December 15, 2022
ARIZONA-SONORAN DESERT MUSEUM
2021 N Kinney Rd, Tucson, AZ 85743
“The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a 98-acre zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, natural history museum, publisher, and art gallery founded in 1952. Located just west of Tucson, Arizona, it features two miles of walking paths traversing 21 acres of desert landscape.” - Wikipedia
The Wikipedia description tells you what the museum is, what it doesn’t do is describe just how wonderful a place it truly is. While it is several types of museums, the transitions between the different areas are seamless. You could be exploring the cactus garden turn the corner and you’re checking out bighorn sheep, a beaver, and an otter. Walk a little further and you’re walking among the birds of the Sonoran Desert in their large free-flight aviary. There was a cave, I assume man-made, but it seemed real to me, with a nice collection of gems and minerals. There was something for everyone.
Besides the Birds of the Sonoran Desert Aviary there was a Hummingbird Aviary, which I found very entertaining. There was also an art gallery featuring awesome pieces by four local artists. As with most places there were some disappointments, the mountain lion, black bear, and Mexican wolves were not on display, but that happens at a zoo and did not dampen my experience. It was suggested online that most people spend 2-3 hours at the museum. I spent about 3.5 hours, but that did include a delicious lunch at the museum’s restaurant. I would definitely return if in Tucson again.
Coyote
Javelinas
Organ Pipe Cacuts
Gray Fox
Bobcat
Boojum. I think of Whoville from the Grinch whenever I see this plant.
Barrel Cacuts
Totem Pole Cactus
This little guy came to say "hi."
Mexican Lime Barrel
Sonoran Galloping Cactus
Santa Rita Prickly Pear
Cowboy Whiskers Prickly Pear
It was close to freezing over night and this is how they tried protecting this plant.
Cactus Wren
Cardinal
Gambel's Quail
Cardinal
Starry Moray
Hummingbird
Hummingbird
In the cave
They tried to make the cave realistic by putting fake bats on the ceiling.
Gems from the area
Big Horn Sheep
Otter
I came to this fork in the road, the sign on the rock is Robert Frost's, "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." I LOVED IT.
Loved the Prairie Dogs, especially this guy who was working hard to get this stick to fit into his burrow.
I generally don't like snakes, but I hate mice even more. So, I was ok with this snake getting his dinner.
One of the paintings in the art gallery.
This crested cactus was just outside the museum entrance.