Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Turn your idea of a museum inside out! We are a fusion experience: botanical garden, zoo, and more! More than 85% of what you will experience here is alive!
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Rated Tucson's #2 tourist attraction by TripAdvisor, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is mostly an outdoor experience on 21 acres of pristine desert, and focuses on the Sonoran Desert region of Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. The Museum includes 230 animal species in a zoo with a popular hummingbird aviary, 56,000 plants in the botanical gardens, a natural history museum, one of the most comprehensive regional mineral collections, the Warden Aquarium, the Ironwood Art Gallery, two miles of walking trails and casual dining in two restaurants.

10/06/2026

Amazon Prime Big Deals Days are here, October 6-7 and our animals love new toys and opportunities for enrichment. Gucci especially loves his puzzle feeder!🦨

Shop our Amazon wishlist to directly support the Museum’s animals, plants, and people by visiting here: https://www.amazon.com/regist.../gl/guest-view/3PI32X56EXULY.

Thank you for your support! 💚

Who else agrees that x-rays are spooky?💀 Each week this month we inviting you to take a guess at which animal is picture...
10/06/2026

Who else agrees that x-rays are spooky?💀

Each week this month we inviting you to take a guess at which animal is pictured to celebrate the season. Comment your guesses down below and check back tomorrow for the reveal! 🎃

Answer: Great horned owl

10/04/2026

Not only is it feeding time for Dot, but it’s also target training time! 🦦

Target training is a form of positive-reinforcement training where an animal is taught to touch or follow a specific object with a particular body part. When they successfully complete the action, they receive a reward, which in Dot’s case is some delicious fish! 🐠

Target training is particularly important because it provides enrichment for our animals while also helping zookeepers safely move them from their habitats to crates, assist with medical and routine care, and reduce stress by building trust and increasing their comfort with their keepers.

Are you a homeschool family with learners ages 3 to 18? ✏️Discover the wonders of the Sonoran Desert with a hands-on lea...
10/03/2026

Are you a homeschool family with learners ages 3 to 18? ✏️

Discover the wonders of the Sonoran Desert with a hands-on learning experience with the Desert Museum at Homeschool Day, Wednesday, October 21.

Join us for a day of discounted tickets—including discounted admission to our Stingray Touch exhibit, a live animal theater program, explorer guides, activity booklets and free virtual programs.

🍎 Learn more about Homeschool Day: https://www.desertmuseum.org/center/edu/homeschool_day.php

Summer is over, which means we’re shifting back to our regular hours. Starting today our regular open hours are 8:30 a.m...
10/02/2026

Summer is over, which means we’re shifting back to our regular hours. Starting today our regular open hours are 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 🌵

As outdoor season slowly ramps up in Tucson, enjoy quality time with family and friends at the Desert Museum! With Sonoran Desert animals, botanical gardens, walking trails, art galleries, an aquarium and a naturalist history museum, we offer something for everyone to enjoy. 🌼

👉 Do you think you'll be visiting the museum more than once this season? Save money and purchase a membership here: https://www.desertmuseum.org/members/

10/01/2026

Pin down this Sunday, October 4, in your calendar because we're inviting you to join us at the 14th annual Arizona Insect Festival! 🐛🐝

Seen here is this year's featured insect: the Calleta silkmoth (Eupackardia calleta), which is the only species in its genus. Hard to miss with its 5-inch wingspan, this elegant flyer is found in Mexico, Guatemala and the southwestern United States in desert mountain foothills and canyons.

Gain a deeper appreciation for our multi-legged critters, explore interactive exhibits and discover fascinating research from the University of Arizona and beyond at this FREE event. 🐜🦋

Learn more about the Arizona Insect Festival here: https://www.arizonainsectfestival.org

Big ears, bigger personality!👂Did you know that mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are named for their large, mule-like ear...
09/30/2026

Big ears, bigger personality!👂

Did you know that mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are named for their large, mule-like ears, which are one of their most distinctive features?

These oversized ears help this species detect the slightest of sounds, including predators from a distance, and they can even rotate independently to better pinpoint the direction of sounds.

So, this is your reminder to speak kindly while viewing our precious mule deer on exhibit because they pick up on everything.🦌

Photo by Webmaster Liz Kemp.

This Echinocereus brandegeei is showing off in our cactus garden.🌸
09/28/2026

This Echinocereus brandegeei is showing off in our cactus garden.🌸

When we asked Strawberry if she was participating in Fat Bear Week she said, "Nah, but I'm still eating good and sitting...
09/26/2026

When we asked Strawberry if she was participating in Fat Bear Week she said, "Nah, but I'm still eating good and sitting pretty!" 🐻 🍓

09/25/2026

Meet Genghis, one of our Sonoran Desert Tortoises available for adoption through the Tortoise Adoption Program in partnership with Arizona Game & Fish Department.🐢

Fall is looming in southern Arizona, which means our tortoises will soon go into hibernation. Now is the perfect time to adopt, so your new friend can settle into a safe, loving home before their long slumber. 🌙 💤

If you're an Arizona resident and ready to provide a proper burrow, a nutritious diet, and follow all legal requirements (no backyard breeding), you may be eligible to adopt a tortoise.

Ready to give one of our tortoises a home? Learn more and apply here: https://www.desertmuseum.org/programs/tap.php

Address

2021 N Kinney Road
Tucson, AZ
85743

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm
Saturday 8:30am - 5pm
Sunday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+15208832702

Website

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