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    Pima Air & Space Museum

    4.6 (530 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    David Rey S.

    INCREDIBLE !!! Holy smokes! This place is one of a kind. Anyone who is a plane enthusiast or World War II history buff will be in heaven and could spend hours here. I felt like we really didn't do it justice with just 4 hours, including lunch and the trolley tour. This is not solely a military museum, but it makes up most of the exhibits within the hangers. The side exhibits, not just the the planes, caught my eye with the most interest. Stories about real aviators, their gear, real authentic bomber A-2 Jackets with the story of the pilot that wore them were tops for me. They also have a Triple 7 (Boeing 777), new by museum standards, the second one ever made, it's enormous. By the way, the cafeteria is fantastic, skip the McDonald's you will see on the way just off the I-10 exit, much better grub at the museum cafe, very clean too, great service, they bring your orders to your table with a smile. Had one of the best Chicago Dogs I've ever had, so much so I went back to order a second. My pal had the burger and said it was also very good, fresh lettuce, tomato, and onion. Looked amazing. By far, by a mile, the coolest exhibit was the 390th Memorial hanger, with a B-17 Flying Fortress fully restored. They have volunteers throughout the exhibit to explain all of the history of the 390th. That weekend they were going to have one of the last remaining members visit - wish I could have been there for that. Over 100 years old God bless him. I also enjoyed all the side exhibits explaining the history of these planes and the bombing raids they carried out in Europe. The number of planes and crew they lost was staggering. You will enjoy all of these displays, vehicles, exhibits, and artifacts that weave WWII into our history, specifically the 390th Bomb Group.

    JP P.

    We had such a blast here ! Really enjoyed this museum . It took us a few hours to get through everything on a self guided tour . Definitely a tourist must see stop.

    Jason M.

    I was so happy to make it back here 10 years after my first visit. There are so many new exhibits, incredible volunteers and new things to learn. Unlike most museums, you really get to be up close and intimate with these planes and their history. If you are here in the summer, I strongly recommend an early start due to the heat. Wear comfy shoes and dont be afraid to take the tram tour, it's worth the extra $10. This museum is ideal for kids over 8 or 10, but even little ones will find things to do. Strongly recommend making time to see Pima Air & Space if you are in Tucson or even 2 hours away in Phoenix.

    Pima Air and space Museum in Tucson, Arizona
    Larissa R.

    I absolutely loved visiting the Pima Air and space Museum. I feel like you could spend days here learning about everything and there was so much to look at. It was absolutely amazing. The staff and volunteers were so friendly too. It is family friendly and dog friendly.

    Heavy lift helicopter
    Joanna L.

    Fantastic museum with so much to see I could spend a whole day there. I truly recommend the trolley tour - you learn so much about the planes and history! I was so excited to see the Philippine Mars display. The staff are excellent and the exhibits are phenomenal. So be aware much is outside so plan your attire well.

    Alex C.

    The good it's dog friendly, and there is a fair bit inside for hotter days. We walked the outside yard as well. I liked that there were benches to sit on. I found the plaque really tiny, and hard to read. I think this is more geared towards a listening tour. my favorite part was seeing all the various photographs and uniforms. There's also a few photo op opportunities inside. Be prepared to read a lot if you don't so the listening tour.

    Amazing planes at the Pima Air & Space Museum.
    Stephanie K.

    My pals and I were looking for a fun day trip to take from Phoenix, and we decided on Tucson. I've always wanted to visit the airplane graveyard (which seems to have stopped doing tours), so we opted for the Pima Air & Space Museum instead. Don't be fooled- it's not just an indoor museum. While the establishment does have multiple hangars acting as "museums" filled with planes and mementos, the field of outdoor planes is really the highlight. For $22.50 per adult, you can walk around the vast property and enjoy viewing all different aircraft. We even saw aircraft used by NASA and the old planes used by US presidents. So neat! Best of all, my friend has 2 dogs that he hates leaving at home, and this was a pet friendly spot. We kept his pups on leash and explored the property with them without any issues. Truly a great day learning and exploring planes and history. Definitely bring water, as you'll get thirsty walking around the premises!

