Mission Garden
Mission Garden
4.5
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
About
Mission Garden is a living agricultural museum of Sonoran Desert-adapted heritage fruit-trees, traditional local heirloom crops and edible native plants. We are a non-profit, volunteer-based educational organization. Our primary mission is to preserve, transmit and revive the region’s rich agricultural heritage by growing garden plots representative of more than 4000 years of continuous cultivation in the Tucson Basin.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
14 reviews
Excellent
9
Very good
3
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
1
RVdriftwood
14 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
The historic plots are an interesting way to learn about Tucson. You see what people ate in past eras as well as the diverse peoples who have lived here. The garden is free and there are lots of volunteers around to answer questions. Well behaved dogs are allowed.
Written 20 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deborah S
Barnegat Light, NJ55 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
We visited this site as a result of an article in the Times about Linda Ronstadt’s favorite places in Tucson and it did not disappoint. The roadrunners are used to people and I got the best looks at them that I’ve ever had. The agricultural history and diversity is fascinating.
Written 16 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary M
Tucson, AZ124 contributions
May 2022
What a treasure! We thought we had visited all the great sites in Tucson but we had missed the Mission Garden until today. Our tour guide, Nancy was terrific! We experienced the agriculture history of Tucson by viewing the various gardens that demonstrate the plantings in Tucson in early history until now and learned about the contributions of all who have lived in Tucson over thousands of years. The Mission Garden has wonderful experiences available for children and adults.
Written 13 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mule54
Logan, UT529 contributions
Mar 2022
We went to Mission Garden for the monthly birdwatching guided tour (8 am start for about 90 minutes). Excellent guide for birds: Towhee, Gambel Quails,"Keith" roadrunners, and many more. The birding guide was excellent, but the added plus was getting to see these gardens, lovingly re-creating contemporary through ancient approaches including indigenous, Spanish Colonial, and Chinese. The small gift shop had some pantry items plus cards and shirts. Even eggs, herbs, vegetables, and fruit for sale--on occasion. We appreciated the passion of the volunteers who have literally made the desert bloom. Well-signed for the plants and trees. Recommended donation of $5 per individual.
Written 11 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
krlynn
Tucson, AZ226 contributions
Nov 2021
The garden is such a unique way to view Tucson's history. It's located at the base of Sentinel Peak (A mountain) which is basically the birthplace of the city. Plots in the garden trace the history and people who lived near the Santa Cruz River, from very early Hohokam people through Spanish settlers. There are also plots from Chinese, Yoeme (Pascua Yaqui), and African American people. Spring and Fall are probably the times to see the garden at its best although there is still lots to see and do at other times. There is a small museum on the property and docents to answer questions. Produce from the garden and books about the area are available for sale. Various events happen throughout the month including archeology talks, bird and book walks and craft events. If you are looking for a quiet, history-filled morning walking among the plants and history this is your place. A $5 donation is requested.
Written 1 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wanderer628177
1 contribution
Jun 2020 • Solo
First time visited no one there but afew workers or volunteers there was a nice man explaining the history of the place and how old it was it was quant, nice and quiet experience saw some chickens and road runner, some pretty flowers, trees. With labels like a big outside green house. Wasn't what I thought it was. I thought it was a garden you could buy vegetables from but enjoyed the little experience.
Written 18 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cynthia C
Tucson, AZ7 contributions
Aug 2019
Wonderful, relaxing, educational, inspiring. So great to connect with past, present and future of plants/people in this area.
Written 31 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rdsm77
Tucson, AZ406 contributions
Jun 2019 • Solo
It's just plants. I have NO idea why this was so highly recommended by docents at two other museums in town. I do appreciate what they are trying to do. A garden demonstrating the different plants grown throughout the history of Tucson is a great idea especially at the base of A Mountain.
However, again it's just plants. Other than a map detailing the period of time represented, that's all there is. No historical background provided at all. Yeah, it's nice there's a Chinese garden, but no explanation whatsoever of when the Chinese came to Tucson and where they lived. The Yoeme and African American gardens were completely empty.
