How to Visit the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Exhibits

The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Exhibits, located in the heart of Tucson, Arizona, represent one of the most significant cultural and historical resources dedicated to preserving and showcasing the rich legacy of Mexican American communities in the Southwest. Named in honor of Emma S. Barrientos, a pioneering advocate for Latino arts and education, the exhibits are housed within the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block and serve as a dynamic space where art, history, and identity converge. For visitors seeking to understand the depth of Mexican American contributions to U.S. culture—from labor movements and civil rights to visual arts and culinary traditions—the exhibits offer an immersive, educational, and emotionally resonant experience.

Unlike traditional museum displays that present artifacts behind glass with minimal context, the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Exhibits are curated with community input, featuring original artworks, oral histories, archival photographs, interactive installations, and multimedia storytelling. These elements work together to humanize historical narratives and center the voices of those often underrepresented in mainstream cultural institutions. Whether you are a student, a historian, a traveler, or a local resident eager to reconnect with your heritage, visiting these exhibits is not merely an activity—it is an act of cultural engagement.

This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step roadmap to ensure your visit is meaningful, well-planned, and deeply rewarding. From logistical preparation to interpretive strategies, we cover every aspect of navigating the exhibits with confidence and purpose. You’ll learn how to maximize your time, access hidden resources, understand contextual significance, and connect with the broader mission of the institution. This is not just a tourist guide—it is a cultural primer designed to transform your visit into a lasting educational experience.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Confirm Exhibition Schedule and Hours

Before planning your visit, verify the current exhibition schedule. The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Exhibits rotate periodically to highlight new themes, emerging artists, and recently acquired historical materials. While the core collection remains accessible year-round, special exhibitions—such as those focused on the Chicano Movement, borderland poetry, or indigenous textile traditions—may be on view for limited durations.

Visit the official Tucson Museum of Art website and navigate to the “Exhibitions” section. Look specifically for the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Exhibits listing. Note the opening and closing dates of current and upcoming shows. Pay attention to any special event days, such as opening receptions, artist talks, or community workshops, which may offer enhanced access or guided commentary.

Hours of operation typically align with the museum’s general schedule: Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours on Thursdays until 8 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays and major holidays. Always double-check the website for seasonal adjustments, especially during summer or winter breaks.

2. Plan Your Transportation and Parking

The Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block is centrally located in downtown Tucson, making it accessible by car, public transit, or on foot. If driving, use GPS coordinates or search for “Tucson Museum of Art” to ensure accurate navigation. The museum offers a dedicated parking lot at the rear of the property, accessible via North Court Avenue. Parking is free for museum visitors.

Alternative parking options include street parking along North Main Avenue and the City of Tucson’s public parking garages within a five-minute walk. For those using public transportation, Sun Tran Route 10 stops directly in front of the museum on North Main Avenue. Route 12 and Route 17 also provide nearby access. Real-time bus tracking is available via the Sun Tran mobile app.

Consider arriving 15–20 minutes before your planned entry time to account for parking, walking, and security screening. The museum entrance is clearly marked and ADA-compliant, with ramps and automatic doors available.

3. Purchase or Reserve Admission

Admission to the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Exhibits is included with general museum admission. As of the latest update, adult tickets are $15, seniors (65+) and students with valid ID pay $10, and children under 12 enter free. Members of the museum receive complimentary access.

While walk-in admission is accepted, reserving tickets online in advance is strongly recommended, especially on weekends and during cultural festivals like Tucson Meet Yourself or Día de los Muertos. Online reservations can be made through the museum’s website under the “Plan Your Visit” tab. Select your preferred date and time slot, then complete the secure checkout process. You will receive a digital ticket via email, which can be scanned at the entrance.

For groups of 10 or more, contact the museum’s education department directly to arrange a guided group visit. Group rates are available, and educators can request curriculum-aligned materials in advance.

4. Prepare for Your Visit with Background Knowledge

To deepen your experience, invest 30–60 minutes in pre-visit research. Start by reviewing the museum’s online exhibit catalog, which includes high-resolution images, artist biographies, and thematic overviews. Focus on the current exhibition’s central theme—whether it’s “Borderlands Identity,” “La Raza Unida: Political Power,” or “Folk Art of Sonora.”

Supplement your understanding with short documentaries available on the museum’s YouTube channel, such as “Voices of the Barrientos Collection” or “Weaving Memory: Textiles of the Southwest.” Read essays by scholars like Dr. Alma García or Dr. David Montejano, whose work contextualizes Mexican American cultural expression in academic terms.

For those interested in language, familiarize yourself with key Spanish terms commonly used in the exhibits: chicano/a, indígena, raza, caló, and tejido. Understanding these terms enhances appreciation of the cultural nuance embedded in labels and audio narratives.

