university of new mexico
Located between Central Ave., Girard Blvd., Lomas Blvd., and University Blvd. east of I-25. (http://www.unm.edu)
The main campus makes a very pleasant diversion, with its Pueblo-Revival adobe buildings and abundant landscaping. There's a duck pond near the center of the campus, giving you a chance to relax on the lawns or feed the birds.
Maxwell Museum of Anthropology
located on Redondo Dr. just east of University Blvd. between Las Lomas and Dr. M. L. King Jr. Ave. +1 505 277-4405, (http://www.unm.edu/%7Emaxwell/). Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM, closed Su M, and major holidays. The anthropology department at UNM has been acclaimed as one of the finest in the nation, and over the years its field schools have amassed an impressive collection of artifacts. The museum has changing exhibits and two permanent exhibits; one showcasing the evolution of humans from primates, and the other focusing on the prehistoric native cultures in the American Southwest, with a reconstruction of an archaeological dig in Chaco Canyon. Free.Meteorite and Geology Museums
located in the Northrop Hall, on the Yale walkway just north of Central Ave., +1 505 277-4204, (http://epswww.unm.edu/mus...). M-F 9AM-4PM. Two nice little museums located just down the hall from each other with minerals, fossils, and meteorites from New Mexico and other places collected by UNM faculty and students. Free.University Art Museum
located in the Center for the Arts building, on the Cornell walkway near the bookstore, just north of Central Ave. +1 505 277-4001, (http://unmartmuseum.unm.edu/). Tu-F 9AM-4PM, Sa Su 1PM-4PM. Changing exhibitions of art, with a focus on New Mexico and UNM artists. Free.
old town
Located east of Rio Grande Boulevard in between Central Ave. and Mountain Rd. west of downtown.
A nice sightseeing area, Old Town is where the city was founded in 1706 and is a place where centuries of history and modern life merge; 18th century architecture with narrow brick paths is blended with adobe architecture, and there lots of little nooks and crannies, small restaurants, and specialty shops. Old Town has a central plaza with a gazebo which is bordered on the north by the San Felipe de Neri church, the oldest building in Albuquerque. In Christmas time, thousands of luminarias paper bags filled with sand and illuminated from within by a lit candle line the streets. Guided tours of Old Town are available from a private operator (http://www.toursofoldtown.com/) or from the Albuquerque Museum (http://www.cabq.gov/museu...).
There are several museums located within easy walking distance of the Old Town plaza. Most of them are on Mountain Rd., just a few blocks northeast of the Plaza.
Albuquerque Museum of Art and History
2000 Mountain Rd NW, +1 505 243-7255, (http://www.albuquerquemus...). Tu-Su 9AM-5PM except major holidays. Guided walking tours of Old Town start here. Loads of exhibits with Southwest art, artifacts from the history of colonial New Mexico and Albuquerque through the years with some pretty neat items, like conquistador armor and an antique car, and an outdoor sculpture garden. The Albuquerque Museum also operates the historic home of Casa San Ysidro (http://www.cabq.gov/museu...) in nearby Corrales for tours. $4, $2 seniors, $1 children, under age 3 free admission free first Wednesday of the month and every Sunday 9AM-1PM.American International Rattlesnake Museum
202 San Felipe St a block south of the Old Town plaza, +1 505 242-6569, (http://www.rattlesnakes.com). M-Sa 10AM-6PM, Su 1PM-5PM. This great little museum's claim to fame is the largest collection of different species of live rattlesnakes in the world. There's lots of snakes and various other reptiles and snake-related memorabilia, such as artwork and films, and the gift shop is not to be missed. $3.50, $2.50 children.¡Explora! Science Center and Children's Museum
1701 Mountain Rd NW, +1 505 224-8300, (http://www.explora.mus.nm.us/). M-Sa 10AM-6PM, Su noon-6PM except major holidays. A truly splendid science and children's museum, this museum has lots of interactive exhibits teaching science, technology, and art. There are some fantastic exhibits here, like a laminar flow fountain with water jets you can turn on and off, an experiment bar, a high-wire bike that will surely test your withstanding of heights, and a robotics lab. $7, $5 seniors, $1 children, under age 1 free.New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
1801 Mountain Rd NW, +1 505 841-2800, (http://164.64.119.7/nmmnh...). 9AM-5PM daily closed on major holidays, and non-holiday M in Jan and Sep. This splendid museum has well-constructed geological and paleontological displays which illustrate a "journey through time", covering everything from the birth of the planet to the Ice Age. There's plenty of dinosaurs around, from the statues outside the main entrance, to a T. rex in the atrium, to one massive hall with several complete and massive dinosaur skeletons. Additionally, an entire wing of the museum is devoted to astronomical exhibits, and there's also an exhibit about the birth of the personal computer, which happened right here in Albuquerque. A planetarium and a large-screen theater are also in the building. $7, $6 seniors, $4 children, under age 3 free separate fee required for planetarium and Dynatheater.Turquoise Museum
2107 Central Ave NW in the strip mall on the NW corner of Central and Rio Grande, +1 505 247-8650, (http://www.turquoisemuseu...). M-F 9:30AM-5PM, Sa 9:30AM-4PM. While the location isn't ideal located in a strip mall near Old Town, rather than in the historic district itself, this small gift shop/museum has some interesting exhibits about turquoise and its manufacture, history, and mythology. $4, $3 children.