The suggested donation was $5. I'm guessing the volunteer nearby saw that I did not pay so he ran over and gave me a map. Said to ask if I had any questions. I bet if I had put money in the box he would not have come over at all. Just would have kept sitting in the shade doing nothing.
So I start walking around. Did see a family of quail and a roadrunner. Other than that, it's just plants. There were some placards stating what the trees were, but any other potentially informative signs were unreadable. Looks like they were burned in the sun. Completely useless.
And the "irrigation canal" that is in the center of the gardens is just a trough of dirty disgusting water. Nice breeding ground for mosquitos. Did everyone in early Tucson die of malaria or cholera from this water? A placard explaining the nasty water would be nice even if it is just to explain that Tucson supposedly translates to "dirty water at the bottom of the hill". Quite appropriate but not explained at Mission Garden.
As I was walking around, I heard a worker talking very loudly to another worker. Sounded like Keanu Reeves in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (i.e. not very bright and perhaps high). A little later that same guy was playing some sort of flute instead of working. So weird and creepy.
I actually was planning on buying a T shirt and giving a donation because I do appreciate what they are attempting to do. Perhaps the place just needs more work or to combine resources with a historical society. However, upon returning to the front, I saw three volunteers just sitting in the shade doing nothing. Really? How about giving a tour or doing SOMETHING to make my visit worthwhile like volunteers in nearly every other place in Tucson I've visited recently? Then an older cranky woman started harassing me to buy a visor from them. No thanks. I get treated better by the shop workers in Nogales, Sonora, than these lazy people.
Glad I didn't leave a donation. I have no intention of going back. I feel like I escaped from some creepy cult. I do not recommend bringing children. Again, it's just plants. No explanations, no history, no tours, no nothing. Just plants. Complete waste of time unless you like looking at plants. And if you do like looking at plants I highly recommend Tohono Chul (or even my own backyard that's mostly dirt) rather than this place.
However, again it's just plants. Other than a map detailing the period of time represented, that's all there is. No historical background provided at all. Yeah, it's nice there's a Chinese garden, but no explanation whatsoever of when the Chinese came to Tucson and where they lived. The Yoeme and African American gardens were completely empty.
The suggested donation was $5. I'm guessing the volunteer nearby saw that I did not pay so he ran over and gave me a map. Said to ask if I had any questions. I bet if I had put money in the box he would not have come over at all. Just would have kept sitting in the shade doing nothing.
So I start walking around. Did see a family of quail and a roadrunner. Other than that, it's just plants. There were some placards stating what the trees were, but any other potentially informative signs were unreadable. Looks like they were burned in the sun. Completely useless.
And the "irrigation canal" that is in the center of the gardens is just a trough of dirty disgusting water. Nice breeding ground for mosquitos. Did everyone in early Tucson die of malaria or cholera from this water? A placard explaining the nasty water would be nice even if it is just to explain that Tucson supposedly translates to "dirty water at the bottom of the hill". Quite appropriate but not explained at Mission Garden.
As I was walking around, I heard a worker talking very loudly to another worker. Sounded like Keanu Reeves in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (i.e. not very bright and perhaps high). A little later that same guy was playing some sort of flute instead of working. So weird and creepy.
I actually was planning on buying a T shirt and giving a donation because I do appreciate what they are attempting to do. Perhaps the place just needs more work or to combine resources with a historical society. However, upon returning to the front, I saw three volunteers just sitting in the shade doing nothing. Really? How about giving a tour or doing SOMETHING to make my visit worthwhile like volunteers in nearly every other place in Tucson I've visited recently? Then an older cranky woman started harassing me to buy a visor from them. No thanks. I get treated better by the shop workers in Nogales, Sonora, than these lazy people.
Glad I didn't leave a donation. I have no intention of going back. I feel like I escaped from some creepy cult. I do not recommend bringing children. Again, it's just plants. No explanations, no history, no tours, no nothing. Just plants. Complete waste of time unless you like looking at plants. And if you do like looking at plants I highly recommend Tohono Chul (or even my own backyard that's mostly dirt) rather than this place.
