The Museum was founded in 1952 and is dedicated to the interpretation of the bi-national Sonoran Desert region.
A visit will forever alter your definition of a museum as 85% of what you will experience is outdoors.
The grounds are comprised of 97 acres of which 47 are developed and curated; there are two miles of walking paths, 16 individual gardens, 1,200 native plant species and 56,000 individual plants.
The animal collection currently includes 230 native mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and birds including a multi-species hummingbird aviary.
The Museum was named the #9 Museum in the U.S. by TripAdvisor in 2014. The Museum was also named the #5 Public Garden in the U.S. by TripAdvisor in 2013. And the Desert Loop Trail was included in USA Today‘s 10Best Zoo exhibits in the U.S. in 2015.
The Museum hosts about 400,000 visitors annually and reaches approximately 35,000 school children each year though field trips and outreach programs.
The Warden Aquarium opened in January 2013: a freshwater gallery focuses on the region's rivers, native fish and conservation efforts while the salt-water gallery showcases marine life from the Gulf of California.
The Museum includes an Earth Sciences Center which recreates an underground cave, complete with stalactites and stalagmites, and houses one of the world's most comprehensive regional mineral collections in the world.
There are three live animal presentations: Live and (sort of) on the Loose, showcasing often-misunderstood venomous reptiles, Fur Feathers & Fangs, featuring native mammals, reptiles and birds, and Raptor Free Flight (seasonal), where visitors watch from the flight path as native birds of prey whiz by so close visitors can feel the brush of feathers. There are two presentations daily and each demonstrates different birds. One program showcases Harris’ Hawks, the only raptors in the world that hunt as a family group using strategy, like wolves.
Daily events on-grounds include complimentary interpretive orientation tours, animal keeper interactions where visitors can watch feedings, enrichment activities or animal training sessions for veterinary care procedures, and docent engagement stations.
The Desert Museum Art Institute was founded in 2001 to promote conservation through art education. The Art Institute has a permanent traveling collection and offers a variety of visual art classes throughout the year.
The ASDM Press publishes an assortment of natural history, wildlife, plants, children's, and guide books featuring the Sonoran Desert Region.
The museum complex includes two gift shops featuring authentic southwest jewelry, pottery, gift items, books, and gardening items.
Two restaurants offer dining choices: the Ocotillo Café for fine dining and Ironwood Terraces with a casual, food-court setting. There are two additional snack shops on the grounds.
The Museum has discontinued the sale of water in plastic bottles. However, refillable water bottle stations and fountains are located throughout the grounds.
Dispensers with complimentary sunscreen are located in most restrooms.
The museum is open daily, year-round; hours vary by season. On Summer Saturday evenings the Museum is open until 10:00 p.m. with themed programs especially for families after 6 p.m.
Most demonstrations, live animal presentations and primary exhibits are included in the admission price.
The Museum is located 14 miles west of Tucson in Tucson Mountain Park at 2021 N. Kinney Rd. just 2 miles from Saguaro National Park (West) Visitors Center.
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