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Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium Turns 50, Invites Tucson Community for Free Anniversary Celebration

Thursday
Flandrau Staff
50th Anniversary of Flandrau wordmark

TUCSON, Ariz. — Exactly fifty years after Arizona’s first planetarium opened in 1975, Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium is inviting Tucsonans to celebrate five decades of inspiring scientific curiosity on Dec. 13, 2025. Guests can enjoy free planetarium shows, science exhibit admission, and interactive ways to explore Flandrau’s history. The celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1601 East University Blvd. on the University of Arizona campus. Free same-day tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis during the event. This free event was made possible thanks to the generosity of the Armstrong MacDonald Foundation. More information is at flandrau.org/celebrate50. 

Visitors can expect to see the latest version of the science center with every public space having been renovated within the past six years, creating fresh experiences for returning and first-time visitors alike. Earlier this year, Flandrau opened its latest Universe of Science exhibit and USA Today readers ranked the planetarium the fourth-best in the country.

Dec. 13 Anniversary Event Highlights

  • Visitors can now view a new temporary exhibit, the Flandrau History Exhibit, which recalls the important figures, moments, technology, and milestones that brought Flandrau into what it is today alongside a special preview gallery of the themes to be explored in Flandrau’s new astronomy exhibit, Mysteries of the Cosmos, opening in spring of 2026.
  • Guests can also explore permanent exhibits including Undersea Discovery, Wild World of Bugs, Sharks: Magnificent and Misunderstood, Fossil Corner and others.
  • Flandrau staff will be offering astrobiology demonstrations and activities that explore exoplanets, gravity wells, and eclipses on the exhibit floor at various times during the day.
  • Free planetarium shows play every hour. We Are Stars is an animated full-dome show geared towards children and families which explores our solar system’s explosive origins and plays at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Tucson Sky is a classic star talk and original program, presented live by a planetarium operator exploring the constellations and astronomical points of interests in the region’s current night sky and plays at 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Flandrau History

Originally named the Grace H. Flandrau Planetarium, the facility traces its roots to a 1972 bequest of more than $800,000 from the estate of noted author Grace H. Flandrau, a frequent winter visitor to Tucson and a prominent member of the region’s artistic and cultural community. Adjusted for inflation, that gift would be worth roughly $6.4 million in 2025. The University of Arizona used these funds to create a planetarium that could bring the wonders of science to the public.

Construction began in 1974, and the doors opened on Dec. 13, 1975. At that time, the university had already emerged as a national leader in astronomy, space science, and optics through the university’s Department of Astronomy, Steward Observatory, and the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (the latter notably helped provide NASA with detailed lunar maps for Apollo mission landings). Flandrau was designed as a community extension of this expertise, providing opportunities for formal classes, school field trips, and informal visits. The building’s colored spectrum glass brick windows fixtures have become iconic, and the structure is recognized as a Modern Architectural Classic by the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation.

Over the decades, Flandrau evolved from a planetarium into a full-fledged science center. In the 1970s and 1980s, it produced original planetarium programs and exhibits in optics, astronomy, and space science. In 1989, it was renamed Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium, reflecting its expanded mission. Recent renovations included a two-phase upgrade: a 4K fulldome projection system with Dolby 5.1 sound and updated seating and theater interior, culminating in the modern Eos Foundation Planetarium Theater, which opened in August 2017.

Flandrau Today

Flandrau today is a dynamic center for science learning, community connection, and immersive exploration, recently named the fourth-best planetarium in the country by USA Today readers. Inside the Eos Foundation Planetarium Theater, visitors experience fulldome shows with advanced projection technology and powerful surround sound. These same tools also support innovative teaching for University of Arizona students, who use the dome as a classroom to explore astronomy in ways few universities can offer.

Flandrau remains deeply committed to providing informal science learning to area schools. Free field-trip programming for public Title I schools allows thousands of young learners each year to experience astronomy and STEM, many stepping into a planetarium (or university campus) for the first time. Over the years, Flandrau has welcomed millions of visitors and continues to serve as a gathering place for major astronomical events, science lectures, laser light shows, and community programs that bring people together under the stars. As the center continues to grow with new exhibits and experiences, it remains a gateway to discovery and a place where curiosity, community, and the spirit of exploration flourish.

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Link to press packet with historic images, modern images, B-roll, and newspaper clippings:
https://arizona.app.box.com/v/flandrau-history-press-packet 
Public history page: https://flandrau.org/about-us/history 
Public event page: https://flandrau.org/celebrate50