New Mexico Bureau of Geology Mineral Museum — Attraction in Socorro

It was an extreme disappointment to visit the museum on 5/10 with a large group of geology university students all the way from Michigan just for it to be closed with a sign on the front door that said it was for all of Mother’s Day weekend, not just the holiday itself.

This came as an absolute shock to me and all of us, as it wasn’t posted anywhere on the website, and I had actually spoken on the phone with an employee and the curator just a few weeks earlier when discussing our group coming and was told it would be open that day, during normal Saturday hours.

It should go without saying too that time was a precious commodity on a trip like this and for us to drive an extreme distance out of our way to visit the museum and waste hours of our time and money on gas just for it to be closed, after being explicitly told it would be open, with no acknowledgment but a sign on the door, is truly abhorrent.

This was not only an extreme disappoint to me but also to more than a dozen other geology students that had traveled over 1000 miles to see this museum. I truly hope no one else ever has to deal with circumstances...

Definitely worth the drive to this town that otherwise you would have no reason to go to or realize it was there as you flew by on the interstate. Not too far off the highway is this museum located inside the campus of New Mexico tech university. I have never seen a collection of so many minerals, jim's, crystals and all of my life. Truly an extensive collection. For very reasonable prices as low as $5 you can purchase some different rocks and minerals nearby the doors you enter the main part of the museum. You might miss it if you don't look for it it would be on the right. Adjacent and across the hall is a great little gift shop lots of things related to geology. The shop manager definitely took some time as each item there there seems to be unique and...

Outside they had some really neat big pieces of petrified wood and a cute waterfall with a stream. Then you walk in with some huge specimens to look at and a couple you can even touch. Then there were so many good specimens to look at. Lots of variety. Big pieces and tiny pieces. We spent about 45 mins with 4 kids 5-9 yrs old. They liked pointing out the ones they liked. Everything was clearly labeled and nicely presented! Beautiful cases and nice lighting on them. I have one kid aspiring to be a geologist so it was right up our alley. We loved it. I'm so glad we dropped in on our trip. The bathrooms were clean, quiet, and nice. Inspires us to go rock hounding and start cutting and polishing some of our own rocks...