Maxwell Museum of Anthropology — Attraction in Albuquerque

Definitely worth the trip! For one thing, it's free. For another, after exploring history and science museums in 9 or 10 states now this is my favorite, tied with the Natural History Museum also there in Albuquerque. Both of them have their own pros and cons but this one is a smaller and thus easier to get through and it's free.

My least favorite part is rather particular to me. I don't like being told I can't take pictures and there's a place upstairs where you're asked not to without explanation. If there's something I can't do that I can do elsewhere I like to at least we told why.

Did the bits are carefully and thoughtfully laid out with a clear history unfolding. You see how the ancient homes in the Southwest evolved, how pottery and ropes evolved. You see how camps were laid out. That one helped my imagination the most. It wasn't at all what I expected. You see a replica of an actual dig site! That was exciting too.

There's also a huge exhibit of all sorts of baskets. I wish I'd had more time to study them. The ingenuity of basket weaving amazes me. To think all you're doing is taking some basic fibers and wrapping or folding them around each other and somehow creating a three-dimensional object. It's like origami on a whole other level. Origami done with what's left after the paper shredder. Incredible!

But Lucy stole the show. Lucy has been my favorite hominid since I was young. She's a famous specimen of the Australopithecus afarensis species. I could write pages about that encounter alone and there was much more than her in that exhibit but for now I'll just say -- go. See it for yourself!

It's free so you have nothing to lose and your chances of it being a great experience are...

Great museum. The displays on local Pueblo culture was more interesting than that of generic human history even though this was intriguing as well. I was most fascinated seeing the rocks and arrowheads, almost exactly similar to ones my father had collected up north in Montana. There is a large amount of pottery; amazing to see the intricate designs and shapes; equal to or more impressive than pottery from other parts of the world at the same time (but somehow these get labeled as 'prehistoric'...all you can do is LOL at how dismissive academia can be of Indigenous culture at times).

Overall a great way to spend an hour or so, located right on UNM campus, which is also good for a walking tour to see the unique architecture. There was no admission other than being asked politely to sign your name in their guest book. Students work and run most aspects of the museum, go and give them...

This was kind of a hidden gem, and luckily I found it on google maps while searching for things to do in the area. It can be difficult to see the building from the street, as it is not very well labeled, and the label on the building is hidden behind a tree. The museum is located on campus, so you have to get a parking voucher inside once you park and bring it back out to your car. If you're visiting from out of town, just to note, the campus is beautiful. On the day I went, there was a symphony playing at noon right in the courtyard outside of the museum. The museum itself is very informative, there is lots of reading! Probably not the best...