Arizona Sonora Desert Museum and Saguaro NP

Thursday, April 16

ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM AND SAGUARO NP

The caravan members traveled 12 miles southwest of Tucson to the Museum and a few miles more down the road to the National Park

Unlike most museums, the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum experience is 85% outdoors.  It covers 98 acres, with 21 acres of interpretive exhibits with two miles of walking paths through the desert habitats.  It is a fusion of experience which includes zoo, botanical garden, art gallery, natural history and aquarium.

Founded in 1952, it is widely recognized as a model for innovative presentation and interpretation of native plants and animals together in an ecological exhibit.


The walking paths were easy to follow and many of us covered the entire two miles with loops leading into cactus gardens, the hummingbird exhibit (a favorite), the reptile building where some of us saw a demonstration, geology of the rocks including many fossils found in the area.

Some of the animals were very amusing.  There was a baby big horn sheep that bounced its way all over the rocks and cliffs to follow its mother.  The sea otter also put on quite a show.  Here are Mom, Dad and Baby.

 

Down the road from the Desert Museum was Saguaro National Park West.  We watched a movie about the desert and about the Saguaros   A ranger who is a retired geologist, gave an interesting explanation of the geology in this area and the Tucson Mountains one of many small ranges that dot the southwest.    They are the result of block faulting which occurred 10 to 15 million years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

That evening we were treated to a Party at the home of our Caravan Leaders Joe and Bonnie Grisillo.  It was a wonderful evening on their patio which is a desert museum in itself.