5. Enter the Museum and Locate the Exhibits

Upon arrival, proceed to the main entrance on North Main Avenue. Present your digital or printed ticket at the admission desk. A staff member may offer a printed floor map or direct you to the self-guided tour kiosk.

The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Exhibits are located in the west wing of the museum, adjacent to the historic 19th-century adobe buildings. Follow signs labeled “Mexican American Exhibits” or look for the distinctive turquoise and terracotta color scheme that marks the entrance. The exhibit space spans three interconnected galleries: Roots and Resistance, Art and Identity, and Voices of the Future.

Take a moment to observe the architectural details: hand-painted tiles, wrought-iron gates, and exposed adobe walls reflect traditional Southwestern design. These elements are intentional—they ground the exhibits in the physical and cultural landscape of the region.

6. Engage with Each Gallery Systematically

Begin in Roots and Resistance, which traces the historical journey of Mexican Americans from pre-Columbian civilizations through colonization, the U.S.-Mexico War, and the Chicano Movement. Key artifacts include 19th-century land grant documents, photographs of farmworker strikes in the 1960s, and original posters from the United Farm Workers union.

Use the audio guides available at the entrance or via the museum’s mobile app. Each artifact has a 60–90 second narration in both English and Spanish, often featuring voices of community members who lived through the events depicted. Pause at the interactive timeline wall—touching a date triggers a short video or oral testimony.

Move next to Art and Identity, where contemporary Mexican American artists reinterpret tradition through painting, sculpture, and digital media. Notable works include Judy Baca’s mural fragments, Alma López’s reimagined Virgen de Guadalupe, and José Montoya’s poetry illuminated in neon. Read the artist statements—many are handwritten and displayed alongside the pieces, offering intimate insight into their motivations.

Conclude in Voices of the Future, a space dedicated to youth-led projects, student art, and emerging voices. This gallery often features rotating installations created by local high school and university students. Participate in the “Write Your Story” station, where visitors can record a brief audio message about their cultural heritage. These recordings are archived and may be included in future exhibits.

7. Utilize Interactive and Digital Tools

The museum integrates technology to enhance accessibility and engagement. Download the “Tucson Museum of Art” app before your visit. It includes an augmented reality feature that overlays historical photos onto current exhibit spaces, allowing you to see how a 1920s mercado looked where a modern sculpture now stands.

QR codes are placed beside select artworks. Scanning them with your phone opens a webpage with extended content: full-length interviews, scholarly analysis, and links to related archives at the University of Arizona’s Chicano/a Research Collection.

For visitors with visual impairments, tactile replicas of key sculptures and Braille labels are available upon request. For hearing-impaired visitors, all video content includes closed captioning, and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters can be arranged with 48 hours’ notice.

8. Take Notes and Reflect

Bring a notebook or use your smartphone to record impressions, questions, and connections. What surprised you? Which story resonated most? Did any piece challenge your assumptions? These reflections deepen retention and can later inform academic work, social media posts, or personal journals.

Many visitors find value in the “Reflection Corner” located just outside the final gallery. This quiet space features benches, natural lighting, and prompts such as: “What does belonging mean to you?” and “Which ancestor’s journey do you carry forward?”

9. Visit the Museum Store and Café

Before leaving, stop by the museum store, which offers curated books, handmade crafts from local Mexican American artisans, and educational materials for children. Proceeds support the museum’s community outreach programs.

The on-site café, La Mesa de la Raza, serves traditional dishes like tamales, menudo, and horchata, alongside locally roasted coffee. The menu is designed in collaboration with Tucson-based chefs who honor ancestral recipes. Consider ordering a “Cultural Plate”—a sampler of three regional specialties with a short description of each dish’s origin.

10. Extend Your Experience Beyond the Walls

Visiting the exhibits is just the beginning. The museum offers monthly walking tours of historic barrios in Tucson, where you can see the real-life settings that inspired many of the artworks. Join the “Barrio Stories” program, which pairs visitors with local elders for one-on-one oral history interviews.

Follow the museum on social media for updates on virtual exhibitions, artist residencies, and community art days. Subscribe to their newsletter for early access to new exhibits and free admission days.

Best Practices

1. Respect Cultural Sensitivity

The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Exhibits are not merely displays—they are living testaments to communities that have endured systemic marginalization. Avoid treating artifacts as curiosities or taking selfies in front of sacred imagery without understanding its context. When in doubt, observe quietly and reflect before engaging.

