University of Arizona Museum Day

 

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University of Arizona Museum Day

Saturday, March 23, 2024

Explore Campus Wonders

Museums across the University of Arizona are proud to offer free or reduced admission in celebration of UArizona Museum Day 2024 on Saturday, March 23 from 10:00am - 4:00pm.

Immerse yourself in a day filled with discovery and wonder, where you can visit nine unique museums and collections, bridging the arts and science. Plan your day using the UArizona Museum Day map and the links below.

University of Arizona Insect Collection

The UA Insect Collection is the cornerstone of entomological research and insect diagnostics for the state of Arizona. The UAIC houses approximately 2.0 million specimens representing over 30,000 species, making it the most comprehensive in the world for the Sonoran Desert Region. The tour will present history, curation, and use of the collection, including examples of museum specimens and facility operations. Deadline for tour registration is 5:00pm Friday, March 22.

uaic.arizona.edu

Families enjoying a digital constellation display in the Flandrau Planetarium

Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium

Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium is the University of Arizona’s destination for adventures in space and science. Featuring hands-on science exhibits, immersive planetarium shows, and activities that reveal the marvels of the universe, Flandrau inspires people of all ages to discover the wonders of science.

flandrau.org

an archivist in white gloves lays out cyanotype photographs

The Archive of Visual Arts (AVA)

The Archive of Visual Arts (AVA) preserves and provides access to the original papers of artists, documenting the motivations that inspire individual artists to do their best work. University of Arizona Museum of Art & AVA Archivist, Sara Swayden, will be guiding visitors through the AVA during the Open House. Visitors will be able to handle archival materials safely and become more familiar with the collections.

artmuseum.arizona.edu

University of Arizona Insect Collection

Address 
Department of Entomology, Room 410, Forbes Building, 1140 E. Campus Drive 

Details

  • Children must be accompanied by adult(s). 
  • Free Admission!
  • 10 people maximum per tour.
  • Register in advance. Deadline is 5:00pm March 22.
  • Tours scheduled 10:00am, 11:30am, 1:00pm
  • Each tour lasts about 45 minutes
  • Attendees will be taken to 4th floor for tour of insect collection.
  • Building will be locked weekend of Museum Day, and pre-scheduled groups will be allowed in at start of each tour. Tour groups should wait outside Forbes Building on westside patio near step columns. 

Museum Contacts

Gene Hall  
wehall@arizona.edu 

Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium

Address
1601 E University Blvd. 

Details

  • Flandrau is kid friendly!
  • No reservation required.
  • Special reduced rate of $5 per person for science exhibit admission on this day.
  • Planetarium shows are normal rate. 

Museum Contacts

Flandrau Front Desk
flandrau@arizona.edu
520-621-4516

The Archive of Visual Arts (AVA)

Address
1014/1018 E. 6th Street, Tucson, AZ 85721 

Details

  • Free admission!
  • Due to limited space, groups of 20 will be permitted in 30 minute intervals 
  • Reservation required:
  • Please select a time for your visit to the AVA:

Museum Contact

If there is a time frame that has already been filled, but is the only time you can join please email Myriam Sandoval.

A woman in a black, long sleeve shirt and paint covered overalls leans against a mural painted on a wall.

Poetry Center

Visit the Poetry Center Library during our opening hours from 9 AM-3 PM to explore one of the largest collections of poetry in North America. The Library features an open-stack, browsable collection of poetry books, chapbooks, and broadsides, as well as a Kids’ Corner with picture books and a zine-making station. Enjoy our award-winning, light-filled space and pick up a calendar to stay up to date on our upcoming public events, which include community classes, poetry readings, and programming for children.


