Museums, El Paso

A world-class center for Hispanic arts and culture featuring an art museum, a state-of-the-art performing arts complex, a library and genealogy center, a restaurant and gift shop. Enjoy art exhibitions throughout the year and celebrate Hispanic traditions through various festivals and celebrations including Cinco de Mayo and Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead). The Center’s facilities are also available throughout the year for private and corporate events. The NHCC is part of the Department of Cultural Affairs. https://www.visitalbuquerque.org/listing/national-hispanic-cultural-center/1094/

In the heart of Old Town just off Route 66, Albuquerque Museum is a leading institution for art, history and culture in New Mexico and the American Southwest. This family-friendly museum has interactive spaces, a sculpture garden, store, and café. https://www.visitalbuquerque.org/listings/Albuquerque-Museum/2497/

Make this your first stop to discover Pueblo Indian culture. Enjoy our interactive permanent and rotating exhibits, meet artists selling their handcrafted works, conduct research in our Library & Archives, and experience our cultural dance program—a truly unique educational opportunity (see website for days and times). Travelling with a group? Take an in-depth guided tour, or schedule a frybread-making class. Browse books, original works of pottery, turquoise jewellery, textiles, and art at Shumakolowa Native Arts. Owned and operated by the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico, Shumakolowa has been a trusted source of authentic Native American art for more than 40 years. Pueblo Harvest, our on-site full-service restaurant, features an acclaimed menu that includes regional favourites, our award-winning Tewa Taco, and freshly baked Pueblo oven bread. Pueblo Harvest is known for extraordinary regional and Native-sourced, Pueblo-inspired cuisine that blends honouring legacy and history with exhibiting artistry and modernity. We source as many ingredients as possible from the pueblos of New Mexico and other tribal communities throughout the U.S. https://www.visitalbuquerque.org/listing/indian-pueblo-cultural-center/1086/

The Titan Missile Museum is the only publicly accessible Titan II missile site in the nation. At this National Historic Landmark site, visitors stand on the front line of the Cold War. Tour the underground missile site. See the three-ton blast doors, the eight-foot thick silo walls, and an actual Titan II missile in the launch duct. Visit the launch control center, experience a simulated launch and more! Go down in history at the Titan Missile Museum! http://www.titanmissilemuseum.org/

Focused on the preservation of the Sonoran Desert, The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum will turn your idea of a museum inside out. Guests will experience a quintessential Sonoran Desert experience which includes: an unforgettable fusion zoo, botanical garden, natural history museum, aquarium and art gallery. https://www.visittucson.org/business/arizona-sonora-desert-museum?clientid=25386

The NRHC, located on the Texas Tech University campus, is a 27.5-acre museum and historical park with 50 ranching structures and objects dating back to the early 19th century. In addition to the historical park, the NRHC has 38 life-size bronze outdoor art pieces and a 44,000 square foot museum building with six galleries featuring permanent, as well as temporary exhibits of art, photography and artefacts that capture historical and contemporary Western life. A dynamic institution that tells ranching’s story, the NRHC also provides a range of educational programs for children, youth and adults focusing on pioneer history, western culture, natural resource management and other current and historical ranching subjects. https://www.visitlubbock.org/nrhc/

The Arizona Railway Museum features restored train cars from different time periods in our country’s rail history. The main building is a re-creation of the original Chandler depot, and showcases original rail company china and glass, rail cars, movie set rail cars and many others reside at this museum, and can be explored at your leisure. https://www.visitchandler.com/listings/arizona-railway-museum/10/

One of the premier museums in the state! “Dinosaur Mountain” is the largest dinosaur exhibit west of the Mississippi River. See a constantly flowing 50-foot-high indoor waterfall and hear the thrilling roar of life-size, animated dinosaurs, including a saber-tooth cat and a Columbian Mammoth. http://arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org/plan-a-visit/mesa-grande

The Chandler Museum campus features both locally produced and nationally travelling exhibits exploring culture, history, and art; the East Valley History Center for researchers; educational programming in the new classroom; and more. Reopened in December 2018, the new museum boasts a new 10,000 square foot facility adjacent to the historic McCullough-Price House. The modern building is the centrepiece of the new museum campus and it was designed to complement the historic house, preserving and honouring the past while representing our progress as a community with a bright future. Visitors to the Chandler Museum also can see Infinite Shade. This sculpture, by artist Jeff Zischke, functions as a shade structure for the museum’s outdoor courtyard during the day and at night it is bathed in multicoloured light. Chandler Museum is an interdisciplinary learning environment where the community comes together to share its stories, preserve its cultural heritage and experience Chandler as a people and place. The vision of the Museum is to be the community’s principal resource to explore its people’s history, culture, and their place in the rapidly changing world of today. https://www.visitchandler.com/listings/chandler-museum/261/

