Tohono Chul Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tohono Chul |
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Entry Ramada
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| Type | Botanical Garden and Museum |
| Location | Casas Adobes suburb of Tucson, Arizona, United States |
| Area | 49 acres (20 ha) |
| Created | 1985 |
| Administered by | private |
| Open | everyday except New Year's, July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas |
| Website | http://www.tohonochul.org |
Tohono Chul is a special place in Casas Adobes, near Tucson, Arizona. It is a botanical garden, a nature preserve, and a cultural museum all in one! The name "Tohono Chul" means "desert corner" in the language of the Tohono O’odham people, who are native to southern Arizona.
The main goal of Tohono Chul is to help people connect with the amazing nature, art, and culture of the Sonoran Desert. It also aims to inspire everyone to take good care of the natural world.
This park covers 49 acres (about 20 hectares) of natural desert. It offers beautiful views of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Many animals live here or visit throughout the year. About 38 types of birds make Tohono Chul their home. Another 57 types of birds fly through seasonally. You might also spot reptiles like Gila monsters or mammals like bobcats on the grounds.
In 2008, Travel+Leisure Magazine called Tohono Chul one of the Great Botanical Gardens of the World.
Contents
How Tohono Chul Began
Early Days of the Land
In the 1920s, the northwest part of Tucson was perfect for growing citrus fruits and date palms. A man named Maurice Reid owned a large area here. He planted many citrus trees and introduced black date palms and grapefruit to the land that would become Tohono Chul Park.
Later, in 1937, John T. deBlois Wack bought 80 acres (about 32 hectares) of this land. A Santa Fe-style house was built on the property that same year. The adobe bricks for the walls were made right there. Large Ponderosa pine logs from Mt. Lemmon were used for the living room beams.
After World War II, the property changed hands a few times. In 1948, Colonel Robert Bagnell and his wife Eugenia Sullivan Bagnell bought the 80-acre parcel. They called their home "Las Palmas." Mrs. Bagnell later gave some of the land for St. Odilia's Catholic Church. In 1963, her son built another home on the western side, which is now the Tohono Chul Garden Bistro and La Fuente Museum Shop.
The Wilsons' Vision
In 1966, Richard and Jean Wilson started buying parts of the desert land. They eventually owned 37 acres (about 15 hectares) of the original Wack property. Richard Wilson was a geologist and a professor at the University of Arizona.
The Wilsons lived in the hacienda-style "West House" for eight years. They were often asked by developers to sell the land for building. But they always said no. Jean Wilson wanted to save the land. She said, "I don't want it cemented over. I want to preserve it." When a road was widened, Mr. Wilson even made sure every saguaro cactus was moved and replanted on their property.
In 1979, Jean Wilson opened a bookshop. After that, the Wilsons began planning their next big project: a park. They started by making simple paths and labeling plants. In 1980, they were recognized for saving the desert green space and opening it to the public. They wanted to keep a natural area in the middle of all the new buildings. This way, people could easily visit and learn about the desert.
Growing the Park
Over time, the Wilsons added special gardens and collections of desert plants. The original 1937 adobe house was fixed up in 1984. It became a space for art shows, a museum shop, and offices. Tohono Chul Park officially opened as a 37-acre desert preserve on April 19, 1985.
The Wilsons gave the property to a non-profit group called Tohono Chul Park, Inc., in 1988. In 1995, they added another 11 acres (about 4.5 hectares) to the north. The last acre was added in 1997 when the bookshop closed. This brought the park to its current size of 49 acres (about 19.8 hectares).
What You Can See and Do
Tohono Chul has many different areas that show off its plant collections. Most of these plants are native to the Sonoran Desert or Chihuahuan Desert. The park has over 150 types of shrubs and trees. It also has 300 types of cacti and succulents. Plus, there are 50 kinds of wildflowers.
Tohono Chul is also home to the largest private collection of native Night-blooming Cereus plants (Peniocereus greggii). Each summer, the park hosts "Bloom Night." This is the special night when most of these beautiful flowers are expected to open!
Outdoor Gardens and Displays
- Ethnobotanical Garden: This garden shows plants that native peoples of the Southwest used for food, medicine, and other daily needs. It also includes plants brought by European settlers.
- Riparian Habitat: This area looks like the natural plant life found along streams in Arizona. These stream-side areas are very important but are also threatened.
- Geology Wall: This display helps you understand the history of the nearby Santa Catalina Mountains through their rocks.
- Saguaro Discovery Trail: Learn all about the saguaro cactus! Discover its cultural links to the Tohono O’odham people and its place in the natural history of the Sonoran Desert.
- Sin Agua Garden: This used to be a parking lot! Now, it shows how to collect and use rainwater.
- Desert Living Courtyard: Another former parking lot, this area now has different garden styles. All of them show how to use native and desert-adapted plants in your yard. This can inspire homeowners to create beautiful, water-wise landscapes.
- Sonoran Seasons Garden: Explore the five different seasons of the Arizona Upland part of the Sonoran Desert.
- Desert Palm Oasis: This area recreates a hidden mountain canyon with native fan palms. These canyons are found along the east coast of the Gulf of California.
Indoor Art and Culture
Tohono Chul also has changing art and cultural exhibits inside. These shows feature works by local groups and artists of all ages. There are three different exhibit spaces. They host everything from large group shows that last for months to smaller, single-artist exhibits that are on display for six to eight weeks.
See also
In Spanish: Tohono Chul Park para niños
