Attractions

Arizona History Museum

Arizona History Museum

The Arizona History Museum is near the heart of the Tucson metropolitan area. The museum displays the stories and artifacts of Arizona legends like Geronimo … Read more

Southeastern Arizona Guide

Intro to Southeastern Arizona Travel

History, Nature & Wide-Open Spaces Greet Visitors to the Desert A visitor’s guide to Southeastern Arizona, celebrating the region’s fascinating folklore, Native American history, geological … Read more

Museums Tucson

Visit these Family-Friendly Tucson Museums

Museums in Tucson

Experience the wonder and awe in the many museums available in the Tucson area any time of year.  Click the links below for further details.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

2021 N Kinney Rd
Tucson, AZ ‎
(520)883-2702

This is not your typical museum.  It is a cross between a museum, a zoo, an art gallery, and an aquarium located just 15 miles from downtown Tucson. There are more than 230 animal species and 1,200 kinds of plants. There are 2 live animal shows daily.  One showcases venomous reptiles and the other features raptor species that hunt as a family group.

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum combines a world-class zoo, natural history museum, and botanical garden. There are over 300 animal species and 1,200 plant species on the Museum grounds. There are nearly 2 miles of paths that wind through 21 acres of beautiful desert.

Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium

1601 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85721

A dazzling multimedia theater and a truly unique educational experience, with 8,600 stars, galaxies, the Sun, the Moon, the planets, meteors, 30 projectors, two video systems and a sound system that is out of this world! Stop by after sunset to view the heavens through our 16-inch cassegrain telescope.

Arizona History Museum

949 E. 2nd St.
Tucson, AZ
(520) 628-5774

The Arizona History Museum focuses on the history of southern Arizona from the Spanish colonial to the territorial eras. Features of the museum are exhibits depicting mining and transportation.

Arizona History Museum

Pima Air & Space Museum

6000 E Valencia Rd
Tucson, AZ
(520) 574-0462

This is one of the largest air & space museums in the world and the largest non-government funded aviation museums. Some of the exhibits include WWII aircraft which includes a B-29 Superfortress, a B-24 “Liberator”, a Mitchell B-25, and a rare WWII German light observation. There are 5 hangars and you can walk inside an original WWII barracks. You can view the moon rock and other interactive exhibits in the Dorothy Finley Space Gallery, too. And don’t forget to see all the outside aircraft, such as the “Super Guppy” transport plane.

Best museum tours tucson

See the history of aviation from World War II to the present on a narrated tour of the outdoor aircraft displays at the Pima Air & Space Museum. You will drive past over 160 fighters, bombers, transports and civil aircraft including NASA’s huge Supper Guppy oversize transport, the world’s only collection of three giant B-52 bombers, the SR-71 Blackbird and many more.

Tucson Museum of Art & Historic Block

The Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block encompasses an entire city block in historic downtown, and features original and traveling exhibitions focusing on Art of the Americas, Art of the American West, and Modern and Contemporary Art as well as tours, education programs, Art School, and Museum Shop.

International Wildlife Museum

4800 W Gates Pass Blvd
Tucson, AZ ‎
(520) 629-0100

International Wildlife Museum Tucson

There are over 400 species of insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and mammals at this museum. There are dioramas depicting wild animals in their natural settings, videos, interactive computers, and hands-on exhibits to promote wildlife appreciation and conservation. You will have the opportunity to see animals up close and gain a better understanding of their adaptive characteristics, habitats, and conservation issues.

Museum of the Horse Soldier

6541 E Tanque Verde Rd
Tucson, AZ
(520) 722-2706

In this museum, you can explore the history of the US horse soldiers and their roles in times of peace and conflict during the 18th – 21st centuries. You will have the opportunity to discover and explore military history through informative and engaging exhibits, featuring many rare and one-of-a-kind artifacts. There are over 2,000 items on display.  The displays are periodically changed to make every visit unique.

