Spanning an entire city block, the Tucson Museum of Art encompasses a museum building and five historic properties. Within its halls and galleries are paintings and sculptures that cover more than 3,000 years of creativity. The permanent collection of more than 7,000 objects focuses on art of the American West, modern and contemporary art and art of Latin America.
Start your visit in the main museum building and study the work of such internationally renowned artists as William T. Wiley, Jasper Johns and Jane Hammond. Walk around the courtyard and admire the sculptures.
Go to the Stevens/Duffield House, also known as Palice Pavilion, to see the Art of Latin America collection. This mid-19th-century home includes Native American art covering 2,000 years from 500 B.C. to the time of the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. Also on display are Mexican folk art and works from the Spanish Colonial era.
Visit the Edward Nye Fish House to see representations of landscapes, people and ideals in the Art of the American West collection. Stop by the J.Knox Corbett House, an early 20th-century mission revival-style building that has been furnished with period pieces from the American Arts and Crafts era. Select days in December and January feature holiday decorations throughout the house.
Tucson Museum of Art also houses a collection of rare books and manuscripts, including early texts on Native American and pre-Columbian art.
Located in the historic El Presidio neighbourhood in downtown Tucson, the museum is on several bus routes operated by Sun Tran, the local bus company. If you are planning to drive, use the free on-site parking lot or metered street parking and pay parking garages available around the museum.
The Tucson Museum of Art is open from Tuesday through Sunday and admission charges apply. Entry is free on the first Sunday of every month and those under 18 can enter free any day. From October to April, guided tours of the permanent collection and special exhibitions are included with the ticket price.
