Roswell Museum facts for kids
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| Former name | Roswell Museum and Art Center |
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| Established | 1936 |
| Location | 1011 N. Richardson Avenue, Roswell, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Type | Municipal museum |
| Key holdings | Robert H. Goddard |
| Collections | Visual art collection, education center, planetarium |
| Owner | City of Roswell |
The Roswell Museum is a fantastic place to explore art and history in Roswell, New Mexico, United States. It first opened its doors in 1936. This museum showcases amazing exhibits about the art and history of the American Southwest. You can also discover the fascinating laboratory of rocket pioneer Robert H. Goddard here.
The museum is more than just exhibits! It also has the Patricia Lubben Bassett Art Education Center. This center opened in 1998 and is a special place for learning. It has classrooms, a ceramics studio, and a library. Here, people of all ages can enjoy art classes and creative activities.
You can also journey through space at the Robert H. Goddard Planetarium. This planetarium was built in 1968. It can show you the night sky exactly as it looks from anywhere on Earth! It features a modern digital theater system called Digistar 6.
Contents
A Look Back: The Museum's Story
The Roswell Museum began in 1936. It received funding from a government program called the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA helped create jobs and projects during a difficult time in history. The museum's first goal was to keep important historical and archaeological items safe. It also served as a community gathering place.
Early Days and Growth
The museum officially opened on December 10, 1937. It was one of many cultural centers started by the WPA. Early exhibits showed off local archaeological finds and objects from different cultures. You could also see paintings by famous artists like Peter Hurd and Henriette Wyeth. Henriette was the daughter of another well-known artist, N.C. Wyeth.
In 1941, the City of Roswell took over running the museum. Over the years, several directors helped the museum grow. These included Vernon Hunter, David Gebhard, and Joseph M. Stuart. By 1986, more than 45,000 people visited the museum each year!
Expanding Horizons
From 1967 to 2002, the museum also managed a special program. This was the Roswell Artist-in-Residence (RAiR) program. It invited artists to live and create art in Roswell. The museum has been recognized for its high standards since 1978. This recognition comes from the American Alliance of Museums.
What You Can See: Collections and Art
The Roswell Museum has many amazing things to see in its permanent collection. A permanent collection means these items are always on display or available for study. It includes both historical objects and beautiful artworks.
The historical collection tells stories about the American West. It also features items from Native American cultures and Spanish colonial times. A very special part is the collection about liquid-propellant rockets!
The visual art collection is full of different styles. You can see art from the local region and modernist works from Santa Fe and Taos. There are artworks from the 20th century and Southwestern Art. You'll find pieces by Peter Hurd and Henriette Wyeth. The museum also has contemporary art, international prints, and art from the WPA era. Plus, there are decorative arts and beautiful landscape paintings. Thanks to generous donors, the museum also has works by famous artists like Georgia O'Keeffe and John Marin.
Rocket Science Wonders: The Goddard Galleries
One of the museum's most important collections is all about Dr. Robert H. Goddard. His wife, Esther Goddard, generously gave the museum his research materials. Dr. Goddard was a pioneer in developing liquid-fuel rockets. In 1959, a new part of the museum opened just for him. It even has a copy of his laboratory! You can also see Goddard's actual rocket tower in the museum's courtyard.
This special exhibit also features a real Moon rock! It was given to the museum by Harrison Schmitt. He was an astronaut on the 1972 Apollo 17 Mission, which traveled to the Moon.
Western Art and History: The Rogers Aston Gallery
In 1980, the museum received a wonderful gift from Rogers and Mary Ellen Aston. They donated a collection of art and historical items from the American West. Because of this generous gift, a new gallery opened. It's called the Rogers Aston Gallery of American Indian and Western Art. Here, you can explore beautiful artworks and artifacts from these cultures.
See Also
- Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art
- Roswell Artist-in-Residence Compound
