Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, Albuquerque
Founded in 1932 as the Museum of Anthropology of the University of New Mexico, the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology was the first public museum in Albuquerque. Its purpose was to showcase the expanding collection of artifacts collected from field schools of archaeological research associated with the UNM Anthropology Department, the School of American Research, and the Museum of New Mexico.
Initially, exhibits were housed in UNM's Rodey Hall until its demolition in 1971. The museum was subsequently moved to Scholes Hall in 1935 and then to its current location in 1961. In 1972, Dorothy and Gilbert Maxwell, philanthropists, funded a major construction project to expand the museum facilities, and it was renamed in their honor. Since then, the museum has become a nationally renowned research center and a significant regional museum.
The museum has five exhibit areas that host permanent and rotating exhibits, showcasing the human cultural experience. The Ancestors permanent exhibit depicts human evolution over four million years, featuring life-size models of human ancestors. The People of the Southwest permanent exhibit portrays the cultural heritage of the American Southwest over eleven thousand years, displaying artifacts from various cultures, including Mimbres, Ancestral Puebloan, and Puebloan, as well as exhibits showcasing UNM fieldwork in New Mexico, including a reconstruction of excavation at Chaco Canyon.
The museum's North Gallery, Bawden Gallery (named after Garth Bawden, museum director from 1985 to 2005), and the Ortiz Center Gathering Space (named after the late Alfonso Ortiz, a noted UNM anthropology professor) host changing exhibits showcasing artifacts from the museum's extensive collection, as well as traveling exhibits. The museum's courtyard features a 46-foot (14 meters)-high totem pole that was brought to the museum from British Columbia in 1941.
Initially, exhibits were housed in UNM's Rodey Hall until its demolition in 1971. The museum was subsequently moved to Scholes Hall in 1935 and then to its current location in 1961. In 1972, Dorothy and Gilbert Maxwell, philanthropists, funded a major construction project to expand the museum facilities, and it was renamed in their honor. Since then, the museum has become a nationally renowned research center and a significant regional museum.
The museum has five exhibit areas that host permanent and rotating exhibits, showcasing the human cultural experience. The Ancestors permanent exhibit depicts human evolution over four million years, featuring life-size models of human ancestors. The People of the Southwest permanent exhibit portrays the cultural heritage of the American Southwest over eleven thousand years, displaying artifacts from various cultures, including Mimbres, Ancestral Puebloan, and Puebloan, as well as exhibits showcasing UNM fieldwork in New Mexico, including a reconstruction of excavation at Chaco Canyon.
The museum's North Gallery, Bawden Gallery (named after Garth Bawden, museum director from 1985 to 2005), and the Ortiz Center Gathering Space (named after the late Alfonso Ortiz, a noted UNM anthropology professor) host changing exhibits showcasing artifacts from the museum's extensive collection, as well as traveling exhibits. The museum's courtyard features a 46-foot (14 meters)-high totem pole that was brought to the museum from British Columbia in 1941.
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Maxwell Museum of Anthropology on Map
Sight Name: Maxwell Museum of Anthropology
Sight Location: Albuquerque, USA (See walking tours in Albuquerque)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Albuquerque, USA (See walking tours in Albuquerque)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Create Your Own Walk in Albuquerque
Creating your own self-guided walk in Albuquerque is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Downtown Historical Buildings Walking Tour
The one-of-a-kind character of Albuquerque is the result of many different forces and centuries of history that have shaped the city. The core of Central Albuquerque is what most of the locals considered 鈥渄owntown鈥� 鈥� a place they lived, worked, shopped, governed and entertained themselves in for almost 80 years, since the arrival of the railroad in 1880.
The vibrant architectural... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
The vibrant architectural... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
University of New Mexico Walking Tour
Founded in 1889, The University of New Mexico (UNM) is a renowned public research institution. Its branch campuses are scattered throughout the state while the main campus is located in Albuquerque. A good number of spots on this campus deserve a special note, either from an architectural or cultural standpoint, and we encourage you to explore them.
A must-go-to for students and visitors alike,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
A must-go-to for students and visitors alike,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Albuquerque Old Town Walk
The history of human habitation on the site of present-day Albuquerque, New Mexico reaches back 12,000 years. Long before the 鈥淏reaking Bad鈥� and 鈥淏etter Call Saul鈥� TV series made a splash for Albuquerque worldwide, the Paleo-Indians inhabited the region. By the time European settlers had arrived in the 1500s, approximately 20 indigenous tribes lined the 60-mile stretch of the Rio Grande... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles