Best Albuquerque Museums for Families to Visit
Albuquerque is the largest and most populous city in New Mexico, with a population of about 1,162,523 in 2023. This city is also known as ABQ, Burque, and Duke City.
There are a lot of historic buildings in this city, such as Albuquerque museums, churches, and Native American shops that sell handmade products. It is also the center for science and art.
There are many museums in Albuquerque in the fields of science and history; in this post, we will mention the top 5 Albuquerque museums worth visiting.
Albuquerque Museum in the Old Town Neighborhood
It was opened in 1967 and is known as the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History. This museum, which is operated by the Albuquerque Department of Arts and Culture, preserves the 400-year history of Albuquerque and the middle New Grande Valley of New Mexico.
This is one of the best Albuquerque museums that includes a massive photo archive, Art galleries, an outdoor sculpture garden on the ground, around 10,000 artworks, 35,000 historical objects, and 130,000 photographs in the photo archive.
Albuquerque Museum is family-friendly because it has activities suitable for both adults and children. Also, it is a bike-friendly and wheelchair-accessible museum. Also, you can buy some drinks and food here as there are restaurants available.
In order to buy Albuquerque Museums tickets, you can book online or easily call 1-877-466-3404 and select option 2 to be connected to a ticket specialist.
The museum tickets cost $6 for adults, $4 for seniors aged 65+, $3 for children aged 4 to 12, and are free for children under 4 years old. Every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the first Wednesday of every month are free admission days.
Albuquerque Museum is located at 20 First Plaza NW, Suite 601, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102, and its opening hours are 9 am to 5 pm every day except Mondays.
If you happen to be in New Mexico near the new year, you can check the events on the Albuquerque Museum website and participate in a celebration, listen to jazz music, and enjoy.
New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science near the Tiguex Park
It is one of the best Albuquerque Museums in New Mexico, located near the old town of Albuquerque.
New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science contains many exhibits, including temporary and permanent; the permanent exhibit is like a journey through 13.6 billion years ago, from the universe’s birth to the Ice Age.
It has a dedicated floor for Astronomy and Space Exploration with many telescopes.
Moreover, you will learn a lot about history and science and enjoy being there, as it has a very friendly staff and knowledgeable speakers.
You can visit this museum from 9 am to 5 pm on Wednesday to Monday.
Besides all these facilities, their prices are great. It costs between $6 and $8 per person, depending on their age.
Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum near Old Town Albuquerque
This is one of the most interactive Albuquerque Museums located near the old town. The name Explora Museum comes from the Spanish word “Explorar.”
There are more than 250 exhibits and hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering, art, and math in the Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum. Besides these exhibits, there is a performance theater, workshop, gift shop, and educational program area.
Explora has the Association of Science – Technology Center (ASTC) membership. It is an ideal learning center for children, as they will enjoy the process of learning, also, it is a clean, organized, and fun place to learn.
Every day, there are some events, and if you check their website, you can get more details and reserve a ticket. Explora Museum ticket prices range between $7 to $11, with $7 for children (aged 1-11) and $11 for adults (aged 12-64).
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History on Eubank Boulevard
This is one of the best Albuquerque Museums at 601 Eubank Blvd SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and it was also named the Sandia Atomic Museum and National Atomic Museum, established in 1969.
The National Museum of Nuclear Science and History serves as America’s resource for nuclear history and science. It includes many exhibits giving information about Scientific, Historical, and cultural aspects of the Atomic Age of the United States.
People who are interested in the history of the atomic age will find this museum fascinating. It will remind people of the prices that were paid for their freedom.
If you would love to know more about nuclear science, you need to travel to the other side of the coast, to Boston, to visit one of the most famous museums in Boston, the Museum of Science of Boston. There, you will observe the mathematics and tests done to achieve nuclear capabilities of today’s nuclear might.
In order to learn more about the atomic age, you can visit the National Museum daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Tickets cost between $10 and $17, but kids under 5 get in for free, which you can purchase online from the museum’s website.
Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum
It is one of the most beloved Albuquerque museums and cultural landmarks, with a view of the Sandia Mountains, which is owned by the city of Albuquerque.
Here, you can do many amazing activities throughout the year and participate in different events and exhibits in the fields of the history, science, and adventure of ballooning. Also, recently they have opened 2D and 4D movie theaters.
This museum provides both educational and entertainment to teach you all about balloons, like how they are made, how they fly and land, and what will cause their flying.
The adult entrance fee for Anderson Abruzzo is $6. Except on Mondays, it is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, and it is free on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on the first Friday of each month.
List of Free Museums in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Besides the places we’ve already talked about, there are some that are always free for people who are on a budget. There are 3 museums in Albuquerque these museums include; the University of New Mexico Art Museum, the New Mexico Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society, and the Telephone Museum of New Mexico.
