The historic Arizona State Museum stands at the entrance to the University of Arizona, housing one of the most significant collections of anthropology in the Southwest. Once a staple for field trips and curious visitors, today the Renaissance Revival building sits closed, with no clear plan for reopening as it awaits extensive upgrades and maintenance.
Established in 1893 by the Arizona Territorial Legislature and officially designated the state’s official museum in 1912, Arizona State Museum showcases 13,000 years of regional and historical artifacts. The fate of the oldest and largest anthropological museum in the Southwest is tied to the financial struggles of its host, the University of Arizona.
In September, the Arizona Board of Regents denied the school’s request for $50 million in system revenue bonds for the museum’s upkeep. Regent Gregg Brewster said he’d rather see the money go toward students during the regents meeting on Sept. 26, 2024 …