Albuquerque Museum of Art and History

Albuquerque Museum of Art and History Review

This modern structure houses the largest collection of Spanish-colonial artifacts in the nation, along with a superb photo archive and other relics of the city's birth and development. The Common Ground galleries represent an important permanent collection of primarily 20th-century paintings, all by world-renowned artists with a New Mexico connection. Changing exhibits also reveal a commitment to historically important artists and photographers of the 20th and 21st centuries. The centerpiece, Four Centuries: A History of Albuquerque, is a pair of life-size models of Spanish conquistadors in original chain mail and armor. Perhaps the one on horseback is Francisco Vásquez de Coronado, who, in search of gold, led a small army into New Mexico in 1540—a turning point in the region's history. A multimedia presentation chronicles the development of the city since 1875. The sculpture garden contains more than 50 contemporary works by Southwestern artists that include Glenna Goodacre, Michael Naranjo, and Luis Jiménez. Visitors may also take advantage of three 45-minute, free (with museum admission) tours. Slate at the Museum, a casual eatery operated by Downtown's excellent Slate Street Cafe, serves soups, salads, espresso drinks, desserts, and other tasty light fare.