Named for local ballooning heroes Maxie Anderson and Ben Abruzzo, the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is a fun and interesting museum in a beautiful building. Kids can touch and feel many of the exhibits, and older kids will appreciate the science and wonder of ballooning thanks to really great presentations.
The museum plays host to many events throughout the year, but is worth a trip all its own.
Closed on Mondays. Admission is FREE on Sundays from 9 am – 1 pm and on the first Friday of every month. Regular admission is $4 for adults; $1 for kids ages 4–12; kids 3 and under are free.
Albuquerque, N.M.
There are all sorts of cool rocks at UNM's Geology Museum, including gems, minerals, and rocks that glow in the dark! Museum hours are generally weekdays, closed for lunch. But if you're planning a day on campus, it is worth confirming when the Meteorite Museum will be open. Next to the Geology Museum, the Meteorite Museum boasts a ONE TON meteor to "oooo!" and "ahhh!" over. Entrance is FREE! Both museums are in Northrop Hall on the main campus of the University of New Mexico.
The Geology Museum hours are generally:
Monday – Friday: 8 am – 12 noon & 1 pm – 4:30 pm.
To double-check the hours for the Meteorite Museum visit their website. The posted hours for the Meteorite Museum for spring 2018 are:
January 22 - May 4
Monday, Wednesday: 11 am to 2 pm
Tuesday, Thursday: 10 am to 12 pm, 2 pm to 3 pm
Closed: Friday-Sunday and from March 12 – 15 (UNM spring break)
Other fun stuff to do while you're on campus: Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, the duck pond, the fine art museum, the book store, and lunch nearby. Parking in the parking structure isn't too expensive, and makes life easier.
Northrup Hall (Earth & Planetary Sciences - #24)
Albuquerque, New Mexico
FREE Museum with American Southwest Exhibits
Located on the University of New Mexico main campus, the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology is FREE! Permanent exhibits feature the history of the people of the American Southwest. The Maxwell Museum is famous for the its collection of southwest artifacts like pottery, baskets, textiles, and skeletons. Make a day out of visiting the campus! Feed the ducks, have lunch at the Frontier, visit the Geology Museum, and swing by the book store (they have a really good kid's area and great art supplies). Parking is not free, but the parking structure usually has plenty of space, is not very expensive, and is super convenient, especially if you're pushing a stroller. Museum hours: Tues – Friday: 9 am-4 pm; Sat: 10 am – 4 pm.
500 University Blvd. NE
Albuquerque, NM