New Mexico Cultural Attractions

World-renowned museums, ancient pueblo dwellings, amazing architecture and more! With New Mexico’s Choice Hotels^® you’ll be a stone’s throw away from it all. Take a peek at the cultural attractions the state of New Mexico offers.

In Northwest Region

Casamero Pueblo Ruins
Casamero Pueblo, NM  
505-287-7911

What better place to explore the area’s rich anthropological past than at what was once a town full of human beings who chose New Mexico as their home? 22 rooms sprawl throughout the space, which scientists now believe was occupied about a thousand years ago by American Indians. See up-close how the indigenous humans who once inhabited America lived.

Old School Gallery
On New Mexico's Scenic Byway-highway 53 south of I-40 between Grants and Gallup
Ramah, NM   87321
505-783-4710

At the Old School Gallery, guests will be treated to some of the most impressive artwork in the state of New Mexico. Located in the town of Ramah, vacationers can admire the art in its interpretive ability to further the understanding of the populace of New Mexico. Gain a deeper appreciation for the area through the diverse art hanging on the walls, or participate in an arts and crafts show.

Salmon Ruins and Heritage Park
Salmon Ruins and Heritage Park, NM
505-632-2013

Have you ever wondered what America looked like in the time before it was settled by Europeans? Now, on your vacations to New Mexico, you’ll be afforded an ample opportunity to find out exactly how the land looked to those originally inhabiting the area. Explore 11th-century ruins of a once-operational Pueblo, and afterwards educate yourself on your surroundings at the park’s own museum.

In Northeast Region

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
Mounainair, NM   87747
505-847-2400

Learn about the rich history of the New Mexico area, which gives vacationers an insightful glimpse into the inner-workings of the region’s past. Historically, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument is situated in an area which once thrived with American Indian trade communities; more recently, the site has become a real-life ode to that history.

Nuestra Senora de Purisima Concepcion de Quarai
Mountainair, NM   87747

You’ve come to New Mexico on your vacation to learn a little bit about the history of the area, which happens to be rich with both facts and fictions. Legend is an easy trap to fall into when surrounded by 17th-century ruins which appear in abundance in this Mountainair area, and you’ll assume a mythical quality once you stumble upon Nuestra Senora de Purisima Concepcion de Quarai, a one-time mission whose remains are among the most complete in the country.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park
Located within the Enchanted Circle of Northern NM
Angel Fire, NM   87710
505-377-6900

Guests traveling to New Mexico will be afforded one of the most interesting opportunities on their trip: as the only state park within the country whose dedication lies with the Vietnam Veterans, memories will abound and sentiments will be up to par at Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park. View the in-park memorial, a great tribute to the men whose lives were lost in the battle for Vietnam, and take in a stunning array of wildlife while you’re at it.

In North Central Region

Art in the Park
Route 528 to Corrales Rd.
Corrales, NM   87048
505-898-9898

Some of the very best of New Mexico’s fine artists gather together on the third Sunday of every month for what has become affectionately known as “Art in the Park”, and now it’s your turn to check out exactly why these great minds have banded together for the public’s interest and enjoyment. Free art workshops provide ample opportunities for the young folk traveling to New Mexico to hone in on their visual skills.

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
217 Johnson Street
Santa Fe, NM   87505
505-946-1000

Georgia O’Keeffe inspired many of the world’s inhabitants to take a closer look at the natural offerings of the state of New Mexico. Often using metaphor and symbolism, her paintings evoke the landscape and times of the state’s rich culture and history. The museum was created in 1997 as an ode to this great American artist and her inspirational, captivating work, and offers changing exhibits of the artist’s creations which are often loaned from private collections.

Institute of American Indian Arts Museum
108 Cathedral Place
Santa Fe, NM   87501
505-983-1777

Guests who find themselves in the fascinating cultural hub of New Mexico, Santa Fe, will want to head down to the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum. Once densely populated by the American Indians, New Mexico still maintains an active population of indigenous peoples, and their artwork is displayed at the museum. See the creations of the American Indians from the ancient past to the modern present displayed with sensitive care for all to admire.

