As the most populous city in the state of New Mexico, it comes as no surprise that Albuquerque is home to a host of museums that exhibits anything ranging from turquoise to dinosaur skeletons to native Indian artifacts. If you find yourself in the area, here are a few museums that are well worth a visit. 
- The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
This museum strives to preserve the unique natural and scientific heritage of New Mexico, and also to educate the public through exhibits, talks, and programs. The big, two-story building houses impressive dinosaur constructions, ice age cave replicas, minerals, and even a walk-through volcano. If you are interested in understanding how the process of paleontological preparation works, a group of trained volunteers at FossilWorks, currently working on fossils from a Jurassic site, will be all too willing to demonstrate the intricacies of this process.
Apart from exhibits, the museum also houses a planetarium, as well as a dynatheater where you can watch 3D movies such as “Volcanoes: The Fires of Creation” and “National Parks Adventure.” The museum also regularly hosts talks and events, such as an upcoming laser show focusing on the night sky, specifically focusing on Orion, and Perseus and Andromeda.
The museum is located at 1801 Mountain Road and is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
- The Holocaust and Intolerance Museum of New Mexico
The Holocaust and Intolerance Museum is small in size, but it has an important message to relay about genocide and intolerance in our world. Exhibits at the museum include art on the Holocaust, Nazi memorabilia, the Czech Torah, which survived the onslaught of World War II, as well as exhibitions on the Armenian genocide, and the Native American Cultural genocide. The museum also houses various educational resources, as well as an in-house library. The small staff and volunteers are knowledgeable and informative.
This museum is located at 616 Central Avenue and is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.
- Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
This center opened in 1976 with the purpose of preserving Pueblo culture. It showcases rare artifacts such as Pueblo art, pottery, baskets, murals, and jewelry. You can also learn more about Pueblo culture and history through dance demonstrations, as well as about Pueblo cuisine, served at the on-site restaurant. On the menu are dishes such as a Hazruquive Stew, prepared with local white hominy, bean sprouts, corn broth, yellow corn, and piki bread, or Antlers and Maize, which is sage-braised elk, served with white porridge and wild spinach.
Although exhibits rotate at this museum, the mainstay exhibit, called “We Are of This Place: The Pueblo Story,” tells the story of these incredibly resilient people.
The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.
Visiting a museum is both entertaining and informative. If you are in the Albuquerque area, be sure to go check these interesting museums out.
Image via Flickr by Rob Hurson used CC By
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