These 13 Tucson-area museums have free admission today
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Gerald M. Gay
Reporter
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On Saturday, September 21, museums across the country will offer free admission as part of Smithsonian Magazine's Museum Day initiative, including at least 13 museums in Southern Arizona.
One ticket, available to download through the Smithsonian magazine website, will give you and a guest access to any one of the following locations:
Arizona History Museum — 949 E. Second St.
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See Wyatt Earp's pistol, Spanish artifacts and a wide range of other Arizona relics at this museum, located within walking distance of the University of Arizona campus.
Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Arizona State Museum — 1013 E. University Blvd
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The Arizona State Museum was established in 1893 and is the oldest and largest anthropology museum in the Southwest, according to its website.
It's known for its massive collection of Southwest Indian pottery and American Indian basketry.
Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun — 6300 N. Swan Road
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This museum was designed and built by famed Tucson artist Ettore "Ted" DeGrazia and pays homage to the popular local figure with both permanent and rotating exhibits.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Fort Lowell Museum — 2900 N. Craycroft Road
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Get to know Fort Lowell, an important outpost for the Tucson area during the Apache Wars of the late 1800s.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fort Lowell Museum is free daily.
Museum of Contemporary Art — 265 S. Church Ave.
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MOCA holds the distinction of being Tucson's only museum dedicated entirely to contemporary art.
Hours: Noon-5 p.m.
Tohono Chul — 7366 N. Paseo del Norte
UpdatedAnother garden option, Tohono Chul is a jewel on Tucson's northwest side, with 49 acres of land celebrating the desert that surrounds us. The park will keep you busy with nature trails, demonstration gardens and exhibits.
Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Tucson Botanical Gardens — 2150 N. Alvernon Way
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To sum it up, the Tucson Botanical Gardens “connects people with plants and nature through art, science, history and culture,” its website says.
Hours: 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Tucson Desert Art Museum — 7000 E. Tanque Verde Road
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Travel to Tucson's east side to see the Desert Art Museum's treasure trove of Navajo and Hopi textiles, Western art and historic artifacts.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
University of Arizona Museum of Art — 1031 N. Olive Road
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"Skin of Earth" was among the works by El Anatsui El Anatsui shown at the University of Arizona Museum of Art.
Located on the University of Arizona campus, the UA Museum of Art hosts a collection of permanent works (think Georgia O’Keeffe), as well as rotating exhibits.
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Amerind Museum — 2100 N Amerind Road, Dragoon
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The Amerind Museum is one of Southern Arizona's hidden gems, located in Dragoon, Arizona, amid the towering rocks of Texas Canyon, about 60 miles west of Tucson.
Established in 1937, the museum is packed with Western art and Indian artifacts.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum — 5 Copper Queen Plaza, Bisbee
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The Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum takes you back to the rough-and-tumble early days of the town, nestled in the heart of the Mule Mountains.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Tubac Presidio State Historic Park — 1 Burruel St., Tubac
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Located 44 miles south of Tucson, off of Interstate 19, Tubac Presidio State Park and Museum takes a look at life in the Southwest with exhibits showcasing everything from Arizona's first printing press to an ambulance from the 1850s.
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Tubac Center of the Arts — 9 Plaza Road, Tubac
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After visiting Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, head down the road to the Tubac Center of the Arts for art exhibits, workshops and lectures.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tubac Center of the Arts is free every day.
Gerald M. Gay
Reporter
