The Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block encompass an entire city block of historic downtown. The five historic properties that are under the care of the museum are La Casa Cordova, Romero House, Edward Nye Fish House, Stevens/Duffield House, and the Corbett House.

The purpose of the Tucson Museum of Art is to provide art accessible to the community reflecting the importance of the diverse cultural and historical heritage of Tucson.

Founded in 1924, and located in the historic El Presidio District, the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block maintains a permanent collection of more than 6,000 works of art.

In addition, the Museum presents visiting exhibitions of works in all media organized by the Museum or traveling exhibitions organized by other institutions. The historic block features five distinctive houses built between 1850 and 1907.

Experience the lush courtyards, fountains, and sculpture gardens. Visit the elegant Museum Shop and Café a la C’Art. Study at their popular Art School. Enjoy the excitement of contemporary movements and the pleasure of rich artistic traditions at the Tucson Museum of Art.

The Tucson Museum of Art offers ten to fifteen changing fine arts and crafts exhibits year-round. The permanent collection of over 6,000 works include Precolumbian, Spanish Colonial, European, American, Contemporary, and World Folk art.

La Casa Cordova

La Casa Cordova, now part of the Tucson Museum of Art, is possibly Tucson’s oldest surviving structure. The one-story adobe house has a flat roof, a central brick courtyard, and doors that open directly onto the street, as is typical of Mexican townhouses. La Casa Cordova, Tucson’s oldest residence, dates from the city’s Mexican period and was possibly built as early as 1848.

The La Casa Cordova is one of the oldest buildings in the city and is the home to the seasonal exhibition El Nacimiento and was restored in a northern Mexican style to reflect life in the late 19th century.

Stevens/Duffield House

The Stevens/Duffield House (also known as Palice Pavilion) dates back to the late 1800′s. It is the home of the Art of the Americas collection of pre-Columbian, Mexican folk art, and colonial works.

The Stevens/Duffield House, as well as the Edward Nye Fish House, can be found on Main Avenue. The Stevens/Duffield House now serves as the home of the museum’s award-winning restaurant Café à la C’Art. Interestingly, both properties and their original owners have fascinating, intertwined histories.

Edward Nye Fish House

The Edward Nye Fish House (also known as John K. Goodman Pavilion of Western Art) is also from the late 1800′s and home to the Art of the American West collection.

J. Knox Corbett House

The Corbett House finished in 1907, is a mission-revival style two-story home restored and furnished with period pieces from the American Arts and Crafts era. The J. Knox Corbett House, a Tucson merchant’s home from the early twentieth century, is given a historical tour.

An elegant two-story stucco-covered brick building was constructed in the mission revival style, completed in 1907, and resided in for fifty-six years by members of the Corbett family. The house was built by J. Knox Corbett and his wife Lizzie Hughes Corbett on the northwest corner of the block, next to the Stevens House and near the Tucson Museum of Art.

Romero House

The Romero House, thought to have been built around 1860, has undergone numerous alterations and is now home to the Tucson Museum of Art School ceramics classes and studio.