Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:140 N Main Ave.
Tucson, Arizona
Tel:
(520) 624-2333
Embark on a journey through art, history, and culture. Tucscon's number one art destination will inspire creativity as you discover the beautiful collection at the Tucson Museum of Art & Historic Block, containing 7,000 pieces of American West, Central Mexican, Modern, and Contemporary art.
Since 1924, visitors have enjoyed the American West collection, made up of artists such as Oscar Berninghaus, Eanger Couse and Nicolai Fechin. The Central Mexican art gallery entitled The Art of the Americas, contains pre-Columbian works such as "Stela" dating 100 BCE - 250 BCE. Visitors will also find retablos and folk art from Spanish colonial and post-colonial periods. The Modern and Contemporary collection includes the works of Chuck Close, Marsden Hartley, and Max Weber. Special new additions to the collection include the Frederick Pleasants Collection of pre-Columbian Art, the Lawrence and Agnes Heller Collection of American and other 20th-Century Modern Art, the Ileen and Samuel Campbell Collection of Art of the American West, and the Small Collection of Contemporary Art.
The museum's Goodman Pavilion contains Native American paintings, sculptures, and pottery, and the Palice Pavilion holds some contemporary Mexican folk art which beautifully showcases the breadth and beauty of the art from the Central American region. The museum's temporary galleries change a few times a year.
The Historic Block of the museum is situated on what was once part of the walled fortress marking the beginning of Tucson. There's a lush courtyard and sculpture garden as well as a waterfall known as the Plaza of the Pioneers. The Historic Block contains five distinct houses from 1850-1907.
At the museum's store you'll find a selection from Arizona's most talented artists and you can choose from handcrafted ceramics, wood, textiles, jewelry, and multi-media artworks as well. Be sure to check out Café a la C'Art, where you can enjoy salads, sandwiches, and decadent desserts. You can also eat in Stevens/Duffield House on the brick patio.
Come in on the I-10 from the South and exit onto the South Freeway. Go north to West Congress St. Make a left onto N Granada Ave., then a quick right onto W Paseo Redondo. Make a left on N Main Ave and you'll find the museum on your right.