Location: Tucson
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10 Specialty Museums in Tucson That You Shouldn't Miss
Although Tucson's fantastic weather, national parks and forests and desert provide the perfect environment for tons of outdoor recreational activities, this city of half a million people also has its share of history and culture. With a history that goes back much further than many of its southwestern neighbors, Tucson boasts turn-of-the-century architecture, historic neighborhoods, museums and the Mission San Xavier del Bac, a still-functioning 18th-century mission considered one of the most beautiful in the U.S. Mexican and Native American influences are pervasive, and the city has a distinctly Western flavor. There's also a college-town atmosphere, thanks to the University of Arizona, which has its own share of museums and a science center. Whether golfing at a world-class golf resort, horseback riding, hiking in the wilderness, discovering desert flora and fauna at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum or exploring pre-Columbian and other art at the Tucson Art Museum, you'll have a mind-boggling array of things to do.
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1. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8,558 reviews
The renowned Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is everything you could want in a Sonoran Desert adventure! Mostly outdoors and comprised of an AZA-accredited zoo, extensive botanical garden, two art galleries, and a natural history museum, the Desert Museum sits on 98 acres of pristine desert landscape. The Museum showcases the diverse flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert region, featuring wildlife such as coyotes, javelinas, mountain lions, and bighorn sheep in their natural settings. Bird lovers delight in visiting the Museum's two aviaries, one dedicated to hummingbirds! Kids love the interactive Packrat Playhouse and Stingray Touch exhibits, learning to appreciate our unique environment from a young age. The Museum's gift shops offer an incredible bounty of books, jewelry, crafts, and more. This family-friendly establishment offers something for everyone!
Reviewed By Eiregirl
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is one of the few "must-see" things that we consistently recommend to *everyone* who visits the area. Young kids, teens, enthusiastic adults, tired/jaded adults, older folks who aren't as spry as they used to be - it's really a place for everyone. The Museum is accessible, welcoming, and it always receives rave reviews across the board from our visitors. Key highlights - --The "Museum" is really a combination of things. It does have indoor exhibits and the hands-on demonstrations that you'll find in other national museums, but that's just a fraction of what it offers. The Desert Museum is also a zoo with over 230 native animals - and it's one of the top-ranked public gardens in the U.S - and there is an aquarium - and a cool raptor area where trainers fly native birds of prey - and outdoor trails, etc. --The Museum setting is gorgeous. It's a short drive west of Tucson over Gate's Pass, and it sits smack in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. Every inch of the place takes advantage of this unique setting, and it's the best place in town to learn more about the surrounding flora & fauna. --The Desert Museum has a team of top-notch scientists on their staff. In addition to their work with public visitors, many of them are also actively engaged in their field's specialty research and/or education. There is always someone out on the museum pathway with an interesting animal, native plant display, or other engaging story/tidbit of new information. (My kids' top memory - a 'scorpion wall' search around dusk.) You know what you see/hear in the Museum is coming from people who know their stuff. Be sure to carve out at least half a day to visit the Desert Museum while you're in the area. It's well worth your time.
2. Franklin Auto Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 142 reviews
For more than 40 years, the home of the late collector Tom Hubbard has been the center of Franklin Automobile history. Featuring more than 20 antique and classic Franklin automobiles, as well as a collection of prehistoric artifacts collected by archaeologist Alice Carpenter, the museum is located in a quiet subdivision in the center of Tucson. Open from mid-October to mid-May, Wednesday through Saturday; 10A to 4P. We open for the Fall-Winter-Spring 2019-2020 season on Wednesday 16 October 2019 at 10AM. Large groups are requested to call ahead. We are closed during the summer months.
Reviewed By N8231LHpablop
We had a private tour there, and Anthony was the greatest tour guide, got there.... it's a Tucson must, he also fixes old watches, a gem of man!
3. Pima Prickly Park
4. Gadsden-Pacific Division Toy Train Operating Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 20 reviews
THE MUSEUM IS CURRENTLY CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. Please check our Website GPDtrains.org. Open House SUNDAYS, September thru May. Indoor Toy operating Train Layouts located in our 6,000 SF building , "G" Scale to "Z". Children's Wooden Train Table layout, the ever-favorite Kid operated "Thomas the Tank Engine" layout. Outdoor Displays include our Rio Grande Caboose and 7.5" Ride-on-Train (weather & Staffing permitting) Browse the Gift / Hobby Shop with Train themed merchandise and new & used model trains and accessories. All volunteer operated, Not For Profit organization. Admission. Donations are Appreciated. Check Our new Website, Facebook & Twitter for Updates & info.
Reviewed By 251wesleyc - Tucson, United States
Most kids my age had a Lionel toy train set growing up -- This place will bring back all of those fond memories! The Museum is run by dedicated, enthusiastic volunteers, so it's only open afternoons on the 2nd & 4th Sundays each month (check their website to verify the hours of operation). Admission is free. There is a nice giftshop and there were some food trucks on the side of the street. The trains, of course, are the main attraction and they cover almost every inch of a large warehouse and an outside garden. There's a small train ride which circles the grounds and a full-size Caboose which you can tour. If you have kids/grandkids or want to relive your own childhood, this is the place!
