For some, museums conjure up old memories of school field trips and boredom. Getting to spend a few hours outside of the classroom may have been the best part of visiting museums in your youth. But don’t give up on them just yet. Some of these offbeat places can entertain you for hours. If you’re looking for little-known museums in New Mexico, these eight are sure to provide you with fun and unique experiences you won’t find anywhere else.
1. American International Rattlesnake Museum (Albuquerque)
This is one of the best unique museums in Mexico. You'll be able to view the biggest collection of different species of live rattlesnakes on the planet. You'll learn all about venom, fangs, and bites. They've also got all kinds of snake memorabilia and artwork on display. And you can even buy t-shirts!
This is one of the few museums where the building itself is as wacky and intriguing as its contents. Some people collect, while others create museums dedicated to their obsessions. From miniatures to circus memorabilia, you can't possibly be bored here. It's an art gallery filled with dioramas of old west life, and it's impossible to explain the magic of this place in words.
For more information and photos, visit their website.
If you're a trainspotter, this is the museum of your dreams. And even if you're not, it's a fun place to forget that you're an adult for a few hours. It's a toy store/railway museum that has tons of scale models to pore over.
Find inspiration for your wildest craft projects at this museum, which serves as a tribute to talented artisans around the globe. Folk art is a self-taught type of art that focuses on spreading an area's culture through art. This hidden gem museum in New Mexico has the largest collection of folk art in the entire world.
Visit their website for photos of some of their exhibits.
Nowadays, we carry our cell phones with us pretty much everywhere and you can even get a watch so that you're never separated. Discover how the telephone has evolved over the years. It's one of the best little-known museums in New Mexico and you're sure to learn a lot about the history of phones.
This museum isn't bizarre so much as extremely specific. It covers everything from the science of ballooning to the use of balloons during times of war. You've never realized how much there is to learn about balloons until you've visited this place. They've even got a 4-D theater!
Editor's Note: This museum is currently temporarily closed.
This museum is literally out-of-this-world, with exhibits that fell from outer space. It's tucked away inside Northrop Hall on the University of New Mexico campus in Albuquerque. This is definitely a fun secret place in New Mexico, as many don't even know it's here.
For updates about re-opening, check their website.
8. International UFO Museum and Research Center and Gift Shop (Roswell)
Mystery surrounds the town of Roswell after a 1947 supposed UFO crash and government cover-up. You might expect this museum to be really sensationalist, but it actually does provide a lot of factual information. Visit and draw your own conclusions.
You can find more information on their charmingly nostalgic website.
Have you been to any of these hidden gem museums in New Mexico? Share your experiences in the comments.
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