Photo by Brad Wheeler
 

poetry.arizona.edu

Two undergraduate women look at illustrated book proofs displayed on a wall

Worlds of Words Center

Journey with the Worlds of Words Center to “The Colourful World Beyond the Seven Hills,” an exhibit on loan from the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany featuring seven decades of illustrations of Grimm Brothers’ household tales from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Supplemented with global stories inspired by the original Grimm tales and hands-on activities for children of all ages.

wowlit.org

Arizona State Museum

Join us to celebrate the publication of “Woven from the Center: Native Basketry in the Southwest,” by Associate Curator Diane Dittemore (UA Press, 2023). Bring your copy for the author to sign or buy one onsite for $75. >Basket weavers from around the region, many highlighted in the book, will be showing and selling their wares. See the exhibit, “Woven Through Time: American Treasures of Native Basketry and Fiber Art.”

statemuseum.arizona.edu

Poetry Center

Address
1508 E. Helen St. 

Details
  • Kid friendly!
  • Free admission!
  • No reservation required

Contact

Sarah Kortemeier 
ssk@arizona.edu
(520) 626-4298 

Worlds of Words Center

Address
UArizona College of Education 
1430 E Second St, Rm 453

Details

  • Kid friendly!
  • Free admission!
  • No reservation required
  • In addition to “The Colourful World Beyond the Seven Hills," newly added holdings of original picturebook illustrations WoW archives will be on display in the Mary J. Wong Special Collections room.

Museum Contact

Rebecca Ballenger
wow@arizona.edu 

Arizona State Museum

Address
1013 E. University Blvd
just inside the Main Gate at Park Ave. & University Blvd.

Details
  • Free admission!
  • No reservation required

​​​Museum Contact

Darlene Lizarraga
Director of Marketing
dfl@arizona.edu
620-626-8381

UAMA

University of Arizona Museum of Art (UAMA)

Enjoy free admission, snacks and fun activities while checking out the museum’s latest exhibitions! Event highlights include Art Sprouts, an art-making program for kids ages 3-5 and their families, Bilingual story time, and a Cyanotype print workshop with artist Annie Lopez.

artmuseum.arizona.edu

John E. Greivenkamp Museum of Optics

Come explore the fascinating world of optics and optical sciences at the John E. Greivenkamp Museum of Optics. The Wyant College of Optical Sciences is proud to offer access to its collection of antique and historic telescopes, microscopes, lenses, and cameras. These specimens, representing work by the world’s most respected instrument makers from the 18th century to the present, showcase the manipulation of light and images through the ages.

optics.arizona.edu

Tree Rng

Tree-Ring Lab

Come explore the fascinating world of dendrochronology at the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research. Visit the oldest trees in the world and get the science stories behind them in our Exhibit Hall. Come take a short tour of the cutting-edge laboratories and meet the researchers. Special lecture by Dr. Margaret Evans at 1:00pm. Bring the kids to explore the children’s area and explore our hands-on activities.


Photo by Brian Pettepiece

ltrr.arizona.edu

University of Arizona Museum of Art (UAMA)

Address
1031 N. Olive Rd.

Details
  • Kid friendly!
  • Free admission!
  • Registration required for some events*

Event highlights

  • 10:00-11:30 a.m. | Art Sprouts, an art-making program for kids ages 3-5 and their families*
  • 10:00 a.m. | Bilingual story time
  • 12:00-2:00 p.m. | Cyanotype print workshop with artist Annie Lopez*

Museum Contact

Chelsea Farrar
cjfarrar@arizona.edu

John E. Greivenkamp Museum of Optics

Address
Wyant College of Optical Sciences 
1630 E. University Blvd.
Meinel West Building Expansion, Lobby

Details
  • Kid friendly!
  • Free admission!
  • No reservation required

Museum Contact

Daewook Kim
dkim@optics.arizona.edu

Tree Ring Lab

Address
Bryant Bannister Tree-Ring
1215 E. Lowell St

Details
  • Kid friendly!
  • Free admission!
  • No reservation required

Museum Contact

Dr. Pamela Pelletier
pamela@arizona.edu
(520) 621-0984