    Ali B.

    Really cool museum! Was one of the spots we really wanted to take our son on our little Tuscon trip. This museum is massive with so many airplanes and so much stuff to look at and learn about. Ticket prices aren't too overly expensive and staff was really helpful. Love that there is a ton to see both indoors and outdoors. Would love to bring my son back when he is a little older too!

    PHILIPPINE MARS
    Rachel H.

    (5/5) If you're even slightly interested in aviation, history, engineering, or big "how on earth did they build that?" energy -- the Pima Air & Space Museum is an absolute must. We went the day after Christmas, and honestly, it ended up being the most healing kind of "trip therapy." My husband surprised me with it at the perfect time, because I've had this lingering ache over missing a once-in-a-lifetime moment back in Oregon. I didn't make it to the coast to photograph the Philippine Mars flying past Haystack Rock (because work), and I still kick myself for it. So getting to stand in the same space as her -- in person, finally -- felt like closing a loop I didn't realize I'd been holding open. First off: for under $30, the value is unreal. This museum is massive -- not just big, but the kind of big where you keep thinking you've seen it all... and then you turn a corner and there's another hangar, another lineup, another plane that makes you stop mid-sentence. It's acres of aircraft, with 4-5 different hangars packed with exhibits, plus an outdoor collection filled with some of the largest aircraft I've ever seen displayed in one place. I loved seeing aircraft tied to so many worlds -- NASA, Boeing, the U.S. Air Force, and the Navy -- and every section felt like stepping into another chapter of flight history. The museum does an amazing job of making it all feel both educational and personal... like you're not just looking at machines, you're standing beside stories. And then there's the reason my heart was in my throat: the Philippine Mars. Seeing her there was genuinely emotional. This isn't just an airplane -- she's a legend. The scale alone is breathtaking, but it's what she represents that hits you: thousands and thousands of gallons of water, dropped in an instant, fighting fires in terrain so extreme that ground crews couldn't safely reach it. It's hard to describe what it feels like to stand under something that powerful and realize how many lives and landscapes it's protected. I also appreciated the context -- that while some people were understandably upset about her leaving Canada, there's a reality to preservation. The desert climate is a gift for aircraft conservation, and it's comforting to know she'll be protected and maintained in a place built for it. One of the biggest standouts for me was how well cared for everything is. You can tell this museum is run by people who genuinely respect the aircraft and the responsibility of preserving them. The staff and volunteers are brilliant -- not just knowledgeable, but passionate in a way that makes you want to ask questions and stay longer. The logistics behind bringing in and housing aircraft this massive must be mind-bending, and you can feel the professionalism and safety-first mindset in how everything is organized and presented. I truly adore this museum. It's a 100 out of 10 experience -- the kind of place that leaves you inspired, humbled, and grateful that someone is keeping these pieces of history alive. Tips: Wear comfy shoes, bring water, and give yourself way more time than you think you'll need -- because you'll want to slow down, read everything, and just take it all in. We'll absolutely be back.

    Fighter jet South Carolina
    David H.

    I was visiting family in the Tucson area as I do every year. While my parents moved to Tucson in 2005 and live within a few miles of the museum, I had never been there and always wanted to stop by. It was definitely worth it and made me wish I had done it sooner. It wasn't very busy and there was plenty of onsite parking. The discount structure is that Pima county residents get special pricing as well as veterans followed by senior citizens. The cost isn't very high, but they do offer 2 day packages as well as tram guided tours and self guided tours. My wife and I took to this playground of retired flying machines on foot. There's also a private hangar with WWII planes and memorabilia from a specific flying battalion. They look for private donations which we also contributed to. The volunteers are very helpful. There are so many different type of aircraft from Blackhawks, to Moby Dick planes as well as Air Force 1 and 2. You can't board any of the planes other than those specifically designated to view. All aircraft outside has signs explaining the details of their time during service. We did the tour in a couple of hours, but could have stayed much longer. If you're visiting for vacation or an air/space geek, go for the 2 day pass.

