Arizona State Museum, located on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson, is the oldest and largest anthropology museum in the American Southwest, established in 1893 and holding collections that span approximately 13,000 years of human presence in the region. The museum's holdings exceed 3 million artifacts and archival items, making it one of the most comprehensive repositories of archaeological and ethnographic material from the Southwest, northwest Mexico, and the broader Greater Southwest region. Two primary buildings house the museum's galleries: the North Building, the original structure dating to 1923, and the connected South Building, with permanent exhibitions spanning both. The central permanent gallery, Paths of Life: American Indians of the Southwest and Northwest Mexico, explores the origins, contemporary lives, and cultural traditions of ten Native peoples including the Tohono O'odham, Hopi, Navajo, and Yaqui through a combination of historic artifacts, contemporary art, and community-contributed narrative. A second major gallery, Pottery of the Southwest, presents the most extensive public display of prehistoric and historic Southwestern ceramic traditions in the United States, tracing the development of ceramic technology from the earliest Mogollon pit-fired wares through the elaborately painted polychrome vessels of Ancestral Puebloan and Salado traditions. The museum holds stewardship responsibilities under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act for approximately 30,000 culturally affiliated objects and sacred items, and its repatriation program has returned thousands of items to originating tribal communities since 1990. The Woven Traditions collection documents more than 1,000 years of Southwest textile production, including basketry and weavings from Tohono O'odham, Apache, and Navajo communities. Ongoing archaeological fieldwork supported by the museum's research division contributes data from sites across southern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico, and the research archives hold more than a century of site-level field records.
Highlights
- Paths of Life gallery exploring the origins and contemporary cultures of ten Native peoples of the Southwest and northwest Mexico
- Pottery of the Southwest, the most extensive public ceramic survey in the U.S., from early Mogollon wares to Ancestral Puebloan polychromes
- Woven Traditions collection documenting over 1,000 years of Southwest textile production in basketry and weaving
- One of the most active NAGPRA repatriation programs in the country, with thousands of items returned to originating tribal communities
- Research archives with over a century of archaeological field records from sites across southern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico
Tips for visiting
- Parking on the University of Arizona campus is metered or in paid lots; visitor parking is available in university lots adjacent to the museum
- The Pottery of the Southwest gallery can be entered from either building; the North Building entrance is closer to nearby street parking
- Museum admission is free to University of Arizona students and faculty with a valid campus ID; general visitor admission is modest
- Guided tours of the Paths of Life gallery are offered on a scheduled basis; inquire at the front desk upon arrival for current availability
- Photography for personal use is generally permitted in permanent galleries; flash photography and tripods may be restricted in some areas
Accessibility
Arizona State Museum is wheelchair accessible throughout, with ramps and elevators connecting the North and South buildings. Accessible parking is available in designated spaces adjacent to the museum entrance on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit to Arizona State Museum take?
A focused visit to the Paths of Life and Pottery of the Southwest galleries takes approximately 1.5-2 hours. Visitors with broader interest in regional archaeology or ethnography can easily spend 3 hours or more.
Is the museum suitable for children?
Yes. The Paths of Life gallery includes engaging displays on contemporary Native life as well as prehistoric artifacts that appeal to younger visitors. The museum occasionally offers family-oriented programming; check the website for current events.
Is Arizona State Museum accessible to visitors with mobility limitations?
The museum is wheelchair accessible, with ramps and elevators connecting the North and South buildings. Accessible parking is available in designated spaces near the museum entrance on the University of Arizona campus.
Is Arizona State Museum English-language friendly?
Yes. All permanent gallery text is in English. The museum does not currently offer audio guides in multiple languages, though visitor services staff can assist with general orientation and directions.