• Visitors will have better engagement with the rays;


• This places the Museum on the “crest of the wave” of animal touch engagement experiences; and


• It fits the culture of the Museum.


HIDDEN IN THE MIDDEN The upcoming new exhibit, Hidden in the Midden, is a highly interactive learning- at-play experience which will appeal to visitors of all ages. It will be constructed in an underground dome that covers more than 3,000 square feet of indoor, climate- controlled space. It will feature the life of a packrat from the packrat’s perspective and will provide visitors with a look at the positive side of packrats living in the desert by showing how their homes provide residences for so many other animals (think condominiums!). Packrats are responsible for much of our understanding of the last 50,000 years of natural history in this region. We’re very excited to announce that this exhibit is funded and in design, slated to be built in 2017 and open in 2018.


COAST TO CANYONS You may recall that this ambitious exhibit complex was featured in the 2015 Pima County Bond election. Unfortunately,


this funding request failed to pass and the Museum has now reconfigured this single project into two incredible (but slightly smaller) ones, the first of which connects with aquatic environments and will build around Stingray Touch. As the project moves forward, it is likely that more Gulf of California exhibits will surround the stingrays so that we can fully develop the Gulf of California theme. The exhibit will likely address island biodiversity and island endemics by featuring


species found on


some of the more than 900 islands that are in the Gulf.


The larger part of the exhibit complex (which will feature the jaguar and Mexican wolf) is likely to be reformulated into a complex that focuses on several of the biotic communities found in Sonora, Mexico, including Sinaloan Thornforest, Tropical Deciduous Forest, and some of the flora and fauna from the Sierra Madre. This exhibit complex may become a separate private philanthropy goal or it could be featured in a different Pima County bond election should the County decide to move forward with another bond in the future.


In closing, I think it is extremely important that I mention that each and every one


of these projects has been made possible by private philanthropy and the ongoing support of donors and members like you. Every exciting exhibition that is planned comes to life thanks to your support of this great institution. The Museum’s future growth and its sustenance is directly connected to its loyal and generous members.


Thank you so much. Your support is deeply appreciated.


Craig Ivanyi, Executive Director


“Every exciting exhibition that is planned comes to life thanks to your support of this great institution”


STINGRAYS HAVE ARRIVED AT THE DESERT MUSEUM! Stingray Touch Exhibit NOW Open!


The Desert Museum’s new Stingray Touch exhibit offers an opportu- nity for visitors to learn more about the Gulf of California’s rich bio- diversity and conservation efforts. This unique experience provides visitors a chance to be ‘touched by a ray.’ Yes the rays will be touching you!


Visitors will have an option to feed the rays and have a very ‘up- close-and-personal’ experience as well.


You may be asking yourself, “Why Stingrays at the Desert Mu- seum?” Did you know that the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) penetrates the very heart of the Sonoran Desert? The Gulf of California covers approximately 100,000 square miles and has more than 200 coastal wetlands and nearly 1000 islands. It is one of the most productive and biologically diverse marine eco- systems in the world. Evaporation from the Gulf provides mois- ture for the Sonoran Desert’s monsoon season as well.


OCTOBER-FEBRUARY Exhibit Hours Feeding Times


9:30am – 4pm 9:00am, 12:30pm, 3:00pm


Exhibit Admission for Members $2 per person Feeding Opportunity for Members $2 per person


We look forward to seeing you soon! For more information on this new exhibit go to www.desertmuseum.org/stingrays/


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