    Austin R.

    Amazing Musuem with so many aircraft. My favorite was being able to walk under the 747! It was helpful taking the tram tour first to see everything and then walk back to anything you'd like to see up close. Glad we went before it got hot because most of the aircraft are outdoors. My only wish is that you could go inside more of the aircraft that are outside!

    Andrew J. S.

    What an amazing experience in Tucson. Lady Matilda used to be Mother Hen to a squadron of Phantoms during her time in the Air Force. This museum sits at the edge of the legendary "boneyard" where hundreds of American war planes rest in pieces behind a fence. The museum is made up of a cluster of hangers around an open field of exhibits, all flying machines from the past century of flight and including some exotic, historic planes. The museum is staffed by knowledgeable volunteers, many of whom flew or maintained the planes they show off to visitors. They love to talk about their experiences and their birds, especially with children who come to see the big birds hanging from the rafters. Two of Matilda's Phantoms were on display which made her heart sing. We also visited the B-17 hanger in the 390th memorial museum inside PASM and listened to a fascinating talk by museum volunteer and decorated pilot Colonel Richard Bushong. Bushong, now 102 years old, works every Thursday and talks to visitors about his time as a WW2 bomber pilot in Europe and his experience with the B-17 in particular. He also covers his post-war career that took him all the way to Vietnam as an F-4 Phantom pilot. Sharp and witty, the Colonel's talk was a highlight of our trip. Definitely worth the money. Even in November, it's hot. The sun is out and the tarmac holds in the heat. It's also dry, so hydrate. Bring a closed bottle of ice water; fill that Stanley cup for the day. You can book a tram tour of the outdoor exhibit for extra money. It is pricey, but if you want to see it all and don't have the shoes to make the march, it may be worth it to see all the birds they have...and they have MANY. Each has a story and it is best viewed with someone who knows those stories. Otherwise, it can seem like a walk among the steel carcasses of aviation's past. The cafeteria/cantina is a mix of basic grill fare and ice cold beverages. It isn't cheap, but not ridiculously overpriced for the quality, either. The gift shop has some interesting options beyond the usual keychains and t-shirts, so save some cash for the end of the visit to help support to the museum with cool swag.

    Cait S.

    We love the Pima Air and Space museum! The staff is super friendly and there's so many cool planes in their collection. We really enjoy taking the family.

    Name plate from an old Sikorsky helicopter

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    Pima Air & Space Museum Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Pima Air & Space Museum

    How much time should be allotted to see the museum? I don't think I can spend a whole day there, but I want to see and enjoy as much as possible.

    You could definitely spend an entire day, so since your time is limited, get a map and choose which hangars to prioritize.

    I'm was wondering, are there any toosawn (Tuscan?) lizards located on the air crafts? MY BOYFRIEND really loves lizards and fighter jets and I want to make his dream come true for our special anniversary. Please help, and respond as soon as possible!

    Hi. I've also heard rumors about lizards being located on the Air Craft. I have called the museum several times to ask but they usually laugh at me. What's so funny about making an assumption that there are dessert lizards in the Air Craft? If any… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Pima Air & Space Museum

    I came here alone and easily spent 4 hours wandering around and checking out each and every aircraft on display.

    Mentioned in 118 reviews

    Read more highlights

    The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures

    The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures

    4.4(155 reviews)
    8.9 mi

    This was somewhat unusual. It is a museum dedicated to various sorts of 'miniatures' - small…read moredioramas, dollhouses, architectural models, etc. We checked it out one Friday afternoon. They have their own parking lot, though the sign was hard to spot initially (I had to loop back to get in). I think the admission fee was around $15 per person. The space is divided into several rooms. One is devoted more to fantasy / sci-fi themes. The rest is mostly segmented into a series of rooms with dollhouses and architectural models. Most of these are highly detailed. You may find something based on a place you've been - there was a Chinese structure from Shanghai that we'd coincidentally seen a long time ago, for example. There are also some figure models (historical figures) in one area. My impression was that many of the pieces were donated to the museum after the original owner / collector passed away, and their heirs wanted to do something useful with the items. The museum is a great solution to cases where you suddenly have a refrigerator-sized dollhouse that you are not personally that attached to, and don't want to store it in your own house forever. There was also a special exhibit (which I assume changes regularly) which, at the time, featured miniatures and models made by Ray Harryhausen. There is a gift shop at the entrance which you can browse without paying admission. This is worth checking out once at least, if you find the description remotely interesting. It was certainly unique.

