Tucson Weekly: Listings: Museums (January 22

MUSEUMS
ARIZONA HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 949 E. Second St. 628-5774. Continuing through September: Un Tesoro de Plata: Spanish Colonial Silverwork. Drawn from works produced in the Viceroyalty of Peru, the exhibit explores the history and development of the silversmith's art in Spanish America. Continuing through January 31: Territorial Christmas, a recreation of Christmases past with antique toys, ornaments, decorated trees and a traditional Mexican nativity scene. Continuing through February 14: Pieced Connections: Traditions of Quilting. Continuing: Geronimo and the Chiricahua Apache Experience, a look at the many misconceptions and inaccurate portraits of the Apache people. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Listings ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM. 2021 N. Kinney Road. 883-2702. Get ready for "Mineral Madness" from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, January 24 and 25. See an amazing array of minerals, gems and fossils from around the world, with an opportunity to purchase your favorites. There will also be Mineral and Fossil Study Kits available for folks planning on attending the Gem and Mineral Show. Call 883-2702 for information. If you'd rather look to the sky than at the ground, join Museum General Curator Peter Siminski and Animal Keeper Sean Edwards for a Duck-Watching Field Trip from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, January 26. The trip will not require any serious walking; transportation will be provided so you can "stand around a lot, drink coffee and just watch ducks." Cost is $65, $55 for members; bring a sack lunch. Call for registration and information. Museum hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $8.95, $1.75 for kids 12 and under. Group discounts available. Call 883-3022 for registration and information.
ARIZONA STATE MUSEUM. UA campus, east of University Boulevard at Park Avenue. 621-6302. Ongoing: The Hohokam: Ancient Farmers of the Desert, an exhibition on the irrigation systems, jewelry and ceramics of the early Hohokam people. Paths of Life: American Indians of the Southwest explores the origins, history and life today of American Indians in Arizona and Northwest Mexico. Mexican Masks: Faces of the Fiesta includes 300 colorful Mexican folk-masks. Ancient Images: Plants and Animals of the Prehistoric Southwest, featuring more than 100 examples of plants and animals in prehistoric art. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday, and admission is free.
FLANDRAU SCIENCE CENTER. UA campus. 621-STAR. Ongoing: The New Martians, the story of the Mars Meteorite that contains fossils which may be signs of ancient extraterrestrial life. Under Arizona Skies explores the constellations, planets and stars that grace Arizona's clear and beautiful night sky. Dinosaur Chronicles is a fun exploration into the eras of dinosaurs featuring dinosaurs and Earth's geology. There are also laser light shows which feature a variety of eye-popping lasers and music. Showtimes vary. Exhibit and show admission ranges from $2 to $6; telescope viewing is free. Call 621-STAR for information.
FORT LOWELL MUSEUM. 2900 N. Craycroft Road. 885-3832. On permanent display: The View From The Barracks, a photographic exhibit allowing a look at the daily life of enlisted men in the garrisons of the Southwest. And Surgeons, Scalpels and Malaria, a photographic exhibit documenting army medicine during the Apache Wars.
PIMA AIR MUSEUM. 6000 E. Valencia Road. 574-9658. On display are 185 military, commercial, and civilian aircraft, including a full-scale mock-up of Kitty Hawk, a presidential plane used by news media and JFK during the 1960s, numerous photos, air and space uniforms and memorabilia. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last admittance at 4 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and military and $3 for children ages 10 to 17. Free for aviation buffs under 10.
TUCSON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. 200 S. Sixth Ave. 792-9985. Enjoy a smorgasbord of Kitchen Krafts with Saturday Artworks from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. On January 24, make a fossil; or create a rice rainstick on January 31. Museum hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3 for kids, $5 for adults and $4 for seniors. Call 792-9985 for information.
VETERANS MUSEUM. MarketPlace USA. 3750 E. Irvington Road. 740-9429. Displays depict contributions made by area veterans. Hours are noon to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. Volunteer docents needed.