The museum is owned by the City of Scottsdale and managed and operated by Scottsdale Museum of the West, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. It relies upon private support including tax-deductible contributions, memberships, exhibition and program sponsorships, and private hosting of events to fund its operation. http://scottsdalemuseumwest.org/about-us/mission/

Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park, a section of the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, Natural Resources Division, was donated to the city in 1924 and a museum was opened on the site in 1929. https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/arts-culture-history/pueblo-grande/about-the-museum

The Rosson House Museum is a fully-restored 1895 Queen Anne Victorian house museum which interprets the history of Phoenix. Tours of the house include all living areas and offer visitors a glimpse into the lifestyles of early Phoenix families. https://heritagesquarephx.org/visit/the-rosson-house/

Arizona Science Center provides exploration, education and entertainment for all ages. Nestled in the picturesque setting of Heritage and Science Park, the Science Center is a unique landmark designed by renowned architect Antoine Predock. The combination of ramps, hallways, galleries and terraces in this 140,000-square-foot building creates an intriguing environment of investigation and discovery. The Center contains four levels of exciting “hands-on” exhibits, a state-of-the-art planetarium, and a 5-story high giant-screen theater. The exhibits and galleries are designed to educate and entertain kids of all ages – from pre-K to gray! Located in the heart of downtown Phoenix, the Science Center is within walking distance to nearby attractions such as Heritage Square, Phoenix Convention Center, Talking Stick Resort Arena, Chase Field, the Arizona Center and more. The Center is located at 7th and Washington Street and is accessible from Interstates 10 and 17, as well as the Metro Valley Light Rail. https://www.visitphoenix.com/listing/arizona-science-center/54/

The Heard Museum was established in 1929 by Dwight and Maie Heard and is dedicated to the portrayal of Native arts and culture. The museum has partnered with American Indian artists and tribal communities to highlight the world the art and culture of Native people. https://heard.org/

The original Pioneers' Cemetery Association was formed in 1938 for the purpose of preserving the seven historic cemeteries near the State Capitol Complex. These cemeteries, which now comprise the Pioneer & Military Memorial Park, were in use from 1884 to 1914 and hold the remains of many of Phoenix's pioneering families. http://www.azhistcemeteries.org/

Desert View is a small settlement on the South Rim located 25 miles/ 41 km east of Grand Canyon Village, and near the eastern edge of Grand Canyon. Arizona Highway 64, Also known as Desert View Drive, is a scenic road that connects Desert view with Grand Canyon Village. Also discover The Tusayan Ruin, is the remains of a small Ancestral Puebloan village located 3 miles (5 km) west of Desert View. This was a thriving community that created pottery, arrowheads and other household artifacts. https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/desert-view.htm

As a true preservation of Colorado’s western past, Ghost Town Museum is a fun and historic look back at an old west town during the late1800’s and early 1900’s. Lots of hands-on activities for all ages https://www.visitcos.com/directory/ghost-town-museum-museums/

In the heart of the KIng William Historic District lies this intimate house turned museum. Focusing on Texas artists, it proudly holds over 400 works in its permanent collection. Works in all media - including paintings, drawings, prints and photographs - hang with ceramics and sculpture. Revolving contemporary exhibits highlight both local and regional artists, and represent the unique work of Texas talent. https://www.saalm.org/

The Witte Museum, where nature, science and culture meet, hit an exhilarating milestone in March of 2017, when the new Witte opened its doors to visitors after more than 170,000 square feet of renovation and expansion. Massive new exhibitions on dinosaurs, People of the Pecos and Texas Wild highlight changes at the new Witte, located on the banks of the San Antonio River. http://visitsanantonio.com/Browse-Book/Attractions/Witte-Museum

One of the learning museum in the city of Laredo. http://www.kgns.tv/content/news/South-Texas-Imaginarium-Hosting-H-E-B-Free-Family-Fun-Nights-413180583.html

The Republic of the Río Grande® Museum is housed in one of Laredo’s oldest structures located on San Agustín Plaza in downtown Laredo. The museum is a Mexican vernacular structure, constructed in 1830 with an 1860 addition. http://webbheritage.org/museums/republic-of-the-rio-grande-museum/

The Aspen Art Museum is a non-collecting institution presenting the newest, most important evolutions in international contemporary art. Our innovative and timely exhibitions, education and public programs, immersive activities, and community happenings actively engage audiences in thought-provoking experiences of art, culture, and society. In 1976, a City of Aspen vote led to the acquisition and development of an out-of-use building at 590 North Mill Street that became the Aspen Art Museum’s first home until 2014. Built in 1888, the Hunter Creek Power Plant first served the city’s silver mining operations while also enabling Aspen to be the first city west of the Mississippi to have streetlights powered by hydroelectric energy. Supporting a recommendation that an art space would offer the most creative and adaptive community service, the City assisted efforts to rehabilitate the disused structure. By November 1977, the Aspen Center for the Visual Arts (ACVA) was incorporated within the state of Colorado, and in August 1978, the ACVA board selected its first director, Philip Yenawine. https://www.aspenartmuseum.org/about