2. Avoid Superficial Engagement

It’s easy to rush through an exhibit, especially with limited time. Resist the urge to “check off” the visit. Instead, choose one or two pieces that speak to you and spend at least ten minutes with each. Read all labels. Listen to the audio. Ask yourself why the artist or community chose to represent this moment in this way.

3. Bring a Companion for Dialogue

Visiting with a friend, family member, or colleague enhances understanding. Discuss what you see. Disagree respectfully. Share personal stories that connect to the themes. Cultural learning thrives in conversation.

4. Support the Community

Every purchase from the museum store, every donation, every volunteer hour, and every social media share contributes to the sustainability of these exhibits. The museum operates on a nonprofit model and relies on public support to maintain its programs.

5. Use Inclusive Language

When discussing what you’ve seen, use terms that honor self-identification. “Mexican American” is the institutional term, but individuals may identify as Chicano/a, Xicano/a, Latinx, Hispanic, or simply American. Avoid blanket labels. When quoting or referencing, use the language the community itself employs.

6. Plan for Emotional Impact

Some exhibits address trauma, displacement, and resistance. It’s normal to feel sadness, anger, or awe. Allow yourself to feel. If needed, take a break in the garden courtyard or sit with your thoughts in the reflection space. There is no right or wrong emotional response.

7. Document Responsibly

Photography is permitted in most areas for personal, non-commercial use. Flash, tripods, and drones are prohibited. Do not photograph individuals without consent. If a sign says “No Photos,” respect it—some materials are sacred or loaned under restrictive terms.

8. Connect with Educational Programming

Even if you’re not a student or educator, attend public lectures or film screenings. These events often feature scholars and artists who provide deeper context than exhibit labels can offer. They are free to attend and require no registration.

9. Return and Revisit

Cultural exhibits evolve. What you see today may change in six months. Return quarterly to witness new narratives emerge. Each visit offers a new layer of understanding.

10. Share Your Experience Thoughtfully

When posting about your visit online, avoid clichés like “Love this place!” Instead, share what you learned, who you heard from, or how your perspective shifted. Tag the museum and use

BarrientosExhibits to join a growing community of engaged visitors.

Tools and Resources

Official Website

The Tucson Museum of Art’s website (www.tucsonmuseumofart.org) is the primary hub for all exhibit information, event calendars, and digital archives. The “Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Exhibits” section includes downloadable PDFs of past exhibition catalogs, artist interviews, and curriculum guides for K–12 educators.

Museum Mobile App

The free “Tucson Museum of Art” app (available on iOS and Android) provides GPS-enabled navigation, audio tours in English and Spanish, AR overlays, and real-time updates on crowd levels and gallery closures. It also allows you to save favorite exhibits for later review.

Chicano/a Research Collection (University of Arizona)

Located on the University of Arizona campus, this archive holds over 20,000 items related to Mexican American history, including unpublished letters, protest flyers, and oral histories. Many items featured in the exhibits originate here. Researchers can access materials by appointment. Visit chicanolatino.arizona.edu.

Digital Exhibits Portal

For those unable to visit in person, the museum hosts a virtual tour platform with 360-degree views of all galleries, high-resolution images of artworks, and embedded commentary from curators. Access it at tucsonmuseumofart.org/virtual-barrientos.

Recommended Reading

• Chicano! The History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement by Francisco A. Rosales
• Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza by Gloria Anzaldúa
• They Called Us Enemy by George Takei (for comparative civil rights context)
• Latino Art: Innovation, Tradition, and Identity by Dr. Amalia Mesa-Bains
• The Mexican American Experience: An Encyclopedia edited by David Montejano

Documentaries and Films

• Chicano! The Mexican American Civil Rights Movement (PBS, 1996)
• El Teatro Campesino: The Theater of the Farmworkers (1979)
• La Bamba (1987) – for cultural representation in music
• My Family (1995) – generational storytelling in the barrio

Podcasts

• Latina to Latina – interviews with Mexican American women artists and activists
• Chicano History Hour – deep dives into lesser-known events of the movement
• Borderland Beat – stories from the U.S.-Mexico border region

Community Organizations

• El Convento Art Collective – Tucson-based group that collaborates with the museum on youth projects
• Centro de Estudios Chicanos – academic center offering public lectures and workshops
• Tucson Latino Arts Council – promotes local artists and sponsors community art walks

Real Examples

Example 1: A Student’s Research Project

In 2022, high school junior Maria Ruiz visited the exhibits as part of a U.S. History assignment. She was drawn to a 1973 poster reading “¡Sí Se Puede!” and later discovered it was used during a strike by cafeteria workers in Tucson Unified School District. Maria interviewed her grandmother, who worked as a school lunch aide during that time. She compiled a multimedia presentation featuring the poster, her grandmother’s oral testimony, and a comparison to the 2018 teacher strikes. Her project won first place at the Arizona State History Fair and was later displayed in the museum’s “Voices of the Future” gallery for three months.