5. Pima Air and Space Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,763 reviews
400+ aircraft, 80 acres, 6 indoor air-cooled hangars... just plane awesome! We’re one of the world's largest aircraft collections including 3 hangars of WWII planes, the SR-71, the world's smallest biplane, and many other unique private, military, and commercial air & spacecraft documenting the evolution of flight. There’s something for the everyone from a “flight simulator” Boeing 720 cockpit, the Women in Flight Gallery, and an all around mecca for the aviation aficionado. We give the only tour of the "Boneyard"/AMARG (M-F, no holidays, 16-day advanced reservations required) plus a tram tour of the museum's 80 acres and one-of-a-kind planes. You can actually touch aviation history like "Freedom One" (that flew American hostages home after 444 days in Iran), presidential planes, others with wingspans the near the length of a football field... ogle helicopters, MiGs, an Oscar, a rare German buzz bomb, a moon rock, and much more!
Reviewed By SunDogUSA - Bangor, United States
This is a lifetime bucket tour absolute must. Please take young folks, children and grandchildren. It is a very, very important life changing history lesson for all ages. It is an excellent museum collection in a great, clean, well organized setting. It is a world class history lesson. Tip: You need 2 days to do this museum justice. Having a military aviation background, I expected it to be mainly based on aircraft from the adjacent boneyard. But is is way more. They have a Boeing 787 Dreamliner as well as a rare, one of a kind photo-recon Spitfire. The exhibits are unique and comprehensive. The Docents are knowledgeable and everywhere, asking if they can help. The aircraft and facility are clean and well maintained. The restorations are very high quality. Restrooms are clean and plentiful. Parking is plentiful and near the entrance. There is a restaurant but we did not dine there. You must go to Tucson You must go to the museum You must take the boneyard tour Please make a donation so that they build more buildings to house aircraft as well as pay for the restorations. There are plentiful modern hotels nearby. When you go to Phoenix to play golf plan 2 days in Tucson with the family for this museum.
6. The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 604 reviews
Discover the magical world of miniatures at The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, where visitors are seemingly transported to different lands and times through the stories told by over 300 miniature houses and roomboxes, expertly displayed in over 10,000 square-feet of state-of-the-art exhibit space. The Museum’s permanent collection boasts antique dollhouses dating to 1742, contemporary fine-scale miniatures and enchanting collectibles. Frequent temporary exhibits, special programs and events mean there is always something new to see. The Chicago Tribune has claimed; “The magic of this place cannot be overstated.” For a truly memorable experience, don’t miss this one-of-a-kind collection in a world-class setting.
Reviewed By dvkremk - Venice, United States
We were pleasantly surprised how interesting this museum was. We spent nearly two hours looking at their numerous exhibits. There was only one child there when we visited. All Adults seemed to thoroughly the displays.
7. Tucson Desert Art Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 82 reviews
The Museum educates its guests on the art and history of the Desert Southwest. Nowhere else will you see such a variety of contemporary and classic art, Native American textiles and southwestern artifacts. The Museum Store features authentic southwestern and Native American jewelry, pottery and gift items for purchase. The Four Corners Gallery carries jewelry from Native American artists, southwestern plein air artists and contemporary western works for purchase. Fall 2020 Hours are Wed- Fri 10 AM to 2 PM. Sat 9 to 12 Noon. Closed July and August.
Reviewed By ReadRibbet
Looking for something to do on a rainy afternoon, we decided to make our first visit to the Desert Art Museum. We were pleasantly surprised by the collections on display. The museum is easily accessible from Tanque Verde Drive and has plenty of free parking. Reasonable admission fees ($8 for seniors). On a week day afternoon, we had the museum virtually to ourselves. There were multiple exhibitions while we visited but the display of Native weavings -- especially Navajo blankets was most impressive. We self-guided our tour using the thorough notes by each display. It was a very educational exhibit for the novice in this area of artistic expression. The other displays were smaller exhibits including diverse themes like American landscape artists, photographic border landscapes, culturally controversial historic advertising art, Western landscapes featured in films - at least three had video components. We took a couple hours to take in the exhibits. You were allowed to take photos. There is a gift shop (fairly pricey items) and a nearby gallery with works for purchase in the same complex. We left amazed at what we had experienced and immediately started thinking about other guests who would enjoy the museum.
8. Ignite Sign Art Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13 reviews
Ignite Sign Art Museum opened in October 2018 with the mission of preserving and restoring historically significant signs. More than twelve Arizona roadside signs have been rescued and saved from destruction and are now in the museum, along with others from the Southwest and Midwest. There are over 350 signs and items on display. We’ve also restored 23 historic neon signs in the Tucson area that are out in the community to be enjoyed by the community at large and visitors to the area.
Reviewed By flynhippo - Temecula, United States
Wow - what a great museum! They have so much information about the history of signs, tons of signs on display and an incredible neon demonstration on Saturdays. If you’re a Tucson local you will even feel nostalgic about some of the old signs they have. It’s great for kids too - they offer two different scavenger hunts to keep the kids engaged and learning. Highly recommend taking one to two hours out of your day and visiting.
9. Southern Arizona Transportation Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 31 reviews
Reviewed By lindafS4781IK
It was nice and glad to see a good turn out of people visiting this downtown location. The train museum volunteers were very knowledgable of train history. The public was able to view and climb on a locomotive engine.
10. Tucson Auto Museum
Southern Arizona's largest and most diverse collection of award winning classic cars and automobilia under one roof. There are over 70 cars on display from all over the world. We showcase the very old, the iconic, the unique and more.