    This is an amazing museum! If you enjoy miniatures, this place is a must-visit…read more Every piece is incredibly detailed and tells its own story. You can really appreciate the artistry and care that goes into each miniature display. The museum itself is beautiful, and the staff provides wonderful customer service, making the whole experience even more enjoyable. Be sure to keep an eye out for their special events as well

    Photos
    The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures
    The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures
    The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures

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    Arizona State Museum - Entrance

    Arizona State Museum

    3.8(17 reviews)
    8.3 mi

    Really enjoyed our visit to the Arizona State museum on the campus of ASU. This is an anthropology…read moremuseum focusing on Southwest indigenous cultures. Considering the nature of the displays (delicate and a lot of reading), the exhibits may not be that interesting for young children. All exhibits were on the first floor. The museum houses an extensive collection of southwestern indigenous pottery, with over 24,000 pieces spanning 2,000 years. Although most of the pottery collection is kept in a controlled vault to protect from humidity and temperature, there are still many pieces on display and lots of opportunity to learn. There's also a virtual tour option for the pieces in the vault. There's also a wonderful collection on the art of Native American basket making, and according to their website they house the "world's largest and most comprehensive collection". Two temporary exhibits were on Native American jewelry making and a photography exhibit on the Sámi indigenous people in Northern Europe. In the hallway, there was information on the 19th amendment, which although I appreciated, I felt that it was out of place. Overall, I learned a lot during the visit and appreciated that the museum respected the history of past and present indigenous cultures.

    I loved it!!! I had not been in years and they had really updated it. The exhibits are well curated…read moreand all the descriptions are informative and interesting. I could not believe the amount of artifacts were on display. The flow of the museum was easy to follow and it took about 2 hours to see the whole place. You could take longer or just hit a few of the exhibits. I believe everyone who lives here should go, and it's a great thing to take visitors to. It's always good to know where you live.

    Photos
    Arizona State Museum - Basket weaving

    Basket weaving

    Arizona State Museum - Entrance

    Entrance

    Arizona State Museum - Beautiful mural!

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    Beautiful mural!

    Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block - Card in the gift shop

    Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block

    4.0(99 reviews)
    8.6 mi

    Attended the opening of the new exhibit at TMA featuring new artists from the southwest. Always…read moregreat to see the art displayed with the artist in attendance to answer questions and explain their inspiration. It's a lovely exhibition that will be scheduled throughout the summer. Inspired exhibit. See it soon.

    I loved the art so I give two stars instead of one, but my rating is only so low because of the…read morestaff member who made my group feel unwelcome. It's important to note that our group was visibly made up of women of color, and we are all mostly hispanic and indigenous. For the first hour, we encountered staff members and security who just seemed like they were doing their jobs normally. No staring, no following, just observing and moving within their sections. But as we moved into the last section before the gift shop, we encountered a staff member who left a bad taste in our mouths. He was on his phone and ignoring the other (white) people in his section, but as soon as we walked in he stared really intensely at us and immediately stood up. He spent the next 45 minutes following us from room to room, making intense eye contact with us and keeping his arms crossed. If one of us moved out of his line of sight (I moved behind a pillar briefly) he moved quickly to see what we were doing. I understand he was keeping museum property safe, but we were following proper museum etiquette and nothing we were doing warranted that reaction. We kept our voices lowered, moved slowly, didn't get too close to items, etc. People of color are used to being treated with suspicion in many spaces, so I can assure you we know what it looks like when someone is keeping an eye on us. I thought it was in poor taste, though, to treat us, Mexican and indigenous women, like that, especially when we were in an art gallery viewing art by Latin American and indigenous artists. It gives the wrong impression and made us feel unwelcome when we were there to view and celebrate our own art and culture. I'm not writing this out of spite, but hopefully the museum can make sure their staff members do not continue to treat people of color differently than all people should be treated...especially when they display our art.

