Historic places in Tucson

Historic places in Tucson

1. See

   Arizona History Museum

   This museum is devoted to the history of Tucson and the surrounding area, with relevant displays.

   Mon-Thu 9AM-4PM, Fri 9AM-8PM, Sat Sun 11AM-4PM·$8 (adults), $6 (seniors), $5 (students), $4 (children 7-17), free (children under 7)

2. Eat

   Arizona Inn

   Serving an American fare, this is a fine dining facility. Expect the average mains to cost in the range of $20 to $30. Architecturally, the restaurant is in an historic structure. The restaurant has a southwestern U.S. style decor. The interior is enhanced by prints and flowers at the tables, and the lighting is set quite dim. This is a white tablecloth restaurant, and the fireplace adds to the atmosphere and mood here. The establishment has several dining rooms. It has a romantic atmosphere.

3. See

   Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

   More like Biosphere II than a walled institution, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is part zoo, part natural history museum and part botanical garden all in one Tucson attraction. From tarantulas to black bears, coyotes to scorpions, the museum-zoo is an entrancing and full-contact tribute to the Sonoran desert's wildlife (the wire fences are nearly invisible and the hummingbirds in the buzzing, walk-in aviary seem to think you are the attraction). Give yourself time to soak in the Southwest splendor and if time is all you have, the Museum is also on the fringes of Saguaro National Park, home to the world's largest forests of Saguaro cacti.

   Oct-Feb 8:30AM-5PM, Mar-Sep 7:30AM-5PM·$14.50/adult, $5/child (Sep-May); $12/adult, $4/child Jun-Aug

4. Drink

   Bison Witches

   At the heart of Tucson's 4th Avenue historic district, Bison Witches is a funky little bar and restaurant that serves amazing sandwiches, has a large selection of beer and has great margaritas. Bison Witches is always full but the wait for a table is never more than 15 minutes. At night, it can get crowded now that the back patio has been remodeled into an outdoor bar.

   Kitchen: daily 11AM-midnight; bar: daily 11AM-2AM

5. Do

   Carnival of Illusion

   The Carnival of Illusion Parlour Show presents national quality magic in an intimate setting at the Historic Scottish Rite in downtown Tucson, and is limited to 125 guests. The hosts are the National Recipients for Excellence in Magic and have performed as house entertainers at the world's top resorts, for Fortune 100 CEOs, to the 200 Most Powerful Women in America.

6. Drink

   Club Congress

   If you feel like dancing, this is the place to go. It's in the historic Congress Hotel, where you'll find three bars and one dance floor, featuring techno dance beats and live bands. Call ahead to see who's playing.

   Cover charge

7. See

   De Grazia Gallery in the Sun Historic District

   A collection of buildings on a 10-acre site, designed and built by well-known Arizona painter Ettore 'Ted' DeGrazia (1909-1982); the property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A gallery showcases the artist's work in six permanent collections as well as special rotating exhibits, and a gift shop onsite sells good quality reproductions of some of his work. In early December the grounds also host the annual Fiesta de Guadalupe. The chapel is closed due to fire damage.

   Daily 10AM-4PM; closed 1 Jan, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas·$8 (adults), $5 (children 12-18), free (children under 12)

8. See

   Fort Lowell Museum

   Fort Lowell was a US Army post, active in the late 19th century during the Apache Wars. Most of the adobe structures are now in ruins, but the commanding officers' quarters have been reconstructed and now house a small museum, with exhibits focused on military life on the frontier. The building also has a small gift shop.

   Thu-Sat 10AM-4PM·Free, donations welcome

9. See

   Old Pascua Museum and Yaqui Cultural Center

   Museum that features more than 4000 artifacts on display from the old Pasqua tribe, displayed in a home built in 1926 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

   Tue-Sat 9AM-1PM·Free (donations welcome)

10. See

    Pima Air & Space Museum

    Features over 400 historic aircraft on an 80-acre (32 hectares) site with five hangars, three of them devoted to World War II. Veterans and volunteers are often on hand to answer any questions, and there are daily walking tours of the grounds. There is an onsite restaurant.

    Daily 9AM-5PM (last admission at 3PM); closed Thanksgiving and Christmas·Admission for 1-day pass: $19.50 (adults), $15.25 (Pima County residents), $16.75 (seniors), $13 (children ages 5-12), free (children under age 5); for 2-day pass: $26 (adults), $20.25 (Pima County residents), $22.75 (seniors), $15.50 (children ages 5-12), free (under age 5)

11. See

    San Pedro Chapel

    A historic Sonoran-style adobe chapel, built in 1915 and on the National Register of Historic Places. Unfortunately the church is usually only open for special events, but it can be freely appreciated from the outside.

12. See

    Sosa-Carrillo-Frémont House Museum

    A remnant of Tucson's old barrio which survived and is now surrounded by the Tucson Convention Center, this historic adobe house was built in the 1870s.

    Thu-Sat 10AM-4PM·Free, donations welcome

13. See

    Southern Arizona Transportation Museum

    A small museum devoted to the history of the railroads in southern Arizona, housed in the historic Southern Pacific Railroad Depot. The star attraction is the Southern Pacific Railroad 1673 steam locomotive. Docents and volunteers available to answer questions about the locomotive on Saturdays. For other times, tours can be arranged upon request.

    T-Thu 11AM-3PM, Fri Sat 10AM-4PM, Sun 11AM-3PM, engine with cab visits Sat 10AM-1PM·Free

14. See

    Tucson Museum of Art

    A museum complex housed in a collection of historic adobe houses, this museum hosts exhibits of regional contemporary art, as well as the Arizona Biennial. Its permanent collection of Latin American and pre-Columbian art is particularly noteworthy. There is a well-stocked shop in the lobby that is open during museum hours.

    Tue Wed 10AM-5PM, Thu 10AM-8PM, Fri Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun noon-5PM·$12 (adults), $10 (seniors), $7 (students/children 13-17), free (children under 13); free on 1st Th of month from 5PM-8PM

15. Do

    Winterhaven Festival of Lights

    An annual event in the Winterhaven subdivision north of Fort Lowell Road displaying a huge Christmas light festival involving several dozen homes in the subdivision. The festival starts in the middle of December, ending a few days before New Year's Day. The event is very popular, and traffic to the event is always very congested.

    December

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Tucson (CC BY-SA 4.0).