Desert Laboratory
National Historic Landmark

Desert Laboratory

Tucson, Pima County, Arizona
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Building
Period
Colonial
Ref No.
66000190

About this property

The Desert Laboratory is a historic biological research facility atop Tumamoc Hill at 1675 West Anklam Road in Tucson, Arizona. It was founded by the Carnegie Institution in 1903 to study how plants survive and thrive in the heat and aridity of deserts, and was the first such privately funded effort in the nation. Beginning in 1906, numerous long term ecological observation areas were set up by Volney Spalding & Forrest Shreve on the 860 acres (3.5 km2) scientific domain of Tumamoc Hill. Nine of these are the world's oldest permanent ecology study quadrats. The facility and staff were key contributors to what is now considered the science of ecology, including participating in the creation of the Ecological Society of America in 1915 and the Ecology journal. Led by Spalding & Shreve, they also contributed innovations in conservation. Part of it was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965. The rest was added in 1987.

Location

Tucson, Pima County, Arizona
32.21842, -111.01198

Categories

EDUCATIONSCIENCE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Notable People
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Literature
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Nearby Historic Sites

Tumamoc Hill Archeological District, The
Listed
1 mi
Copper Bell Bed and Breakfast
Industrial
1.1 mi
Boudreaux-Robison House
Industrial
1.1 mi
Bray-Valenzuela House
Industrial
1.4 mi
Warner, Solomon, House and Mill
Industrial
1.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Desert Laboratory listed on the National Register?

Desert Laboratory was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Desert Laboratory?

Desert Laboratory is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Desert Laboratory a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Desert Laboratory has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Desert Laboratory?

The period of significance for Desert Laboratory is recorded as the colonial era, specifically around 1675.

Can I research the history near Desert Laboratory?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Desert Laboratory will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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