Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and its collection

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, opened in 1952, is a zoo in Tucson, United States.

It presents the Sonoran Desert and neighbouring ecosystems, showing regional plants and animals together, with over 230 animal species and 1,200 plant varieties. Two miles of paths cross 21 acres of desert ground. It opens daily throughout the year and receives close to 400,000 visitors annually, some of them from abroad.

History

It was founded in 1952 by Carr, backed by Arthur Newton Pack, a conservationist and editor of Nature Magazine and son of Charles Lathrop Pack.

Exhibits

A free-flight demonstration of birds of prey is staged in open desert, with spectators positioned under the flight path.

Conservation and approach

Earlier research took in botanical fieldwork in Mexico, the state of ironwood populations and a migratory pollinator programme run across two countries. Work under way looks at pollination, seed dispersal and how a changing climate affects the ecology of the region.

What the venue says

• On-site dining is available daily at the Ironwood Terraces Restaurant and Phoebe's Café. While outside food and beverages are not permitted on grounds, a picnic ramada is located near the front entrance.
• Accessible parking spaces are designated in Parking Lot 1 (Rows 1A & 1B) for visitors with a valid disability-parking permit. A convenient passenger load and unload zone sits roughly 98 feet from the main admissions entrance.
• paved paths, though some older sections present terrain challenges
• Wheelchairs, electric scooters, and strollers are available for rent at the visitor center