Santa Fe Museums 

Santa Fe has the reputation of being the third largest art market in the country. What is not as widely known is it is also a city of museums. Exhibits change constantly and most museums publish newsletters describing upcoming events and exhibits. 

Museums of New Mexico These four museums are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission for residents is $5 and $7 for non-resident, persons 16 and under and New Mexico foundation members are free. All New Mexico residents enjoy free admission on Sundays. A four day pass for unlimited visits to the four Museums of New Mexico and the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art is $15. Museum of Fine Arts 107 W. Palace Avenue 476-5072 This masterpiece of Pueblo Revival architecture was built in 1917 and as the state's oldest art museum is home to more than 20,000 works of art, with an emphasis on artists working in the Southwest. View a distinguished collection that spans the historic art colonies of Taos and Santa Fe of the past 100 years to cutting-edge contemporary art from around the region and the world. Palace of the Governors 105 W. Palace Avenue 476-5100 Originally constructed in the early 17th century as Spain's seat of government for what is today the American Southwest, the Palace of the Governors chronicles the history of Santa Fe, as well as New Mexico and the region. This adobe structure, now the state's history museum, was designated a Registered National Historic Landmark in 1960 and an American Treasure in 1999. Museum of International Folk Art 706 Camino Lejo 476-1200 The Museum opened to the public in 1953 and has gained national and international recognition as the home to the world's largest collection of folk art. The collection of more than 130,000 artifacts forms the basis for exhibitions in four distinct wings: Bartlett, Girard, Hispanic Heritage, and Neutrogena. Museum of Indian Arts & Culture 708-710 Camino Lejo 476-1250 The Museum of Indian Arts & Culture tells the stories of the Native American people of the Southwest from pre-historic through contemporary times. Its changing exhibitions draw from an unparalleled collection of Native American art and material culture representing the Pueblo, Navajo, Apache, and other indigenous cultures of the Southwest. Other Museums The Awakening Museum 125 N. Guadalupe 954-4025 The Awakening is a monumental work of art composed of over 400 wood panels, carved and painted by international artist Jean-Claude Gaugy over a fifteen year period, to express his love of God. It was moved from its original home in West Virginia to Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 2000 and re-assembled to serve as a peaceful contemplative space in the busy historic district of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Admission is $3, open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily. Students and children, free, seniors and NM residents no charge on Fridays. Museum of Spanish Colonial Art 750 Camino Lejo 982-2226 The Spanish Colonial Arts Society collections were initiated in 1928. Today with 3,000 objects, the collections are the most comprehensive compilation of Spanish Colonial art of their kind. Dating from the Middle Ages to the New Millennium, the collections span centuries in art, place and time. Among the various media featured are santos (painted and sculpted images of saints,) textiles, tinwork, silverwork, goldwork, ironwork, straw appliqué, ceramics, furniture, books and more. A host of comparative objects from Spain and Latin America as well as Asia, Bulgaria, France and other worldly locales further illustrate the faraway influences that converged during the colonial era to inspire artists and art forms. All combined, the collections represent the artistic history and ongoing evolution of Hispano culture in New Mexico while firmly establishing its important place within the global arts landscape. The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum 217 Johnson Street 946-1000 The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum opened to the public in July 1997, eleven years after the death of the artist from whom it takes its name. Since then, the Museum has welcomed more than 1,300,000 visitors from all over the world. One of the most important artists of the 20th century, Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986) was devoted to creating imagery that expressed what she called "the wideness and wonder of the world as I live in it." She was a leading member of one of the avant-garde art movements that blossomed in New York in the 1910s and 1920s. O'Keeffe's images-often instantly recognizable as hers-include large-scale flowers, New York cityscapes, animal bones, and the high deserts and dramatic cliffs of her beloved New Mexico. Governor's Gallery Sate Capitol Building, Paseo de Peralta and Old Santa Fe Trail 827-3089 Open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily, free. El Rancho de las Golondrinas 334 Los Pinos Road 471-2261 El Rancho de las Golondrinas grew out of the vision of the Curtin-Paloheimo family, who acquired the property in the early 1930s. Existing historic buildings were restored, authentic structures erected on old foundations and related buildings brought in from other sites. Now, an 18th century placita house complete with defensive tower, a 19th century home and all of its outbuildings, a molasses mill, a threshing ground, several primitive water mills, a blacksmith shop, a wheelwright shop, a winery and vineyards depict many of the essential elements of Spanish Colonial culture. The Sierra Village portrays life as it was lived in the mountainous regions of New Mexico. Located 15 miles south of Santa Fe. Open June through September, Wednesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $5 admission, $4 for seniors and teens. Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian 740 Camino Lejo 982-4636 The Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian hosts changing exhibitions of contemporary and historic Native American art with an emphasis on the Southwest. Recent main gallery exhibitions have included contemporary basketry, a recreation of the studio of sculptor Allan Houser, paintings by Harry Fonseca, the art of Pablita Velarde, and contemporary Navajo pictorial weaving. Main gallery exhibitions change twice a year. Smaller galleries feature one-person shows by Native American artists and photographers, or items relating to the main gallery exhibition. The museum and the Case Trading Post museum shop sponsor talks, seminars, meet-the-artist receptions, and many other events. A private, not-for-profit institution, the Wheelwright Museum does not charge an admission fee, and most of its events are free. Donations are welcomed. Archdiocese of Santa Fe Museum 223 Cathedral Place 983-3811 Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donations accepted. Bataan Military Memorial Museum 1050 Old Pecos Trail 474-1670 Open Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Free admission. El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe 1615-B Paseo de Peralta 992-0591 Exhibits concern local culture. Open Tuesday through Saturday 1 to 5 p.m. Free admission. Indian Arts Research Center at the School of American Research 660 Garcia Street 954-7205 Tours of an anthropological collection spanning more than 450 years are given at 2 p.m. on Fridays. $15. Institute of American Indian Arts Museum 108 Cathedral Place 983-8900 The IAIA Museum continues to operate primarily as an experiential learning environment that prepares students for careers as museum professionals. Each department; Exhibitions, Collections and Education is structured so that students actively participate in various aspects of those Museum environments, working under the supervision of the professional staff. Over the years, hundreds of IAIA students have contributed to the operations of the Museum through supervised projects as part of their museum studies curriculum. Courses and special projects conducted at the Museum are an integral part of the student's training. It is at the Museum that the student is exposed to the demands, standards and real-life situations of the professional museum world. SITE Santa Fe 1606 Paseo de Peralta 989-1199 SITE Santa Fe is a private not-for-profit contemporary arts organization committed to enriching the cultural atmosphere in Santa Fe, New Mexico, by providing an ongoing venue for regional, national, and international exhibitions and interdisciplinary programs.