Top 5 Museums in Santa Fe New Mexico

Santa Fe is the state capital and also the capital for arts and crafts of the Southwest.  There is a wide variety of museums here and below is a list of the best museums that Santa Fe has to offer.

Santa Fe Museum

#1-Museum of Indian Arts and Culture- This is an impressive place. The main exhibit, “Here, Now and Always,” shows the history of the Native Americans using artifacts and other displays. The history of this culture ranges over 2000 years. When you enter the exhibit you hear running water and you listen to the voices of different tribes explaining their beliefs and customs. As you are listening to each story, you can explore the many displays featuring pottery, blankets and other artifacts.

#2-Palace of the Governors- The historic adobe building on the north side of the main central square was built in 1610. The first people to reside here were the governors of this Spanish colony, followed by the regional government which resided here for the next 300 years. Today, it is the home of a fascinating museum depicting the history of New Mexico from 1540 to World War II. You can look at artifacts from the past such as a rawhide violin and a mud wagon stagecoach.

#3-Museum of International Folk Art- This museum has the largest collection of traditional folk art in the nation. You can see an excellent collection of Spanish Colonial and other artifacts in the Hispanic Heritage wing.  You can see an array of different cultural and artistic objects, such as toys, dolls, costumes and miniatures. The Girard Collection contains thousands of tiny painted figures and objects and is one of the largest such collections in the world, while they are displayed in scenes to show how life was in different countries. There is so much to see that you should plan to be there for awhile.

#4-Georgia O’Keeffe Museum- Georgia O’Keeffe is a famous New Mexico artist and she spent most of life in the Santa Fe area. The museum was opened in 1997 and a substantial collection of her work can be seen here. You can see her famous paintings including, Ghost Ranch and New Mexico. Her sculptures and lesser known works are also on display. You should also check out her paintings of New York that are on display in this museum.

#5-Museum of Fine Arts- This museum is housed in a beautiful Pueblo Revival building and is next door to the Palace of the Governors. The inside of the building is the perfect setting for displaying the art work. The museum has over 7,000 permanent pieces and they are rotated along with temporary exhibits. The “How the West is One.” exhibit depicts the art of New Mexico and showcases the many different cultures.

Santa Fe is a vibrant city and is a place to see stunning artwork and Southwest architecture at its best. The city embraces all of its people and cultures. Besides the museums listed above Santa Fe has many other museums and galleries for you to browse through.

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