and specific genera. As you wander the Cactus Garden you will see dozens of species including Opuntias, Ferocactus, Agaves, Columnar, Echinocereus and Mammillarias.
Desert Loop Trail
As you stroll along the Desert Loop Trail you will come across peccary, coyotes and lizards in naturalistic enclosures. Additionally Desert Loop Trail let’s you learn about the agave plant and identify various legume trees native to the Sonoran Desert region.
Cat Canyon
View small mammals in their natural environments. Cat Canyon is home to a variety of animals native to the Sonoran Desert like the bobcat, more common and more widely distributed than the mountain lion, the dwarf leopard, porcupine and grey fox.
Walk-In Aviary
See around 20 species of birds during a stroll through the Museum’s Walk-In Aviary. Cardinals, Gambel’s quail, ducks, doves and around 40 other native birds live in the aviary.
Desert Garden
The Museum’s three-level Desert Garden showcases various species of plants that grow in the region. Relax on one of the inviting benches in Desert Garden and enjoy plants and animals native to the Sonoran Desert as well as the garden’s two water features.
Pollination and Hummingbird Gardens
Discover birds, bees and butterflies in the Pollination and Hummingbird Gardens. In the Hummingbird Garden butterflies frantically flutter about. During breeding season, nearby nests allow you to sneak a peek at the hummingbird babies. In contrast, you will find beautiful butterflies peacefully resting in flower blossoms and bees lazily buzzing about in the Pollination Garden.
Life on the Rocks
Take an in-depth look at the habitat and species most often encountered amidst Tucson’s rocky slopes. Life on the Rocks is an exhibit that will take you above and below the surface of the Sonoran Desert through showcasing the mammals and birds, invertebrates, reptiles, fishes, plants and minerals that live there.
Dining at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
From Ironwood Terraces to Phoebes Coffee Bar, the Arizona Desert Museum houses several eateries and restaurants. Ironwood Terraces is a casual multi-station food court. Enjoy fine dining at the Ocotillo Café (seasonal) serving the freshest ingredients available to create Southern Arizona cuisine. Hot and cold drinks, pastries, sandwiches, ice cream and other snacks can be purchased at Phoebes Coffee Bar.
Shopping at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Enjoy shopping in the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum’s two gifts shops. Near the main entrance of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is the Mountain House Gift Shop carrying Native American crafts from Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico. Southwestern jewelry and a collection of books about human and natural history of the area are also available to purchase in the Mountain House Gift Shop. Ironwood Gift Shop, a colourful southwestern boutique next to Ocotillo Café, celebrates the work of local artists like Nancy Lenches-Alegret. Ironwood Gift Shop also boasts a wonderful variety of handcrafted and one-of-a-kind items from all over the world including designer jewelry, fair trade and recycled products, plush animals, books, fossils and minerals.
- You will receive a complimentary program and map upon arrival to assist in planning your visit to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
- The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is ADA complaint. Complimentary wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.