Just Deserts

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum a Gem for All Ages

By Valerie Vinyard

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum tops the list of must-see attractions in Tucson for kids and adults alike.

Native Tucsonan Lee McLaughlin grew up going to the Desert Museum on school field trips and visits with his family long before he “really understood the value of the place.”

“I’ve always loved it; it’s such a cool place,” said McLaughlin, now VP of marketing for Visit Tucson. “It’s evolved so much over the years. They have some incredible plans moving forward.”

Those plans include Spadefoot Splash, a nature-play area with a stream and riparian areas. Slated to open in 2026, the 5,500-square-foot exhibit will also include two buildings, a pond, and a nature trail. 

“It’s a little bit more interactive and kid-friendly with a water feature, but also something that will be more summer-friendly,” McLaughlin said.

Hosting 340,000 visitors annually, the Desert Museum offers something for everyone. Located about 30 minutes from Downtown Tucson, the drive to the museum is a stunning sensory overload, with photo ops at every turn. 

“It’s one of the reasons it’s one of the top tourist attractions, you get a crash course in the Sonoran Desert,” said McLaughlin. 

In 2024, 6.1 million visitors traveled to Tucson and Southern Arizona, according to the Arizona Office of Tourism, spending a whopping $2.9 billion.

McLaughlin noted that surveys show 60% of travelers are passionate about visiting historical sites and attractions when they visit Tucson. The Desert Museum is both. Founded in 1952 and accredited with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, it features a 98-acre zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, natural history museum and art gallery.

The museum also interprets the comprehensive natural history of the Sonoran Desert, featuring 56,000 plant specimens and 242 animals species from the region in their natural habitats. 

“We’re not a typical museum. It’s a special place. It’s got its own unique identity,” said Hollie Colahan, executive director of the Desert Museum. Previously the executive director of the Birmingham Zoo in Alabama, Colahan is working to create a new facility master plan for the museum, one of 10 nationwide awarded the prestigious 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service.  

Other recent awards include recognition as a top attraction for Tucson/Southern Arizona by U.S. News and World Report, TripAdvisor, Yelp and Best of Tucson – Reader’s Choice from the Tucson Weekly. 

McLaughlin noted that the museum has also become known for its conservation efforts. 

“They put a lot of resources and funding into research and conservation and host scientists and biologists from all over the world to do research,” he said.

The museum has played a crucial role in saving the Mexican gray wolf. In 1976, the species was declared endangered and the Desert Museum became a partner in the breeding and reintroduction of the species. All Mexican gray wolves alive today are progeny of seven unrelated founders from three lineages – the Ghost Ranch lineage came directly from the Desert Museum. 

Fundraising is wrapping up for the $5 million new habitat that will house the three wolves at the museum, with construction expected to begin early 2026. The space will expand the current exhibit tenfold, from 2,500 square feet to 25,000.

“The Desert Museum has helped to shape understanding of and respect for the Sonoran Desert for over 70 years, and we plan to continue this work with even more community participation in new exhibits, public programs and conservation work,” said Debra Colodner, the museum’s director of conservation education and science. 

There are plenty of kid-friendly reasons to visit the Desert Museum, too.

The Packrat Playhouse is a 4,000-square-foot indoor space that allows children to discover the desert through the eyes of this curious critter. Kids can slide down a gila monster’s tail, climb through prickly pear cactus pads, slither through an oversized rattlesnake, explore tunnels and scramble in giant rope netting. 

The Coati Kids Club targets kids ages 6 to 12, while the Young Naturalists is a fall program for sixth- to eighth graders interested in forming a deeper connection with the Sonoran Desert. Kids ages 16 to 18 can volunteer in various capacities, joining the force of 380 active volunteers and 166 docents.  

“Everyone has a story about the museum,” Colahan said. “The museum is a lot of things to a lot of different people. My job is to take all of those things and honor that legacy, but also to look ahead to the future.”

Pictured above – Photo courtesy Visit Tucson