ABQ Museums

 

Anybody that has read this blog for a while now knows that one of my favorite pastimes is exploring all the great museums. Lucky for me the museums here are so vast and encompass all sorts of different subjects. On recent explorations I was fortunate enough to be able to add even more museums to the list of great places I have visited. One is all about one of the most iconic racing families known to the sport, and the other is dedicated to the color and state stone that is so beautiful to New Mexico. 

Unser Museum: When it comes to famous people in New Mexico one name that stands out is the Unser’s. To have a street named after you is one thing, but outside Los Ranchos is a museum about their legacy that was designed by Al himself. Greeted by a classic car outside and a steering wheel door handle, the Unser Museum is a dream for car lovers, and educational for all. The cool thing about this museum is that it is shaped like a wheel with each spoke representing a different aspect of the Unser family and auto racing. Instantly though guests are drawn to the middle of the museum featuring a beautiful car that happened to win the Indy 500. The first spoke or exhibit is about the Pikes Peak Hill Climb where the Unser’s once lived and talks about their dominance in this event. From there you go to the iconic Indy 500 exhibit which is why most fans love racing. After that was my favorite exhibit Jerry’s Garage. This was the most informative to me as I learned about how the Unser’s came to be in New Mexico, and how they owned a garage along Route 66. The final exhibits show the evolution of technology in racing though the various tires and engines that have been used over the decades. As if that wasn’t enough there is an entire second building that can only be described as jaw dropping. This feels like less a museum and more like a showroom. In here there were classic paintings and photos dedicated to racing and the family. In addition, there are several cars from the pace cars used during Unser victories, various cars used in their races, as well as classic cars from the family collection. But the highlight must be the trophy room which is full of all the awards, racing uniforms, and helmets that the family has won over the years. This is a must visit museum in the Albuquerque area, as it shows the impact that this four-generation family has had not only on the sport of car racing, but also on New Mexico. I feel I need to make a repeat visit because I am sure there are multiple things I missed. 

Turquoise Museum: I have always had an affinity for the gemstone turquoise. It’s a color that I associate with the southwest and Native American culture, but that’s basically all I knew about it. When I moved here, looking through all the great museums and cultural locations I could go visit, finding the Turquoise Museum in the city of Albuquerque was a no brainer. The museum lives within the Albuquerque castle, a large mansion right off 2nd Street that looks as if it’s been there forever. I entered through a side door and right into the gift shop while I waited for my ticket entrance time to come around, then everyone was escorted into a room of the castle to learn the history of the museum and turquoise. There was so much to learn. First, the museum is run by the Lowry Family. Five generations who’ve done and seen it all in turquoise back to 1948. I only found out later that our escort into the world of turquoise was the museum curator and 4th generation family member, Joe Dan Lowry. Once you watch the videos, you are left to your own devices to learn and explore in the 2-story museum. The exhibits cover every aspect of turquoise from mining to classification and grading, uses of turquoise, and how to shop with confidence for your own gemstone. There was a whole room displaying the uses and influences of turquoise across the globe divided up by country. Each section of the museum even has an interactive component to help you practice what you’ve learned.  I even learned that the state with the largest number of turquoise mines is Nevada and not New Mexico as I thought. If you have any interest in learning more about the vast world of turquoise, you must check out the Turquoise Museum.

It's hard to believe after visiting these two locations just how much New Mexico has to offer. Both museums were not only informative, but fun to walk around. I’m starting to wonder if I will ever run out to visit, but it seems like with each new town I explore I find a new museum which I love each time. I highly recommend visiting both when in the Albuquerque area, you will have a fun time and thoroughly enjoy exploring what each has to offer. 

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