Highest-rated museums in New Mexico by visitors
Museums are popular tourist attractions because they provide fun ways to learn about history, science, and culture. As stewards of our civilization, they collect and exhibit items of significant importance, typically based around a theme, topic, or place. Many cover areas like art, natural history, or science, but some museums dedicate themselves to highly specific topics like mustard, play, hot air balloons, and even funeral history. Ultimately, museums present a window into different eras of society so people can learn about the past.
Collecting, preserving, and displaying items is not a new idea. The dates to about 530 B.C., a project of Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna, a Babylonian who had a collection of Mesopotamian artifacts. The oldest public museums still in existence are the Capitoline Museums in Rome, a collection of art and archeology museums . America's oldest museum predates our country's founding. The Charleston Museum, a preservation of South Carolinian Lowcountry history,.
Museums are important not just because they preserve important elements of our history and culture but also because they can improve our well-being. Naturally, museums promote education and learning and can also bring joy. Researchers studying art museums found that they can. Quiet museum environments allow people to slow down and relax, and looking at exhibits. Museums also foster community by hosting events, activities, and tours that encourage social interaction.
No wonder they attract nearly.
With over in the country to choose from, there's something for everyone. compiled a list of the highest-rated museums in New Mexico on Tripadvisor as of Aug. 11, 2025. Tripadvisor rankings factor in the average rating and number of reviews. Keep reading to see what museums are in your own home state.
#30. Sky City Cultural Center & Haak'u Museum
- Rating: 4.6/5 (938 reviews)
- City: Pueblo of Acoma New
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#29. Carlsbad Museum and Art Center
- Rating: 4.7/5 (244 reviews)
- City: Carlsbad New
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#28. Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum
- Rating: 4.5/5 (699 reviews)
- City: Albuquerque New
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#27. Tinkertown Museum
- Rating: 4.6/5 (379 reviews)
- City: Sandia Park New
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#26. Albuquerque Museum
- Rating: 4.5/5 (647 reviews)
- City: Albuquerque New
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#25. Russell's Truck and Travel Center
- Rating: 4.7/5 (250 reviews)
- City: Glenrio New
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#24. New Mexico Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society
- Rating: 4.9/5 (207 reviews)
- City: Albuquerque New
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#23. American International Rattlesnake Museum
- Rating: 4.4/5 (481 reviews)
- City: Albuquerque New
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#22. El Rancho de las Golondrinas
- Rating: 4.6/5 (373 reviews)
- City: Santa Fe New
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#21. Los Alamos History Museum
- Rating: 4.4/5 (348 reviews)
- City: Los Alamos New
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#20. New Mexico Museum of Space History
- Rating: 4.2/5 (610 reviews)
- City: Alamogordo New
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#19. Roswell UFO Spacewalk
- Rating: 4.1/5 (198 reviews)
- City: Roswell New
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#18. Palace of the Governors
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,027 reviews)
- City: Santa Fe New
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#17. San Miguel Chapel
- Rating: 4.5/5 (940 reviews)
- City: Santa Fe New
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#16. Millicent Rogers Museum
- Rating: 4.7/5 (787 reviews)
- City: Taos Taos County New
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#15. Roswell Museum
- Rating: 4.5/5 (352 reviews)
- City: Roswell New
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#14. Explora Science Center and Children's Museum
- Rating: 4.8/5 (822 reviews)
- City: Albuquerque New
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#13. Bradbury Science Museum
- Rating: 4.5/5 (930 reviews)
- City: Los Alamos New
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#12. Nedra Matteucci Galleries
- Rating: 4.8/5 (369 reviews)
- City: Santa Fe New
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#11. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
- Rating: 4.5/5 (870 reviews)
- City: Albuquerque New
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#10. New Mexico History Museum
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,515 reviews)
- City: Santa Fe New
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#9. Museum of Indian Arts & Culture
- Rating: 4.6/5 (905 reviews)
- City: Santa Fe New
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#8. Turquoise Museum
- Rating: 4.6/5 (575 reviews)
- City: Albuquerque New
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#7. Museum of International Folk Art
- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,147 reviews)
- City: Santa Fe New
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#6. Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,151 reviews)
- City: Albuquerque New
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#5. Ghost Ranch
- Rating: 4.5/5 (944 reviews)
- City: Abiquiu New
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#4. International UFO Museum And Research Center
- Rating: 3.8/5 (2,812 reviews)
- City: Roswell New
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#3. The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,381 reviews)
- City: Albuquerque New
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#2. Georgia O'Keeffe Museum
- Rating: 4.3/5 (5,260 reviews)
- City: Santa Fe New
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#1. Meow Wolf Santa Fe
- Rating: 4.4/5 (3,133 reviews)
- City: Santa Fe New
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.