Mini Time Machine, A Museum of Miniatures

4455 E Camp Lowell Dr.
Tucson, AZ
(520)881-0606

Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures

There are over 275 miniature houses and room boxes as well as other collectibles in the permanent collection. The artifacts are divided into three main areas: the Enchanted Realm, the History Gallery, and Exploring the World. Each area displays its own unique items specific to that area. On occasion, there will be a featured exhibit that will be on display for a limited time. Note: you may want to visit their website (by clicking the museum name above).  The cursor is awesome.

Tucson Children’s Museum

200 S 6th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701

The highlight of Dinosaur Canyon is the robotic animation of four life-sized dinosaurs: a Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Kentrosaurus, a Protoceratops and a Deinonychus. The Sonoran Sea Aquarium created the Ocean Discovery Center at the Tucson Children’s Museum. The Sea of Cortez is featured in the exhibit.

Jewish History Museum

564 S Stone Ave
Tucson, AZ ‎
(520) 670-9073

There are hundreds of artifacts and letters on display in the museum. The purpose of the museum is, to preserve and promote continuing education of the Jewish heritage of the American Southwest and the preservation of the first synagogue building in Arizona. The museum is open to the public Wed. Thurs. Sat. and Sunday from 1 – 5 p.m. and on Fridays from noon to 3 p.m.

Ft. Lowell Museum

2900 N. Craycroft Rd.
Tucson, AZ
(520) 628-5774

This museum is what is left of the old Ft. Lowell which was established in 1873.  It features military life on the Arizona frontier with many artifacts and photos.  They are, also, many ruins from buildings surrounding the old fort.

Arizona State Museum

1013 E. University
Tucson, AZ
(520) 621-6302

This is the oldest and largest anthropology museum in the Southwest and was established in 1893. The museum holds a comprehensive collection of American Indian basketry, totaling more than  25,000 woven pieces of rare and outstanding baskets, sandals, cradleboards, mats, cordage, and preserved fibers representing every indigenous basket-making culture in North America. There are more than 3 million objects. The museum conducts periodic special events and programs.

GPD Toy Train Museum

3975 N Miller Ave
Tucson, AZ ‎
(520) 888-2222

The museum has on display o-Gauge, G-Scale, Standard Gauge, S-Gauge, HO-Scale, N-Scale, and z-Scale layouts throughout the display area. The trains are housed in a 6000 sq. ft. building. There are many unique and rare examples of toy trains. Open limited hours, so best to call.

Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum

6th Ave. and Irvington Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85745
(520)294-3636

The museum includes 150 vehicles, ranging from small buggies, wagons, surreys, coaches, and historic artifacts from pioneer days. there is a re-created old western main street representing what early Wild West Tucson would have looked like and what it offered in terms of businesses and services. Hours vary throughout the year, so call the number posted here.

Franklin Museum

1405 E Kleindale Rd
Tucson, AZ
(520) 326-8038

This museum is home to Thomas H. Hubbard’s collection of Franklin automobiles. Also, on display is his aunt’s extensive collection of Native American artifacts, a historical adobe home and a museum. Open Mid Oct. to Memorial Day on Wed. – Sat. from 10:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. $5.00 per person.

University of Arizona Mineral Museum

1601 East University Boulevard
Tucson, AZ 85721
Phone: (520) 621-4227

The mineral collection dates back to 1892. Since its conception, the museum has accumulated over 19,000 mineral specimens in the main collection and over 7,000 in the micro mount collection. The collection currently represents 1,561 different species with over 2,000 minerals presently on display.  Hours & admission fees click here.

History of Pharmacy Museum

1703 E Mabel St
Tucson, AZ 85721
520-626-1427

The museum contains a collection of over 60,000 bottles, original drug containers, books, store fixtures, and artifacts from Arizona (circa 1880 to 1950) and elsewhere.

The museum is pleased to offer a self-guided tour, which begins in room 344 of the Skaggs Pharmaceutical Sciences Center (brochures are available within). The tour takes 30-90 minutes, depending on your pace.

Cool Things to Do in Tucson

52 Cool Things to Do in Tucson

These “52 Cool Things to Do” are listed in no particular order. You may want to phone for confirmation prior to visiting these attractions. Lindy’s … Read more