Desert Laboratory
Also known as Tumamoc Hill
Many listed buildings are private homes. Please enjoy them from the street.
About Desert Laboratory
Desert Laboratory was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Oct 15, 1966: the first place in Tucson to be listed. It was named a National Historic Landmark on Dec 21, 1965, one of 35 in Arizona. Only 0 of Arizona’s 1,402 listings are older. The Register lists it for its education and science, at the national level. The listing covers 869.5 acres.
PDFRead the original nominationThe form that put it on the Register, with its history, photos and a map · 218 MB · National Archives↗1965 to today
- 1965Named a National Historic Landmark
- 1966Added to the National Register of Historic Places
- 2026On the Register for 60 years
Finding Desert Laboratory
West of Tucson off W. Anklam Rd. on Tumamoc Hill, in Tucson, AZ
No other Register listing is within a short walk. The nearest are under Around it.
13 more Register listings within 2 miles
★ National Historic Landmark · D district · B building · S site. Each opens its own page.
Other National Historic Landmarks nearby
The nearest Landmarks with a photo, within 25 miles, and the year each was named.
Memories of Desert Laboratory
The record says what it is. Neighbors know what it means.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Questions about Desert Laboratory
Is Desert Laboratory on the National Register of Historic Places?
Yes. It was added on Oct 15, 1966 (Register number 66000190).
Is Desert Laboratory a National Historic Landmark?
Yes, since Dec 21, 1965. Arizona has 35 National Historic Landmarks, 2 of them in Tucson.
Can you visit Desert Laboratory?
Our record doesn’t say whether it is open to visitors. Many listed buildings are private, so it may only be seen from the street.
Where can I read the history of Desert Laboratory?
In its National Register nomination, the form that put it on the Register: a 218 MB PDF at the National Archives, linked on this page.
Sources: National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places (05/22/2026) · National Archives catalog record 75609552 · Wikidata. Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.