In Central New Mexico

The Albuquerque Slams
Albuquerque, NM  
505-254-2285

Do you love poetry? If you answered yes, then you’ll want to set aside some time on your trip to New Mexico to exploring the poetic offerings of The Albuquerque Slams, a slam poetry contest which takes the crafted word to its limit. See some of the best spoken-word artists battling it out for the championship, and you might find yourself inspired to do some speaking of your own.

The New Mexico Gunfighters Association
Old Town Albuquerque
Albuquerque, NM   87104
505-843-6642

Don’t be scared by the title - these folks are only interested in the safe reenactment of gunfights, not the actual life-and-death competitions which were so rampant at this location in the days of the real Wild West. But preservation is important to these folks, and you’ll swear you saw a real bullet flying through the air for a split-second when you witness the interesting antics on display at any performance by The New Mexico Gunfighters Association.

San Jose de Jemez Mission
42 miles northwest of Bernalillo off US 550 and NM 4 near Jemez Springs
Jemez Pueblo, NM   87024
800-733-5687

You’ll want to head down to San Jose de Jemez Mission to witness the real remains of a mission church which dates back to almost four hundred years ago. Here, you’ll find those remains, but you’ll also find an informative visitor center which features its own museum dedicated to the education of guests who want to learn more about the fascinating stone ruins which lay on the site.

In Southwest Region

El Camino Real International Heritage Center
I-25 at Exit 115
Socorro, NM   87801
505-854-3600

El Camino Real was a road that spanned over 1550 miles, from Mexico City to a town just north of modern-day Santa Fe. The road served as a vital transportation corridor for the Spaniards’ exploration of the New World, and without its existence the state of New Mexico would have ended up as a much different place. Explore the facets of the Camino Real through interactive exhibits, tours, and other exciting pieces of information geared to inform and entertain.

National Public Observatory
Radium Springs, NM   88054
505-527-8386

At the National Public Observatory, guests will be treated to an extraordinary display of the cosmos as seen through the professional lens of the observatory. Take advantage of the gorgeous, untainted skies which grace this area of New Mexico, and view the planets, stars, and other astronomical phenomenon which have inspired and mystified some of the world’s greatest thinkers.

Pancho Villa State Park
Located 35 miles south of Deming via NM 11
Columbus, NM   88029
505-531-2711

There’s nothing better than the combination of two good things, and that’s exactly what you’ll find at Pancho Villa State Park. A gorgeous scenery which capitulates some of New Mexico’s most stunning landscapes is mixed with a riveting history display which recounts the attack on the town of Columbus, New Mexico by General Francisco “Pancho” Villa in the first armed invasion of the continental US since the War of 1812.

In Southeast Region

St. Joseph Apache Mission
626 Mission Trail
Mescalero Apache Reservation, NM   88340
505-464-4539

In the middle of a barren Indian reservation is where the Saint Joseph Apache Mission lies, and guests wandering through the landscape will be amazed by its inspiring Romanesque architecture and its seemingly ancient stone walls. Though it’s been dedicated to the memory of those who served their country in the World Wars, it was originally built to serve the community at the Mescalero Apache Reservation.

Spencer Theatre for the Performing Arts
108 Spencer Rd. Airport Highway 220
Alto, NM   88312
505-336-4800

Want to catch the best of theatre in a rustic location? Head down to the Spencer Theatre for the Performing Arts, located in Alto, New Mexico, and you’ll find just that - world-class theatre, typically performed by a nationally touring cast. All of this in a 514-seat, $24-million state of the art facility, and you’re bound to witness a theatergoing experience you won’t soon forget.

Roswell Fine Arts League/New Mexico Miniature Arts Society
107 East 5th Street
Roswell, NM   88201
505-625-5263

So you came to New Mexico to experience the culture and ways of a desert people. Now you can treat yourself to the ultimate exposition of that people at the Roswell Fine Arts League/New Mexico Miniature Arts Society, where the artwork of the citizens of New Mexico is on display for visitors and residents alike. Enjoy a day interpreting the symbolism and soaking up the culture of a unique people at the society’s gallery, where many talented artists present a diversity of mediums which are sure to interest guests of all walks of life.

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