10 Best Museums in Albuquerque

Located in historic Old Town, Albuquerque Museum is a cultural institution that pays homage to the arts of the American Southwest through exhibits, events, and educational programs. Founded in the 1960s, this New Mexico icon is renowned for its mesmerizing indigenous collections, awe-inspiring sculpture garden, and masterwork installations.

View works by famed modernist Georgia O’Keefe, Cochiti artist Diego Romero, and founding member of the Taos Society of Artists: Ernest Blumenschein. Afterward, stop by Casa San Ysidro, the museum’s adobe property in the town of Corrales, where you’ll discover jewelry, religious art, and Hispanic and Pueblo pottery.

The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science in Albuquerque is committed to the preservation of the state’s natural and scientific heritage through its permanent collections, temporary exhibits, and focus on education. Here, you can traverse planet Earth from its inception all the way through to the Ice Age while learning about dinosaurs, volcanoes, grasslands, and caves.

After you’ve interacted with New Mexico’s native flora and fauna at the Naturalist Center, pay a visit to The Planetarium and be awestruck by its full-dome theater that’ll have you flying through the solar system to touch the glittering constellations. Check the museum’s online calendar too for all the latest events and workshops.

Founded in the 1960s, the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in Albuquerque is America’s only congressionally chartered museum in the field of atomic energy. Here, you’ll learn all about the history of nuclear weapons and technology through an array of permanent exhibits and alternating displays.

Inform yourself about the origins of atomic theory, the politics of World War II, the escalation of the Cold War, and the amazing advancements of nuclear medicine. Later, explore the museum’s 9-acre Heritage Park which is jam-packed with all things warfare including planes, cannons, bombs, missiles, and rockets.

Founded by Holocaust survivor Werner Gellert and his wife, Frances, the New Mexico Holocaust Museum and Gellert Center for Education in Albuquerque offers an insightful look at genocide through first-hand stories and rotating exhibits. At the heart of this initiative is an aim to inspire – by teaching others how to confront hate and reject bigotry.

Permanent displays explore the Holocaust, African America slavery, the Czech Torah, and the Armenian genocide. This important museum also hosts a number of events throughout the year, so make sure you check the official website.

Situated in a show-stopping modern castle, the Turquoise Museum in Albuquerque is a historic treasure trove devoted to the Southwest’s iconic blue-to-green mineral. A multi-generational family operation, the venue houses the largest collection of natural turquoise on the planet including rare Grecian carvings, old-world artifacts, and Native American jewelry.

Discover the history of this coveted gemstone, see how turquoise is graded, and learn to tell an imitation rock from the ‘real deal’ on a guided or self-guided tour. Every piece here has its own special story to tell, including a beaded turquoise Swarovski chandelier.

Set on the banks of the Rio Grande River in Albuquerque, ABQ BioPark Zoo is a 64-acre wonderland that offers exciting encounters with a large assortment of creatures. Over 250 species of exotic and native fauna roam the zoo’s natural environs including monkeys, polar bears, mountain lions, and iguanas.

Walk on the wild side with a Komodo dragon named Indah, ride the endangered species carousel, take to the water on a pedal boat, or watch scuba divers feed sharks in the aquarium tanks. Afterwards, wander 1.5 miles of paths in the magical botanic garden before treating yourself to a meal at the Wildflower Café.

Located in the heart of Old Town Albuquerque, the Explora Science Center and Children's Museum boasts over 250 interactive exhibits across the realms of science, mathematics, technology, art, and engineering. With activities exploring gravity, water, shadows, and crafts, this is a fun day out for the whole family

Unleash your inner mad scientist at the Experiment Bar, manipulate energy at My Chain Reaction, or investigate the principles of architecture at the Rotary Pavilion. After learning about human perception at the Paradox Café immerse yourself in iridescent spheres at the Curious Bubbles installation.

Located in the historic Colorado Telephone Company building in Albuquerque, the Telephone Museum of New Mexico offers a fascinating glimpse into all things that ring – from rotary dial devices and old-school switchboards to automated calling systems.

Set over 4 unique floors, you’re invited to marvel at audio exhibits, photographic collections, and research archives (including phone directories for almost every town in New Mexico, dating back to 1916). A tour will tell you all you need to know about the state’s communications sector as well as tales of the heroes that traveled Route 66.

A contemporary museum located in downtown Albuquerque, 516 ARTS is an inclusive, independent, not-for-profit organization that celebrates thought-provoking creativity imbued with thematic importance – from immigration and the environment to feminism and Latin American culture.

Within its walls, a veritable feast of sculptures, paintings, and multimedia works are to be found (check the museum’s website for information on their latest exhibitions). Special events and workshops are always on the calendar too, including public forums and panel discussions.

When in Old Town Albuquerque, stop by the Rattlesnake Museum & Gift Shop for all things scaly and reptilian. The venue houses the largest collection of live rattlesnake species in the world and is wholly dedicated to conservation.

See the rattlers up close, browse a collection of snake-related art and memorabilia, or glimpse the live Gila monster – a native of the Southwest and America’s only venomous lizard. This one-off museum also hosts international viper research events and is home to a quirky little gift shop.