Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is regularly listed as one of the top ten zoological parks in the world due to its unique approach in interpreting the complete natural history of a single region (in our case this is the Sonoran Desert and adjacent ecosystems). This represents a significant achievement, as the Museum’s collections and size are smaller than many of its counterparts. Not a “museum” in the usual sense, it is an unparalleled composite of plant, animal, and geologic collections with the goal of making the Sonoran Desert accessible, understandable, and valued.The 97 acre Desert Museum is a fusion experience: zoo, botanical garden, art gallery, natural history museum, and aquarium featuring: - 21 interpreted acres with two miles of walking paths through various desert habitats - 242 animal species - 1,100 types of plants — over 56,000 individual specimens - One of the world's most comprehensive regional mineral collectionsBeyond merely an attraction, the Museum's conservation and research programs are providing important information to help conserve the Sonoran Desert region. The Desert Museum's Art Institute inspires conservation through art education and gallery exhibits. The Museum's publishing division, ASDM Press, has produced over 40 books and guides on the natural and cultural history of the Sonoran Desert region. Represented in the living collections are 110 to 120 species considered to be of conservation concern.The mission of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is to inspire people to live in harmony with the natural world by fostering love, appreciation, and understanding of the Sonoran Desert. The Museum is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and are a member of the American Alliance of Museums.