You can get free tickets for eight Tucson museums as part of Smithsonian Magazine's Museum Day on Saturday, Sept. 22.ย
More than 1,400 museums around the country are participating.ย
You can get two free tickets by visiting smithsonianmag.com/museumday and entering your name, email address and the museum you'd like to visit. Then, print your ticket for Saturday.
Here are the participating museums in Tucson (plus a few Phoenix bonus picks).ย
Arizona History Museum
The Arizona History Museum,ย 949 E. 2nd St.
Sample Southern Arizona history, from colonial through territorial eras. There's even an underground mining tunnel you can walk through.ย 949 E. Second St.ย Go hereย for more museum info.ย
Museum of Contemporary Artย
For a crash course in contemporary art, check out MOCA Tucson downtown.ย 265 S. Church Ave. Visitย moca-tucson.orgย for more museum info.ย
Arizona State Museumย
A huge collection of Southwest Indian pottery and basketry is housed at the Arizona State Museum.
This museum on the University of Arizona campus spotlights anthropology and native cultures.ย 1013 E. University Blvd.ย ย Visit statemuseum.arizona.eduย for more museum info.ย
DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun
Folks flocked to view more than 90 paintings, photographs, sculptures and watercolors by 60 artists, depicting the late artist Ted DeGrazia during the open reception at DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun on Jan. 20, 2012.
Designed by artist Ettore "Ted" DeGrazia, this is the kind of place where you can take a deep breath and savor DeGrazia's artwork.ย 6300 N. Swan Road. Visitย degrazia.orgย for more museum info.ย
Tohono Chulย
Tohono Chul Park entrance on May 10, 2016. Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
Nestled just north of the Ina and Oracle intersection, these gardens blend both natural and artistic beauty.ย 7366 Paseo del Norte. Visit tohonochulpark.orgย for more museum info.ย
Tucson Botanical Gardensย
๏ปฟA butterfly flutters around a citrus tree on the garden grounds, which has 18 exhibits, including butterfly and wildflower gardens.
These gardens provide an urban oasis complete with towering trees, fragrant herbs, colorful butterflies and plenty of Insta-worthy succulents.ย 2150 N. Alvernon Way. Visit tucsonbotanical.orgย for more museum info.ย
Tucson Desert Art Museum
The Desert Art Museum showcases Southwestern artwork and history.ย
Take in the museum's collection of Navajo and Hopi textiles that predate the 1940s, along with other historical artifacts, and admire Southwestern art.ย 7000 E. Tanque Verde Road. Visit tucsondart.orgย for more museum info.ย
Fort Lowell Museumย
Part of the old quarters for the commanding officers at Fort Lowell Park became a museum in Tucson on July 12,2016. A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
Just FYI, this museum is normally free. Learn about army life during the Apache Wars in the late 1800s. The museum is located in an adobe reproduction of 1880s officer quarters.ย 2900 N. Craycroft Road. Goย hereย for more museum info.ย
Phoenix-area bonus picks
i.d.e.a. Museumย
This is an art museum with a goal to inspire and engage children. Expect lots of hands-on opportunities. But bring socks for ArtVille. 150 W. Pepper Place in Mesa. Visit ideamuseum.org for more museum info.ย
Arizona Museum of Natural Historyย
Learn about dinosaurs, ancient cultures, Arizona history and more. This one is also near the i.d.e.a. Museum. 53 N. Macdonaldย in Mesa. Visitย arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org for more museum info.ย
Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserveย
Walk a quarter mile back into history to see hills studded with more than 1,500 petroglyphs. 3711 W. Deer Valley Road in Phoenix. Go here for more museum information.ย
