Question of the Quarter
All fossils on display are not the original fossils but replicas. Replicas of fossils in museums are considered “real fossils.”
This is for two reasons: One reason is because the original fossils are fragile. The second reason is that they are very heavy and cannot be properly supported for us to be able to see what the animal may have looked like.
While the skull we have on display is not the original fossil that was excavated from the ground, it is the exact same type of replica that is currently on display in the Smithsonian (which is also Stan).
The Dimetropus, or the footprint of the Dimetrodon, are actual prints from the Robledo Mountains and are on loan to us from the Bureau of Land Management
General Operations
There are four free museums under the Las Cruces Museum System. They are all located within about a half mile of each other. They are:
The Branigan Cultural Center at 501 N. Main St.
The Museum of Art at 491 N. Main St.
The Museum of Nature & Science at 411 N. Main St.
The Railroad Museum at 351 N. Mesilla St.
The Museum of Nature & Science and the Museum of Art gallery share an atrium space and can both be accessed through the entrance at 411 N. Main St. The Museum of Nature & Science also has an entrance at 411 N. Water Street.
All four of the Las Cruces Museums are open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10am to 4:30pm, and Saturdays from 9am to 4:30pm. The museums are closed for Federal holidays. The three Museums on Main Street are also open until 7pm for “First Fridays” every first Friday of the month.
The Museum of Nature & Science also offers “Neurodivergent Nights” every Thursday from 4pm to 6pm, where we lower the lights and sounds and add more sensory spaces. The Branigan Cultural Center and Museum of Art also offer these hours subject to change due to exhibit installation. The best way to know when these are happening is to follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @LCMuseums.
Yes! Admission to all four museums is completely free for patrons of all ages. Most of our programs and events are also free to attend unless otherwise stated in their descriptions.
Yes, we offer free museum tours of the museums. Tours can be scheduled by contacting the Visitor Experience Manager, Emilia Linley, at [email protected] or via phone at (575) 541-2321/TTY 711 at least two weeks prior to your intended date. Tours are subject to availability, so it is best to have two to three dates in mind. Tours require a minimum of 30 minutes per museum.
For larger groups, we will split into smaller groups of 20-25 for a better experience. Ensure proper adult supervision: one adult for every ten middle/high school students and one adult for every eight pre-school/elementary school students. Teachers and chaperones must remain with their groups throughout the tour.
More Information on tours and tour specific questions can be found at LasCruces.gov/Tour. Though tours are not necessary and you are welcome to explore the museum at your own pace by just coming in, if you are bringing a large group, we love to have the heads up for your self-guided tour.
There is limited parking on Main Street, so it is suggested to park in the Water Street side parking lot or back-in street parking for the Museums on Main Street. There are two parking lots for the Railroad Museum, both of which may be used by guests.
We recommend at least 30 minutes for each museum, but the maximum depends on your interests. There are many interactives at the Museum of Nature & Science, as well as several informative panels and fascinating objects in each museum. Some exhibits are smaller than others and can be looked through in minutes, while others like the “Land of the People” may take a few trips to truly get the whole story.
The Museum of Art and the Branigan Cultural Center feature constantly changing exhibits. Exhibit runs vary, but are generally between three and four months. During installation of an exhibit, the Museum of Art gallery or a gallery in the Branigan Cultural Center may be closed. These closures can take different amounts of time as well, so please stay connected via Facebook and Instagram @LCMuseums for up to date information on closures and upcoming exhibits.
Outside food and drinks are not allowed in the Las Cruces Museums and we do not sell or provide food except for certain special events and programs.
Museum Insights
While the building that is now the Branigan Cultural Center was once the city’s first public library, today it is a museum with three galleries with rotating exhibits focusing on the history and art of our region. The Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, located at 200 E. Picacho Ave., is the new home of the city’s public library. Both share the name of Thomas Branigan, since the library was created and funded through the will of his wife, Alice Branigan in 1935.
Those are Mr. Nero’s kittens! Mr. Nero was a black cat that lived here at the Branigan Cultural Center back when it was still a library in the 1960s and 70s. He lives on through the hidden kittens scattered inside and around the Branigan Cultural Center. Can you find them all?
No. Though the Railroad Museum is the historic train depot for Las Cruces, it hasn’t offered passenger services since 1968. The tracks west of the depot are presently owned and operated by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Company. Freight trains still use the tracks, and trains come from El Paso, Albuquerque, and points beyond, delivering and picking up train cars for local and regional businesses.
