New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science offers a highly interactive and educational experience, particularly strong in its dinosaur, natural history, and space exhibits. It provides excellent value with reasonable pricing and planetarium shows that cater to a broad range of ages, ensuring a memorable and engaging visit for families.
Key Highlights
- ✓Extremely reasonable prices, with a 'great deal' on show tickets when purchased at the counter.
- ✓Highly interactive exhibits that make learning 'fun for all ages'.
- ✓Extensive and popular dinosaur exhibits, including the 'Bisti Beast' and a 'TREX movie'.
- ✓Engaging 3D shows in the planetarium, such as 'Mission to Mars' and '3D Desert Elephants'.
- ✓Friendly and helpful staff (e.g., 'Lisa' at the front counter).
- ✓Educational content covering 'history lessons' and natural history of New Mexico.
- ✓New display featuring the 'Dimetrodon in NM' is noted as interesting.
Standout Features
- ⭐Diverse interactive exhibits covering dinosaurs, volcanoes, underwater themes, and space.
- ⭐Planetarium and 3D movie shows that offer immersive experiences.
- ⭐Specific popular dinosaur attractions like the 'Bisti Beast' and the 'Dimetrodon in NM' display.
- ⭐Customer service noted for being 'wonderful and so friendly'.
- ⭐Good value for money with 'very reasonable' entry fees.
- ⭐A 'nice gift shop' is available.
- ⭐Potential for extended visits, as families can spend 'a long time and still didn't see everything'.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Buy tickets at the counter to 'get a great deal on show tickets' for planetarium shows.
- →Allow significant time for your visit; it's possible to spend 'a long time and still didn't see everything'.
- →If your children are dinosaur enthusiasts, prioritize this museum as it has 'lots of dinosaur exhibits' and specific highlights like the 'Bisti Beast' and 'TREX movie'.
- →Consider visiting on a weekday, as it was 'not crowded on a Thursday in late January'.
Things to Consider
- ⚠One reviewer found a specific 'Earth Day Family Event' to be less educational and more craft-focused than expected.
- ⚠A long-time visitor expressed missing a former 'space area' exhibit, indicating some exhibit changes might not appeal to everyone.
Price & Value
The fees to enter are consistently described as 'extremely reasonable' and 'very reasonable'. Parents can get a 'great deal on show tickets' by purchasing them at the counter, suggesting excellent overall value for the immersive and educational experience offered.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No information on food and drink policies mentioned in the reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •No information on parking mentioned in the reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Reviewed as 'not crowded on a Thursday in late January', suggesting weekdays outside of major holiday periods might offer a more relaxed experience.
🛡️Safety Features
- •No specific safety features mentioned in the reviews.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If attending specific family events (e.g., Earth Day), manage expectations regarding the educational depth, as some might lean more towards crafts.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Portable Planetarium at International District Library
September 30, 2025 - 6:00pm
Not specified (implied free as outreach)
Search the night sky and explore the solar system in the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science’s portable planetarium system.
Dino Discoveries at South Broadway Library
October 1, 2025 - 10:30am
Not specified (implied free as outreach)
Come join the Natural History Museum for “Dino Discoveries” and enjoy a reading of a dinosaur-related book.
Happy Arte Hour at the National Hispanic Cultural Center
October 2, 2025 - 6:00pm
Not specified (implied free as outreach)
Join us as we visit the National Hispanic Cultural Center for artistic fun in a relaxed social setting.
Dino Discoveries at International District Library
October 4, 2025 - 3:00pm
Not specified (implied free as outreach)
Come join the Natural History Museum for “Dino Discoveries” and enjoy a reading of a dinosaur-related book.
International Observe the Moon Night 2025
October 4, 2025 - 5:00pm (event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with birds of prey, talk at 6:30 p.m., moon/star gazing at 7 p.m.)
Vehicle registration required (implied free for attendance)
Join NMMNHS at the Sandia Mountain Natural History Center (SMNHC) in Cedar Crest for presentations about birds of prey, a talk about the PUNCH Solar Mission, and moon/star gazing with telescopes (weather permitting). Activities and information about the moon will be available, along with a one-room NMMNHS Museum Outpost.
🍎Food Policy
- • For groups, space in the museum for eating lunch is provided only in case of inclement weather. Otherwise, picnic tables are available in the learning garden and Tiguex Park.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • All children 12 and under must be accompanied by an Adult 18 years or older when visiting the museum, DynaTheater, or Planetarium.
- • For DynaTheater and Planetarium shows, arrive at least 15 minutes early. Ticket sales stop 5 minutes before any show starts.
📅Booking Policy
- • DynaTheater and Planetarium tickets are available for purchase only at the Museum Admission Desk (when open).
- • If you have a museum membership, call 505-841-2851 to reserve your tickets in advance.
- • Tickets for First Friday Fractal shows should be purchased online.
- • For Mesmerica shows in the planetarium (contracted), purchase tickets online or email boxoffice@mesmerica.com. Museum staff cannot provide ticket sales or customer service for Mesmerica.
- • For Group Reservations (10 or more): Fill out the online reservation request form or call the Museum’s Reservation Specialist at (505) 527-1663. Required information includes top 3 arrival dates, arrival time, and desired venues/times. An official confirmation packet will be received via email.
- • For School Group Scheduling: Fill out the online form. Parents not paid for by a school will not receive discounted rates and do not have a guaranteed seat in either the Dynatheater or Planetarium (students have first priority).
🚗Parking Information
- • Parking lot located on 18th Street (Museum entrance is also on 18th Street).
- • For International Observe the Moon Night at Sandia Mountain Natural History Center: Vehicle registration is required to ensure enough parking spaces.
What People Say
What's Great
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Can get crowded during peak times (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Janine Jarvis
a month agoMy kids and I traveled to Albuquerque for a quick visit and had a great time at the museum. Prices were extremely reasonable and we enjoyed learning about the natural history of New Mexico. They have a lot of interactive exhibits that make visiting fun for all ages. The clerk at the front, Lisa, was wonderful and so friendly. Highly recommend buying tickets at the counter as you will get a great deal on show tickets. We saw the Mission to Mars show in the planetarium and the 3D Desert Elephants show. Such a great time!
Sara Harmon
2 weeks agoMy son loves dinosaurs and really enjoys this museum. The Bisti Beast is so cool! This last time we saw the TREX movie and it was incredible. Highly recommended. My 4YO loved it! The new display at the top of the stairs is really interesting - I loved learning about the Dimetrodon in NM.
carl tabor
3 months agoLots of dinosaur exhibits here. And a volcano. And underwater stuff. And space stuff. Nice gift shop. We came here to see dinosaurs in 3D, but missed it and had to see desert elephants in 3D. Which was probably better. Not crowded on a Thursday in late January.
Amanda M
3 weeks agoAlways a fun time, I've been taking my son here since he could walk and now he's 11. He enjoys just as much too. We went for the Earth Day Family Event. I thought it was going to be a little more educational but still had some cute crafts to do. Love the new area especially the post card set up but wish they still had the space area.
Robin Cumbie
2 months agoThis was a very interesting place. Full of history lessons. A great place to take the kids. We were there a long time and still didn't see everything. In my opinion, the fees to enter were very reasonable. Very educational.