Arizona Desert Museum

The Arizona Desert Museum, in the vicinity of Tucson, AZ is well worth a visit.

My big takeaway is that the Sonoran Desert is a very alien place, and compared to anywhere I’ve lived, is clearly out to kill you.

There’s a scene from the “Cactus Garden”. An Organ Pipe cactus, plus some shorter, younger Saguaro cactuses. I did not get a picture of Creeping Devil or various horrifyingly spiny barrel cactuses.

The museum even has some animals, mostly snakes, lizards and arthropods, but also this chubby salamander. Seems strange, but apparently salamanders are native to the Tucson area.

The museum has a hummingbird aviary. I didn’t see any hummingbirds, but maybe I was there at the wrong time of day.

Going back to Tucson, you can take the Gates Pass Road for a unique driving and viewing experience.

Most of this museum’s good stuff is outside. I went to this museum in February, so it was comfortable. I imaged July/August/September are insufferable.