Neighborhood Highlights
Tucson Botanical Gardens
Natural beauty abounds at the Tucson Botanical Gardens. This spectacular 5.5-acre collection of 16 residentially scaled urban gardens in Tucson, Arizona, is a sight to behold. Paths connect five incredible themed gardens in a stunning desert landscape.
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.
The Pima Air & Space Museum
The Pima Air & Space Museum takes you to new heights. It started with just a few planes in 1976 and has grown to become one of the world’s largest aerospace museums, with a collection of more than 300 aircraft across the history of flight.
Discover the rich history of Tucson.
Originally founded as a military fort by the Spanish in 1775, the area that became Tucson was included in the state of Sonora after Mexico gained independence from the Spanish Empire in 1821. The Spanish name of the city, Tucsón [tukˈson], is derived from the O'odham Cuk Ṣon which means “(at the) base of the black [hill],” a reference to a basalt-covered hill now known as Sentinel Peak. Tucson is also sometimes referred to as “The Old Pueblo.”
In 1853, the United States acquired a 29,670-square-mile region of present-day southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico under the Gadsden Purchase. Tucson was Arizona’s largest city by population during the territorial period and early statehood, until Phoenix took that title in 1920.
