Nature is a fascinating subject, and it's always wonderful to learn more about it. From animals to landscapes to plants, nature continues to amaze us every single day.
Tucson has plenty of museums to offer - no matter what you're interested in, you're bound to find a museum that fits your taste in Tucson, from art to transportation to science. Today, however, we're going to focus on nature, specifically on plants and wildlife.
What museums that center around these subjects are there to discover in Tucson, Arizona? Let's find out, shall we?
International Wildlife Museum
First and foremost, the International Wildlife Museum in Tucson is where you should go if you're interested in wildlife. The museum was founded in 1988 and it apparently exhibits over 400 species of mammals, birds, and even insects!
According to the official website of the International Wildlife Museum:
"Dioramas depicting wild animals in their natural settings, videos, interactive computers, and hands-on exhibits promote wildlife appreciation and conservation. Your visit is an excellent opportunity to see animals up close and gain a better understanding of their adaptive characteristics, habitats and conservation issues."
The website expands further:
"The International Wildlife Museum is dedicated to increasing knowledge and appreciation of the diverse wildlife of the world as well as explaining the role of wildlife management in conservation."
There are many permanent exhibits, lots of which you get to see on the official website. Some of the collections are said to be over 100 years old! What's more, all the animals you get to discover in the museum have been donated.
At the time of writing this article (8th June 2021), there's an interesting puzzle exhibit! There are two large puzzles, "Wildlife" and "Around the World" made by Adrian Chesterman. Both puzzles include thousands and thousands of pieces and they're very impressive!
When it comes to ticket prices, one ticket costs 10 dollars per adult, 7 dollars per senior and military, 5 dollars per child (4-12), and children under 3 years can enter the museum for free. You can find the International Wildlife Museum in Tucson at 4800 West Gates Pass, Boulevard in Tucson.
Pima Prickly Park
A place that's not as known, yet is still worth visiting, is the Pima Prickly Park in Tucson. You can find it at 3500 West River Road in Tucson, and it's generally open from dawn until dusk.
And what can you find there? Well, the Pima Prickly Park lets you discover many succulent and cactus species which are native to the area. If you're interested in succulents and plants in general, this might be the perfect place for you!
Pima Prickly Park is connected to the Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society, which its official website describes thus:
"The Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society (TCSS) is a non-profit, 501 (c)3 tax-exemp, educational organization. Our mission is learning, teaching and conservation of cacti and other succulents in our region for the benefit of all our members."
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Last but not least, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson is a very popular attraction in Tucson which lets you explore the plants and wildlife of Arizona.
This mostly outdoor museum has many things to offer, including a zoo, a botanical garden, or an aquarium. The museum has various fascinating exhibits, and it also engages in research and conservation activity.
The website of the museum says:
"Founded in 1952, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is widely recognized throughout the world as a model institution for innovative presentation and interpretation of native plants and animals featured together in ecological exhibits. The Museum is regularly listed as one of the top ten zoological parks in the world due to its unique approach in interpreting the complete natural history of a single region (in our case this is the Sonoran Desert and adjacent ecosystems)."
If you'd like to find out more about plants and wildlife, don't hesitate to visit this wonderful museum in Tucson.