Albuquerque Museum of Art and History facts for kids
| Albuquerque Museum | |
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| Established | 1967 |
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| Location | 2000 Mountain Road NW Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| Type | Art museum History museum |
The Albuquerque Museum is an exciting place in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It's a museum that shows off amazing art and tells the story of history. You can find it in the Old Town area. The City of Albuquerque runs this museum.
This museum is all about keeping the art of the American Southwest alive. It also shares the long history of Albuquerque and the Middle Rio Grande Valley. The museum helps with many fun and educational programs in the city. You can see art from the Southwest and how it connects to the rest of the world. Plus, there are 400 years of Albuquerque's history, with both permanent displays and special shows.
Contents
Discovering the Museum's History
The museum first opened its doors in 1967. Back then, it was called the Museum of Albuquerque. It started in a temporary spot, which was an old airport building.
In 1975, people voted to build a new, permanent home for the museum. This new building was designed by a local architect named Antoine Predock. It opened in 1979 in Old Town. Later, in 2005, the museum got a big expansion.
Exploring the Museum's Exhibits
The museum has many cool things to see. Its main exhibits focus on art from New Mexico and the history of Albuquerque. You can see old maps, armor from conquistadors, beautiful weavings, and other items from early colonial life in New Mexico.
The museum also has changing exhibits that are updated often. There's a huge photo archive with many old pictures. You can also explore art galleries and an outdoor sculpture garden. The museum's collections include about 10,000 artworks, 35,000 historical objects, and 130,000 photographs.
Permanent Art and History Displays
The museum has three main exhibits that are always there for you to explore:
- Common Ground: Art in New Mexico: This exhibit shows the rich art history of New Mexico.
- Only in Albuquerque: This display focuses on the unique history of Albuquerque itself.
- Sculpture Garden: You can walk around outside and see many amazing sculptures. The City of Albuquerque even has a mobile app to guide you through the garden!
Visiting Casa San Ysidro
The Albuquerque Museum also offers tours of a special house called Casa San Ysidro. This house is from the late 1700s and is located in Corrales, New Mexico.
Casa San Ysidro shows what a 19th-century rancho (a type of farm or ranch) was like. It includes a family chapel, a central courtyard (called a plazuela), and an enclosed area for animals.
