The City of El Paso is packed with museums that are both intellectually stimulating and endlessly entertaining. While you could easily spend a week exploring the city without running out of things to do, we’ve put together this short list of El Paso’s most fascinating museums to give you somewhere to start.
El Paso Museum of Art
Explore art through the centuries at the El Paso Museum of Art. Classic paintings from masters of the Renaissance and Baroque periods are on display in the museum’s European collection, while the American and Mexican galleries explore lesser-known artists from more local regions of the world. The museum also holds events, classes, workshops, and camps for both adults and children interested in learning more about the world of art.
Visit the museum’s website to learn about upcoming events, such as a ceramics class, painting class, and even an exhibition dedicated to the personal collection of cultural icon Cheech Marin.
El Paso Museum of History
Learn about the unique history of the United States/Mexican border region by visiting the El Paso Museum of History. The museum has five galleries that take guests on a tour of El Paso’s historic neighborhoods, colonial past, local and regional sports and culture, and much more.
Because the museum is focused so specifically on the local history of the El Paso area, its calendar of events is perfectly suited to residents and visitors who want to become involved in the community. The museum hosts guided tours of its exhibits and murals, seminars about Mexican migration to the United States, and even recreational events like yoga classes and dancing.
Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens
Tour the El Paso Centennial Museum to celebrate the anniversary of Texas independence. The museum features artwork and cultural artifacts from the region’s historical and modern inhabitants. Curiously, the construction of the museum is modeled after Bhutanese fortresses, with tile mandalas, stone urns shaped like prayer wheels, and sloping walls. This is due to the institution’s affiliation with the University of Texas at El Paso, which is also constructed in a similar fashion. The university and museum enjoy a special relationship with the royal government of Bhutan, which gifted the museum with a monastery known as the Lhakhang.
Chamizal National Monument
Enjoy free admission to this small museum and memorial, which recognizes a 1963 treaty that ended a border dispute between Mexico and the United States. The museum emphasizes the culture of the borderlands to foster mutual respect between both countries. In addition to the formal museum, you can also enjoy browsing the memorial’s art galleries and theater.
There are also multiple events and festivals scheduled at different times of the year, such as Junior Ranger Day and the Nuevo Siglo Drama Festival. As the memorial is situated in a beautiful urban park, it is an especially nice destination for a pleasant summer afternoon.
The museums in the El Paso area offer an opportunity for visitors to learn more about their area while having a good time. There are lots of museums in the city, so any of these four options represent a great place to start.
Photo by Barbara Brannon | Licensed by CC BY 2.0
Connect with us