    Photos
    Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block - Kids creative space to draw

    Kids creative space to draw

    Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block - Modern art

    Modern art

    Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block

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    University of Arizona Museum of Art - de Kooning

    University of Arizona Museum of Art

    3.9(22 reviews)
    8.5 mi

    We had seen a documentary a year or so ago about an art theft of a de Kooning painting from this…read moremuseum ("The Thief Collector"). It was interesting so we thought that since we'd be in Tucson anyway, we'd stop by and check out the museum and the semi-recently restored artwork (the thieves died of old age and it was recovered via their estate sale, basically). The museum is located in the middle of the University of Arizona campus. There may be street parking even closer, but we parked in a multi-story public parking deck about 3 blocks away. The deck is behind a 7-11 on the corner. Fees for parking were quite reasonable (we paid less than $3 for almost an hour). Entry to the museum is free. The lady at the reception desk gave us an overview gave directions to the de Kooning when we asked (I'm guessing they get that question a lot). They weren't defensive about it. :) There were 4 main areas / displays when we visited: - the main modern galleries - the main early / medieval galleries (which were being renovated) - an exhibit of local high school art competition winners - a special exhibit of sort of grotesque charcoal nudes of late-middle aged artists We got to see the de Kooning, which is what we came for (though none of us are fans of his art, per se). It was the only work protected with a plexiglass housing (so if you come for theft, steal something else this time...). My favorite here was actually a work by Georgia O'Keefe. There was also a Calder mobile and some works by a Spanish modern artist that my daughter recognized from a class. I'm not a huge fan of medieval art, so it wasn't a huge blow to discover this area was closed. We browsed the high school stuff. Some of it was interesting. We hit the final area before leaving. They even cautioned you about 'representation of the human body', or some such, when you check in. Rather than be snarky, I'll just state that this really wasn't something I was interested in, and leave it at that. Given that this is a university-based art museum, and not some major city's premier art venue, I thought it was decent. I was glad we stopped by.

    Tons of pieces behind curtains and not on display…read more What we did see was not for us at all. One Dali piece was on display and the Georgia O'Keeffe pieces I wanted to see so badly were not on display. Maybe we came at the wrong time. Meh. Waste of time.

    Photos
    University of Arizona Museum of Art - Calder

    Calder

    University of Arizona Museum of Art
    University of Arizona Museum of Art

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    Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson - displays of pottery..

    Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson

    3.2(32 reviews)
    7.9 miMidtown

    To set expectation, Yume Japanese Gardens are on a small parcel of land and are designed to be like…read morethose you might find in a Kyoto courtyard. Bring a book, meditate, take your time. The spaces have benches and invite you to find a peaceful moment in the desert. We did. The gallery has a video (English subtitles) that has great information about creating these types of gardens, and the gift shop offers a variety of Japanese items to purchase.

    Visited this place over winter break, and I was shocked to see all the lower views. If you've been…read moreto Japan, then you might understand the place a little more. Basically, it's made up of a lot of small micro exhibits similar to like you might see in Japan in a place like where spaces are limited. The whole place is probably 3/4 of an acre but they did a wonderful job maximizing the usage of the space. You really need to take your time and sit down and just enjoy if you power through you're gonna finish it in 10 minutes and you'll miss the whole point of your visit. I think the story is really cool about the lady who created the location to show Japanese culture based on her personal experiences of living in Japan. This is something she pulled together on her own and open to the public and not for profit fashion. It might be a little pricey to enter (15 USD), but you also have to understand your money serves as a donation to keep the place running. It's clear that she's doing this on her own. And I think it's wonderful that she's so inspired to be a bridge between cultures that often are overlooked in Tucson.

    Photos
    Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson
    Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson
    Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson - A small portion of the collection

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    A small portion of the collection

    Pima Air & Space Museum - museums - Updated May 2026

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