Written 27 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nranger7,
I'm sorry you had a bad experience at Mission Garden. I appreciate you found some nice things to say in spite of that.
Let me write a few things that may explain some of your reactions. We are a young non-profit organization and we're still adding new things to the garden--that's why the areas that will eventually demonstrate Yoeme, African-American, and Anglo contributions to local agriculture are still empty. Before 2012, nothing at all was growing in the garden, so we've made good progress. We are working on a system of signs and a more detailed brochure to give more information about what's here.
We interpret over 4,000 years of agriculture in Tucson through growing gardens that represent different time periods and different cultures. Explanations of those gardens are in our brochure and in the exhibit room near the front gate. We are not "just plants," but there are a lot of plants in the garden and more people find them wonderful.
The volunteer who came over to you was one of our "greeters." They wanted to make sure you knew something about the garden and had a brochure that would tell you even more. They probably weren't "doing nothing." They have other things they take care of between visitors.
Yes, there are a lot of birds in the garden and we now do monthly bird walks, during which we explain something of the garden as well. Tours of the garden's plants and historical significance are available. We will be making them more regularly-scheduled later this fall.
The irrigation canal, which we call the "acequia," using the Spanish word, was very new when you saw it and the water was cloudy. It is now clearer, has a lot of aquatic plants, and has hundreds of Gila topminnows, a native fish that are very, very good at eating mosquito larvae. It is a replica of the many canals that irrigated crops here in Tucson for over 3,500 years.
The person you heard was our groundskeeper. He sings, chants and plays the flute. He is very bright and not high, unless you count being "high on life and gardening"! He's just a bit uninhibited about his music. Virtually everyone else finds it charming. I'm sorry you found it creepy.
Again, with our volunteers who greet the public, most people find them helpful and useful. I'm sorry you didn't. As for children, they have a wonderful time in the garden.
Please consider coming again as Mission Garden continues to grow both the gardens and our ability to interpret them to the public. I think you'll have a good experience. See our list of upcoming events at www.tucsonsbirthplace.org/news-events/ , and please contact us if you have any questions.
Kendall Kroesen
Mission Garden Outreach Coordinator
Mission Garden contact #: 520-955-5200
Written 9 October 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ancientmoods
Thunder Bay, Canada750 contributions
Mar 2019 • Friends
I was impressed that the trees and pants collected represent pre colonial times as well as Spanish influence. It was interesting to learn about the Mexican, Chinese, African American and Anglo influence in the area.
Written 29 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TucsonTraveller2
Tucson, AZ2,709 contributions
Nov 2018 • Family
Went and visited Mission Garden. Nice garden to see, lots of fruit trees, native plants and questions answered by docents. There are separate areas of gardens, Early Agriculture, Mexican, Chinese, African American, Spanish Colonial Vineyard & field crops and so on. On the day we went, a Saturday, there were some Native American activities, discussions and selling of items.
Written 4 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Claim your listingMISSION GARDEN: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Mission Garden
- Mission Garden is open:
- Wed - Sat 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
- Hotels near Mission Garden:
- (0.19 km) A Mountain, Walk to Mercado, Caterpillar, Streetcar, Downtown, Gem Shows
- (1.30 km) DoubleTree by Hilton Tucson Downtown Convention Center
- (0.70 km) The Tuxon
- (1.62 km) El Presidio Inn Bed and Breakfast
- (1.68 km) The Blenman Inn
- Restaurants near Mission Garden:
- (0.68 km) Agustin Kitchen
- (0.67 km) Seis Kitchen
- (0.50 km) Beaut Burger
- (0.51 km) Decibel Coffee Works
- (0.51 km) Kukai
- Attractions near Mission Garden:
- (0.37 km) Sosa-Carillo-Fremont House Museum
- (2.08 km) Tucson Food Tours
- (0.74 km) A Mountain (Sentinel Peak)
- (0.55 km) MSA Annex
- (1.64 km) Fox Theater