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Maxwell Museum of Anthropology

The Maxwell Museum is the oldest public museum in Albuquerque and actively supports and enhances the University of New Mexico’s mission of education, research and public service.  While its primary emphasis on the American Southwest, the Museum's collections are worldwide in scope. The Museum offers  compelling ongoing and temporary exhibits describing and interpreting anthropological subjects for all interested audiences. The Museum is dedicated to providing engaging educational opportunities through exhibitions and public programs, publications, tours, the Museum store and outreach programs to the Albuquerque public schools. The Museum is free and open to all.

 

EXPLORE

Plate with antelope design

Investigate global cultures past and present. Our permanent exhibits cover nearly 4 million years of the human cultural experience. Ancestors presents the biological changes and cultural turning points that make us truly human. People of the Southwest highlights archaeological evidence of groups from the prehistoric American Southwest. Temporary exhibitions explore topics on cultures across the world and throughout time.

LEARN

Children interacting with museum kiosk

The Maxwell offers lifelong learning to all through public programs. Schedule an exhibits tour or educational trunk for your classroom or group. Trained docents lead tours of our permanent exhibits and bring trunks loaded with fun, educational activities straight to classrooms. You can also attend lectures by notable scholars, exhibit openings, and intergenerational family programs or come to another one of our many public programs and events.

DISCOVER

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Museum collections span the globe, with objects representing multiple subfields of anthropology including archaeology, ethnology, and biological anthropology, along with photo and document archives. The museum encourages and supports use of its collections for research by University students and faculty, along with outside scholars.

 

 

 SHOP

Acoma Pueblo storyteller Shop the Maxwell Museum Store online or on the University of New Mexico campus. We are unique in our partnerships and support of Native American artists from New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. We feature local and fair trade items, and our merchandise is vetted by the Museum’s curators and staff to ensure the Store maintains the highest ethical standards, quality, and authenticity.