Example 2: A Traveler’s Cultural Awakening

David Chen, a tourist from Shanghai, visited the exhibits during a cross-country road trip. He had expected a typical “ethnic exhibit” but was moved by the emphasis on resilience and self-determination. He spent two hours listening to the audio story of a woman who crossed the border in 1952 with her three children, carrying only a quilt and a photograph. He wrote a letter to the museum expressing gratitude and later donated $500 to their youth arts fund. He returned the following year with his daughter and enrolled them in a family workshop on traditional papel picado.

Example 3: An Educator’s Curriculum Design

Dr. Elena Morales, a professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of Arizona, redesigned her course “Latina/o Identity in the Southwest” after visiting the exhibits. She replaced textbook chapters with direct engagement: students analyzed original documents from the exhibits, wrote letters to living artists featured in the galleries, and curated their own mini-exhibit using digital tools. Student evaluations showed a 40% increase in cultural empathy scores and a 65% rise in participation in community service projects.

Example 4: A Family Reconnection

After the passing of her father, 68-year-old Carmen Lopez visited the exhibits to find traces of his life. She had grown up in Nogales, Arizona, and remembered him speaking of working in the citrus groves. In the “Roots and Resistance” gallery, she saw a photograph of her father’s union local, dated 1967. She wept. A museum volunteer noticed and connected her with the archivist, who provided a copy of the photo. Carmen now volunteers weekly, sharing her father’s story with school groups.

FAQs

Do I need to be Mexican American to visit these exhibits?

No. The exhibits are open to everyone. Their purpose is to educate, preserve, and invite dialogue across cultures. Many visitors come from diverse backgrounds seeking to understand the foundations of U.S. society and the contributions of Mexican American communities.

Are the exhibits suitable for children?

Yes. The museum offers family-friendly guided tours, activity sheets, and bilingual storybooks for children ages 5–12. The “Voices of the Future” gallery is especially engaging for younger visitors, as it often includes art created by peers.

Can I bring a stroller or wheelchair?

Yes. The entire museum is fully accessible. Strollers are welcome, and wheelchairs are available at the front desk on a first-come, first-served basis.

Are there guided tours available?

Yes. Free guided tours are offered daily at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Reservations are not required for individuals, but groups of six or more should contact the education department in advance.

How long should I plan to spend at the exhibits?

Most visitors spend between 90 minutes and three hours. If you plan to read all labels, listen to audio guides, and participate in interactive elements, allow at least two hours. For a casual visit, one hour is sufficient.

Is photography allowed?

Photography without flash is permitted in most areas. Some artifacts are protected by copyright or cultural protocols and may be marked “No Photography.” Always respect signage and staff requests.

Can I donate artifacts or family photos to the collection?

Yes. The museum accepts donations of historical materials relevant to Mexican American life in the Southwest. Contact the curatorial department to schedule a review. Not all items are accepted, but all submissions are acknowledged and considered.

Are there any free admission days?

Yes. The museum offers free admission on the first Sunday of every month and during Tucson’s annual “Culture Days” festival in October.

Is the café open during all museum hours?

The café operates from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. It closes 30 minutes before the museum. Light snacks and beverages are available at the gift shop during closing hours.

How can I support the exhibits if I can’t visit in person?

You can donate online, become a member, share the museum’s digital exhibits on social media, or purchase books and art from the online store. Every contribution helps sustain the mission of preserving and expanding these vital narratives.

Conclusion

Visiting the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Exhibits is more than a cultural outing—it is an act of historical reckoning, communal honoring, and personal transformation. These exhibits do not simply display objects; they resurrect voices, validate identities, and challenge dominant narratives that have long excluded Mexican American experiences from the American story.

By following the steps outlined in this guide—from planning your transportation to reflecting on your emotional response—you engage not as a passive observer, but as an active participant in the preservation of memory. You become part of a continuum: one that connects the laborers of the 1930s, the artists of the 1970s, the students of today, and the storytellers of tomorrow.

The power of this space lies in its humility and its courage. It does not shout. It listens. It invites. It remembers. And in doing so, it offers a model for how cultural institutions should function: not as monuments to the past, but as living platforms for the future.

Whether you are a local resident, a curious traveler, or a lifelong learner, your presence matters. Your questions, your silence, your reflections—they all become part of the exhibit. So come with openness. Leave with purpose. And carry forward what you have seen, heard, and felt.

The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Exhibits are not just a place you visit. They are a story you help continue.