Museum presents traditional and contemporary Mexican and Latin American art and culture. https://www.austintexas.org/listings/mexic-arte-museum/1620/

Founded in 1963, the Blanton Museum of Art is one of the foremost university art museums in the country and holds the largest public collection in Central Texas. https://www.austintexas.org/listings/blanton-museum-of-art/1580/

The Austin Fire Museum is located in Austin’s Central Fire Station No. 1 in the heart of downtown Austin, Texas. The firehouse is Austin’s busiest station, which includes Quint 1, Engine 1, Engine 13, Austin EMS Medic 6, and the AFD Shift Commander. The station was built in 1938 and is a piece of history in and of itself. The station and museum are next door to the O’Henry Museum and Susanna Dickinson Museum and is just one block south of the famous Sixth Street District. https://www.austintexas.org/listings/austin-fire-museum/9033/

This museum is the one-time home the “Messenger of the Alamo,” Susanna Dickinson, a survivor of the 1836 Battle of the Alamo who carried the news of its fall to General Sam Houston. Her eyewitness account of the battle remains a benchmark for historians. Inside, the museum houses rare Dickinson family artefacts and a library area where you can peruse the history of early Texan life and other historic frontier women. Her home was opened as a museum on March 2, 2010, Texas Independence Day. https://www.austintexas.org/listings/susanna-dickinson-museum/5900/

The Elisabet Ney Museum is the historic 1892 Austin studio of European-born sculptor and activist Elisabet Ney (1833-1907). It features her own work—large scale classical style portraits of 19th-century European intellectuals, statesmen, and royalty, as well as Texas notables—and exhibitions of contemporary art, both on the grounds and inside the building. Part of the 2.5 acre site features a historic prairie recreation. Admission is free and events are held year-round. https://www.austintexas.org/listings/elisabet-ney-museum/1523/

Designed by renowned architect Philip Johnson (1906-2005), the Amon Carter Museum of American Art houses a preeminent collection of American art including painting, sculpture, and works on paper; it has been a Fort Worth institution since 1961. The collection spans early nineteenth-century expeditionary art to mid-twentieth century modernism and includes masterworks by artists such as Frederic Church, Stuart Davis, Arthur Dove, Thomas Eakins, Winslow Homer, Georgia O'Keeffe, and John Singer Sargent. The museum is one of the nation's major repositories of American photography and holds the archives of luminaries such as Nell Dorr, Laura Gilpin, Eliot Porter, and Karl Struss. https://www.fortworth.com/listings/amon-carter-museum-of-american-art/3652/

The Kimbell's permanent collection contains holdings ranging from the third millennium B.C. to the mid-20th century, and includes major works by Fra Angelico, Velazquez, Bernini, Rembrandt, Goya, Monet, Cezanne, Picasso, Mondrian and Matisse. https://www.fortworth.com/listings/kimbell-art-museum/2703/

Experience the world-renowned architect Tadao Ando’s “Arbor for Art” in Fort Worth. The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth maintains one of the foremost collections of international modern and contemporary art in the country. See the work of Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, and Mark Rothko. https://www.fortworth.com/listings/modern-art-museum-of-fort-worth/4178/

Built in 1899, Ball-Eddleman-McFarland House is Fort Worth's premier example of Queen Anne-style Victorian architecture. Turrets, gables, copper finials, a slate tile roof and a porch of red sandstone and marble highlight the late-Victorian exterior. The interior includes original ornate oak mantles, cornices, coffered ceilings, paneling and parquet floors. The house is available for individual and group tours. https://www.fortworth.com/listings/ball-eddleman-mcfarland-house/5368/

Buffalo Bill Cody remains the ultimate Old West icon. One of his final wishes was to be buried on Lookout Mountain above Denver, and his grave site at Lookout Mountain Park is free to visit. As part of the Denver Mountain Parks system, the park offers an engaging museum dedicated to the life and times of Buffalo Bill and his internationally known Wild West show, a curio shop and café located in the historic log Pahaska Tepee building, short walking and hiking trails, a picnic area featuring one of the oldest mountain rustic picnic shelters in the Denver Mountain Parks system, and sweeping vistas from mountain to plain. While you’re there, look for Sitting Bull’s eagle feather headdress in the museum, have a buffalo burger at the café, and enjoy a rustic mountain experience only 12 miles from Denver. http://www.buffalobill.org/

Clyfford Still is considered one of the most important American artists of the 20th century and an originator of the Abstract Expressionism movement. With more than 3,000 artworks in the collection, the award-winning Clyfford Still Museum is the home to 95% of Still's artworks. Unlike any other museum experience, the Clyfford Still Museum features an entire life in paintings. https://www.denver.org/listing/clyfford-still-museum/7316/