5 Best Sights in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Included in the largest collection of different species of living rattlers in the world are such rare and unusual specimens as an albino western diamondback and a melanistic (solid black) diamondback. From the outside the museum looks like just a plain old shop—aside from the friendly crew of tortoises who are usually there to greet you—but inside, the museum's exhibits, its engaging staff, and explanatory videos supply visitors with the lowdown on these venomous creatures. Did you know that they can't hear their own rattles and that the human death rate from rattlesnake bites is less than 1%? The mission here is to educate the public on the many positive benefits of rattlesnakes, and to contribute to their conservation.

This dramatic museum celebrates the city's legacy as the hot-air ballooning capital of the world. Albuquerque's high altitude, mild climate, and a fortuitous wind pattern known as the Albuquerque Box make it an ideal destination for ballooning. The fun, massive facility is named for Maxie Anderson and Ben Abruzzo, who pioneered ballooning here and were part of a team of three aviators who made the first manned hot-air balloon crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in 1978. Filling the airy museum space are several fully inflated historic balloons, and both large- and small-scale replicas of gas balloons and zeppelins. You'll also see vintage balloon baskets, china and flatware from the ill-fated Hindenburg and an engaging display on that tragic craft, and dynamic exhibits that trace the history of the sport, dating back to the first balloon ride, in 1783. Interactive stations are set up so kids can design their own balloons.

Dedicated to the 19 Pueblo tribes in New Mexico, the multilevel semicircular layout of this museum was inspired by Pueblo Bonito, an astounding prehistoric ruin in Chaco Canyon, in northwestern New Mexico. Start by visiting their permanent exhibit space We Are of This Place: The Pueblo Story, which interprets the Pueblo people's legacy through carried-down traditions and remarkable pieces from their renowned holdings of fine Native American pottery, textiles, baskets, and other masterworks. Changing exhibits may feature close-ups of a particular artist, such as the colorful and gorgeously composed copper-plate prints of Santa Clara Pueblo painter Helen Hardin. Mural tours celebrating 20 large-scale painted works by Pueblo artists on display here are offered on Wednesday and Friday at 11 am and 1 pm. Ceremonial dances are performed year-round on weekends; artisans (with their handcrafted wares available for purchase) are on site Tuesday through Sunday, and there are often arts-and-crafts demonstrations as well. The museum gift shop provides a fine overview of current Pueblo arts. The menu at its Indian Pueblo Kitchen restaurant, an appealing spot (complete with a shaded patio) for breakfast or lunch, is tastily influenced by Indigenous food traditions. Note that the museum lies a bit northeast of Old Town—a five-minute drive away in the Los Duranes neighborhood.

Tapping a significant collection of Southwestern artifacts and archival photos, the Maxwell's engaging shows encompass three fascinating fields: archaeology, cultural anthropology, and evolutionary anthropology. As the first public museum in Albuquerque (established in 1932), its influence has grown over the years, but its compact space ensures that exhibits are scaled to the essentials. A viewer—whether of a permanent exhibit on peoples of the Southwest or a temporary one—will be intrigued and informed, but not overwhelmed. Of special note is their rare and substantial collection of Mimbres pottery from AD 800–1000. The museum's gift shop has a fine selection of reliably vetted Native American crafts.

Located in a formerly residential "castle" replete with Victorian chandeliers, the Turquoise Museum casts fresh light on the beauty, mythology, and physical properties of turquoise, a semiprecious but adored gemstone that many people associate with the color of New Mexico's skies. Displays show how turquoise forms, the importance of individual mines, and uses of the stone by Native Americans in prehistoric times. The museum's proprietors, the Lowry family, are longtime traders with deep knowledge of the gem; if you retain nothing else, remember that only turquoise specified as "natural" is the desirable, unadulterated stuff. A small gift shop sells historic and contemporary pieces. Tickets for entry and tours are only available online.