Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum facts for kids
Museum logo
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| Date opened | September 1, 1952 |
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| Location | Tucson, Arizona |
| Land area | 98 acres (40 ha) (21 acres (8.5 ha) accessible to the public) |
| Coordinates | 32°14′38″N 111°10′5″W / 32.24389°N 111.16806°W |
| No. of animals | 12,370 |
| No. of species | Over 230 |
| Annual visitors | 400,000 |
| Memberships | AZA,
AAM, APGA |
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a special place near Tucson, Arizona. It's not just one thing; it's a mix of a zoo, an aquarium, a botanical garden, and a natural history museum. It also publishes books and has an art gallery!
Opened in 1952, this museum covers 98 acres (40 ha). You can walk along two miles (3.2 km) of paths through 21 acres (8.5 ha) of desert. It's one of the most popular spots to visit in Southern Arizona.
This museum is a nonprofit group. It teaches people about the plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert. You can see over 230 types of animals and 1,200 kinds of plants here. The museum is open every day and welcomes about 400,000 visitors each year. Many visitors come from other countries too!
The museum is approved by important groups like the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is also a member of the American Alliance of Museums and the American Public Gardens Association.
Contents
History of the Desert Museum
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum started in 1952. Its goal was to show all the natural history of the Sonoran Desert in one place. This means you see plants and animals from this area together in the exhibits.
A man named William H. Carr had the idea for the museum. His friend, Arthur Newton Pack, helped him a lot. Pack was a conservationist, which means he worked to protect nature. Carr had already created a similar museum in New York. He liked to show local plants and animals in their natural settings.
Arthur Newton Pack's foundation gave money to open the museum. At first, there was no entry fee. In 1953, they started charging a small fee. Today, the museum still gets its money from tickets, memberships, and donations. It does not get money from public taxes.
From 1953 to 1985, a TV show called Desert Trails featured the museum. It was a relaxed show with live animals and guests. It taught people about the desert and what was happening at the museum. Later, in 1991, the museum helped create a national TV show called Desert Speaks. This show was seen in many places and ran for 19 years!
The museum is very popular. TripAdvisor said it was Tucson's second-best attraction in 2018. It was also ranked among the top museums and public gardens in the United States. In 2013 and 2014, it was even ranked among the top museums in the world by "Traveler’s Choice."
Live Animal Shows and Talks
Live & (sort of) on the Loose
This show teaches you about venomous reptiles. These animals are often misunderstood. Each show features two different species. You might see a Mexican beaded lizard or different types of rattlesnakes. These include the Western diamondback rattlesnake, Mohave rattlesnake, or Black-tailed rattlesnake. You might also see a Gila monster.
Raptor Free-Flight
Imagine birds of prey flying right over your head! This show happens in the open desert. Visitors sit and watch the birds fly along their path. Sometimes, you can even feel their feathers as they pass by. This show takes place from mid-October to mid-April, usually twice a day.
The birds fly freely without any straps on their legs. Only birds that live in the Sonoran Desert are part of the show. One special bird is the Harris's Hawk. These hawks are unique because they hunt together as a family, like wolves. The morning and afternoon shows feature different birds, so each one is special. You might see Harris's hawks, peregrine falcons, barn owls, red-tailed hawks, and many others.
Docent Stations
All around the museum, you'll find "Docent Stations." Docents are trained volunteers who love to share their knowledge. At these stations, docents give talks using live reptiles, birds, or small mammals. They might also show animal skulls, bones, or fossils. Some stations teach about the desert's geology, like rock formations and pretty stones.
You can also book special tours ahead of time on the museum's website. Some tours include "Zookeeper for a Day" or a "Hummingbird Tour."
Protecting Nature and Science
The museum does a lot of scientific work. They study plants, especially in Mexico. They also look at how plants spread their seeds and how climate change affects desert life. The museum staff works with other scientists to help save animals. They help protect animals like the Tarahumara frog, Chiricahua leopard frog, and different types of desert fish.
Desert Ark Van and Outreach
The Desert Ark Community Programs bring the museum to you! Museum staff travel around Southern Arizona with live Sonoran Desert animals. They give talks, show slides, and lead fun activities. Live animals can only travel within Arizona. You might see reptiles, birds, mammals, and insects during these programs.
Digital Library for Learning
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum has a huge digital library. It has thousands of photos of plants and animals. This online library also has a special kids' page with videos, animal sounds, and games. You can even see when certain plants are expected to flower throughout the year.
Art Institute
The Art Institute opened in 2001. It helps people learn about the Sonoran Desert through art. They offer art classes, art shows, and help take care of the museum's art. You can even get a certificate in nature illustration. There are over 80 art classes offered each year. They have workshops on topics like "Sonoran Desert Birds" and photography classes.
Ironwood Gallery
The Ironwood Gallery shows art by talented artists. These artists come from southern Arizona, the Southwest, and Mexico. The gallery also hosts shows by famous artists from all over the country.
Desert Museum Press: Publishing Books
Since 1995, the ASDM Press (Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Press) has published many books. They have over 40 books and guides. These include 22 popular books about the natural history of the Sonoran Desert. They also publish six picture books for children in both English and Spanish. You can find small guides about hummingbirds, other birds, plants, lizards, and snakes.
In 2000, the press helped publish a very important book. It was a 628-page book called A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert. They also work with the University of Arizona Press. Together, they publish books about research on topics like pollinators and water in the desert.
How the Museum Works
The museum is a not-for-profit organization. This means it uses all its money to support its mission. Most of its money comes from selling tickets and memberships. They also get money from donations, special events, and grants.
Docents and Volunteers
The Desert Museum has about 500 amazing volunteers! They help the 120 paid staff members. These volunteers give about 130,000 hours of their time each year.
The Docent Program started in 1972. It's now known as one of the best volunteer programs around. Almost 200 docents go through a 15-week training program. They learn all about natural history to teach visitors.
Another 300 volunteers help in different parts of the museum. The museum also offers unpaid internships for college students.
Hal Gras and the Desert Ark Program
Harold W. "Hal" Gras Jr. was a very important person at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. He was born in New Jersey in 1919. After serving in World War II, he moved to Tucson, Arizona, in 1950. He worked in radio and TV there.
When the museum opened in 1952, Hal Gras and his wife visited. Soon after, Gras started hosting the museum's TV show, Desert Trails. This show began in 1953 and ran for 32 years! Hal Gras hosted 1,551 shows.
From 1955 to 1972, Gras was in charge of public relations for the museum. He visited local groups and talked about the museum. Even though he didn't have much experience with animals, he started bringing some along. People loved his talks! Soon, he was bringing animals from the museum to schools, hospitals, and fairs. This program, and the car he used, became known as "The Desert Ark."
Hal Gras retired in 1985. By then, he had given 5,382 Desert Ark programs! A few years after he retired, a street near the museum was named Hal Gras Road in his honor. Gras passed away in 1999.
See also
In Spanish: Museo del Desierto de Arizona-Sonora para niños
