Located in the lovely Tucson suburb of Casas Adobes and set against the backdrop of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Tohono Chul is a botanical garden, museum, and cultural center. Named “desert garden” in the language of the Tohono O’odham people, Tohono Chul aims to connect residents and visitors with the beauty of nature and the culture of the Sonoran Desert’s native inhabitants.
The History of Tohono Chul
Tohono Chul sits in an area that was once used for growing citrus and date palms. The site itself was sold to Samuel W. Seaney in 1931, who divided the area into regions for real estate and sold the lot that would become Tohono Chul to John T. deBlois Wack in 1937. Although Wack built a house on the property, he spent little time there and the site was sold several more times before Richard and Jean Wilson began purchasing land to create a park in 1966. Over the years, the Wilsons worked to preserve the land they’d bought, eventually turning this property into Tohono Chul.
Tohono Chul Today
Today, Tohono Chul includes a botanical garden, riparian habitat, and unique geology wall exhibit, as well as the Saguaro Discovery walking trail and a small desert palm oasis. Visitors can walk through the Wack’s original 1937 home, now the Exhibit House, as well as visit the La Galeria Museum Shop and La Fuente Museum Shop. The Tohono Chul Garden Bistro serves a breakfast and lunch menu featuring favorites made with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Situated in the building that once served as Jean Wilson’s Haunted Bookshop, the Desert Discovery Education Center now hosts Tohono Chul’s many educational and community enrichment programs.
This article is part of our popular blog series, Arizona’s Amazing Roadside Attractions.pima
