Welcome to Tucson
Tucson Botanical Gardens
If you love botanical gardens, then this is the spot for you. The Tucson Botanical Gardens are a must-see for those who seek out opportunities to interact with nature. Whether you’re exploring the butterfly garden, the Zen garden, or any of the other fourteen gardens, you’ll find yourself in a sea of floral tranquility. Discover the local flora and learn how impressive Arizona's agriculture is.
Mount Lemmon SkyCenter Observatory
The Mount Lemmon SkyCenter Observatory is a science and astronomy destination located just north of Tucson, Arizona, at the 9,157-foot summit of Mount Lemmon. You won't want to miss this educational experience from the University of Arizona.
Pima Air & Space Museum
Let the Pima Air & Space Museum take you to new heights. What started with just a few planes in 1976 has expanded to become one of the world’s largest aerospace museums. Visitors will find a collection of more than 300 aircraft celebrating the history of flight.
Discover the rich history of Tucson.
Tucson was founded in 1776, making it one of North America’s oldest continually inhabited areas. Before Spanish missionaries and explorers arrived in the late 1600s, the Hohokam tribe had lived here for at least 4,000 years.
In 1854, Mexico sold all of Arizona south of the Gila River as a part of the Gadsden Purchase. This transaction made Tucson an official part of the United States. The incorporation of Tucson as a city in 1877 made it the oldest city in Arizona. Tucson’s roots expanded with the arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1880.
Today, more than one million residents call Tucson home. There’s something majestic about this area, where five mountain ranges create a picturesque, protected valley. You'll also find magnificent saguaros standing tall on the desert floor and aspen and pine growing above them on stark, wind-swept mountain peaks.
