Located just west of Tucson, Arizona, it features two miles (3.2 km) of walking paths traversing 21 acres (8.5 ha) of desert landscape.

[6] The nonprofit organization focuses on the interpretation of the natural history, plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert.

There he had developed a similar approach to displays, working with native plants and animals to create a regionally focused collection.

"It was an informal show, almost always having live animals and human guests, and focusing on the natural history of the desert as well as happenings at the museum."

The 1,100-square-foot (100 m2) aquarium highlights the roles of the Colorado and other rivers in the region, as well as the Gulf of California, from which the water brought by the monsoon is essential to life in the Sonoran Desert.

Visitors can observe prairie dogs and learn the region's history through a replica of a mammoth kill site.

Life on the Rocks is a multi-species exhibit focusing on the habitat and species most often encountered amid the region's rocky slopes.

Visitors enter a tunnel and walk below ground into a dimly lit corridor where various creatures, such as kit fox, kangaroo rat, and ringtail, are featured.

Currently on exhibit in the Riparian Corridor area are a river otter, bighorn sheep, coatis (also known as coatimundis), beavers, native fish and aquatic invertebrates (i.e., dragonflies and snails).

The fiber fencing there are designed to be almost invisible to the eye, aiming to make the enclosure feel like naturally open space.

Mexican wolves and thick-billed parrots also showcased in this area are no longer present in the Sonoran Desert.

There is a walk-in aviary with northern cardinals, Gambel's quail, ducks, doves, and many other species of native birds.

The Earth Sciences Center-Cave is an artificial cave constructed with arches, side chambers and a tunnel for visitors to explore its 75-foot length.

Three different levels of demonstration gardens display various species of plants that can be used in landscaping for homes in the Sonoran Desert region.

The museum's gardens display this ecosystem and represent a variety of biotic communities found within the Sonoran Desert region.

Each program presents two species, which could be any combination of the following: This birds-of-prey demonstration is held in the open desert and spectators watch from the flight path.

At these stations, docents offer presentations with live reptiles, birds, or mammals, or with animal skulls, skeletons, or fossil remains.

Some stations interpret the geology of the Sonoran Desert region including rock formations and semi-precious stones.

Current work includes studies of pollination and seed dispersal (how plants survive and get around), and the effects of climate change on regional ecological communities.

The Living Collections staff of the museum, are involved in collaborative species survival projects, working with outside agencies and scientists.

The digital library is an interactive site that has a kid's page with videos, animal sounds, and games.

It has published six picture books for children in both English and Spanish and several pocket guides to hummingbirds and other birds, plants, lizards, snakes, beetles, etc.

In collaboration with the University of Arizona Press, the division has co-published several technical books in the Studies in Natural History Series, featuring research on topics from pollinators, to water in the desert, to the Sea of Cortez.

After serving in World War II and getting married, he relocated to El Paso, Texas where he received his college degree in broadcasting.

Soon the popularity of his talks increased and he started bringing creatures from the museum to schools, hospitals, county fairs, etc.