New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
4.7(4,888)4.7 out of 5 stars, 4888 reviews Albuquerque, NM
About New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science offers a highly interactive and educational experience, particularly strong in its dinosaur, natural history, and space exhibits. It provides excellent value with reasonable pricing and planetarium shows that cater to a broad range of ages, ensuring a memorable and engaging visit for families.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families with children who have a strong interest in dinosaurs, natural history, or space.Parents seeking an educational and interactive outing that can engage children for several hours.Visitors looking for good value in family entertainment.Families with a wide range of ages, as the museum caters to 'all ages'.**Toddlers to Pre-Teens (Walking age to 11 years old):** Reviewer's son enjoyed it 'since he could walk and now he's 11'.
Why families love it
- Extremely reasonable prices, with a 'great deal' on show tickets when purchased at the counter.
- Highly interactive exhibits that make learning 'fun for all ages'.
- Extensive and popular dinosaur exhibits, including the 'Bisti Beast' and a 'TREX movie'.
- Engaging 3D shows in the planetarium, such as 'Mission to Mars' and '3D Desert Elephants'.
- Friendly and helpful staff (e.g., 'Lisa' at the front counter).
- Educational content covering 'history lessons' and natural history of New Mexico.
Insider tips
- Buy tickets at the counter to 'get a great deal on show tickets' for planetarium shows.
- Allow significant time for your visit; it's possible to spend 'a long time and still didn't see everything'.
- If your children are dinosaur enthusiasts, prioritize this museum as it has 'lots of dinosaur exhibits' and specific highlights like the 'Bisti Beast' and 'TREX movie'.
- Consider visiting on a weekday, as it was 'not crowded on a Thursday in late January'.
Good to know before you go
- If attending specific family events (e.g., Earth Day), manage expectations regarding the educational depth, as some might lean more towards crafts.
- One reviewer found a specific 'Earth Day Family Event' to be less educational and more craft-focused than expected.
- A long-time visitor expressed missing a former 'space area' exhibit, indicating some exhibit changes might not appeal to everyone.
- Crowds
- Reviewed as 'not crowded on a Thursday in late January', suggesting weekdays outside of major holiday periods might offer a more relaxed experience.
- Value
- The fees to enter are consistently described as 'extremely reasonable' and 'very reasonable'. Parents can get a 'great deal on show tickets' by purchasing them at the counter, suggesting excellent overall value for the immersive and educational experience offered.
- Accessibility
- No specific accessibility accommodations mentioned in the reviews.
- Safety
- No specific safety features mentioned in the reviews.
What parents say
"My kids and I traveled to Albuquerque for a quick visit and had a great time at the museum. Prices were extremely reasonable and we enjoyed learning about the natural history of New Mexico. They have a lot of interactive exhibits that make visiting fun for all ages. The clerk at the front, Lisa, was wonderful and so friendly. Highly recommend buying tickets at the counter as you will get a great deal on show tickets. We saw the Mission to Mars show in the planetarium and the 3D Desert Elephants show. Such a great time!"
a month ago
"My son loves dinosaurs and really enjoys this museum. The Bisti Beast is so cool! This last time we saw the TREX movie and it was incredible. Highly recommended. My 4YO loved it! The new display at the top of the stairs is really interesting - I loved learning about the Dimetrodon in NM."
2 weeks ago
"Lots of dinosaur exhibits here. And a volcano. And underwater stuff. And space stuff. Nice gift shop. We came here to see dinosaurs in 3D, but missed it and had to see desert elephants in 3D. Which was probably better. Not crowded on a Thursday in late January."
3 months ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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