El Paso Museum of Archaeology facts for kids
The sign outside the El Paso Museum of Archaeology with the Franklin Mountains in the background.
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| Established | 1977 |
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| Location | 4301 Transmountain Road, El Paso, Texas |
| Type | Archaeology |
The El Paso Museum of Archaeology is a special place where you can travel back in time! It tells the story of people who lived in the El Paso, Texas area thousands of years ago, long before written history. This period is called prehistory.
The museum is located in Wilderness Park, right at the foot of the beautiful Franklin Mountains. It's next to the National Border Patrol Museum and surrounded by the Castner Range National Monument. This location is perfect because there are many real archaeological sites nearby, including ancient rock art and villages from the Mogollon people. Every year, about 42,000 people visit to explore this amazing history.
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Museum History
The museum first opened its doors in 1977. The spot was chosen because so much history is buried right there in the ground! The El Paso Heritage Foundation helped create Wilderness Park, where the museum is located. Today, the El Paso Archaeological Society works with the City of El Paso to run the museum and take care of its treasures.
What's Inside the Museum?
The museum is filled with amazing artifacts that show what life was like for 14,000 years in this region. The collection includes items from the El Paso area, the American Southwest, and northern Mexico.
Incredible Artifacts
You can see all sorts of fascinating objects that people made and used long ago. Some of the amazing items on display include:
- Cloth made from agave fibers that is 800 years old!
- Pottery, jewelry, and other items that people traded with each other.
- Art and objects from ancient cultures in Mexico.
The museum also has cool dioramas, which are like 3D scenes that show you what life was like for the Casas Grandes and Jornada Mogollon people. It's like looking through a window into the past!
Fun Events and Activities
The museum is more than just a quiet place with old objects. It hosts exciting events for everyone to enjoy!
Festivals and Conferences
- Annual Franklin Mountain Poppies Fest: Every spring, the museum celebrates with a festival full of beautiful flowers, fun activities, food, and even chances to see local wildlife.
- Jornada Mogollon Conference: Every two years (on odd-numbered years like 2023 and 2025), the museum hosts a special conference for experts to share their latest discoveries about the Jornada Mogollon culture.
The museum's goal is to teach people about the ancient history and cultures of the El Paso area. It does this through its exhibits, research, and fun programs. If you want to visit with a group, you can book a free tour ahead of time.
Explore Nature Outside
The adventure doesn't stop when you leave the building! The museum is surrounded by 15 acres of land where you can explore the outdoors.
There are nature trails that are about a mile long. As you walk, you can see over 250 different types of native plants from the Chihuahuan Desert. You can also see amazing views of the Franklin Mountains and Mount Sierra Blanca. There are even outdoor exhibits that show what an Apache camp might have looked like.
- Flora from the El Paso Museum of Archaeology
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Mexican Poppies blooming outside the El Paso Museum of Archaeology.
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Fendler's Hedgehog Cactus. Echinocereus fendleri outside the museum.
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Claret cup cactus in spring bloom.
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Ocotillo flowering in front of other desert flowers.
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Claret cup cactus and desert flowers in bloom.
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Prickly Poppy (Argemone pleiacantha) in spring bloom.
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Ocotillo Leaves in front of the El Paso Museum of Archaeology.
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Cholla cactus at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology.
See also
