Museum of Indian Arts and Culture 🇺🇸

When you visit the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe, New Mexico, you step into a space dedicated to the accurate and culturally sensitive presentation of Southwestern Native American cultures. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and working closely with regional Native communities, this essential institution offers an authentic look at the area's rich heritage. You will explore impressive, wide-ranging collections that include Southwestern textiles, baskets, jewelry, contemporary art, and artifacts chronicling centuries of human habitation.

As New Mexico's state repository for archaeological materials, its vast holdings house millions of historic items. During your walk through the galleries, you can discover remarkable exhibitions celebrating indigenous artistic traditions. View nearly 300 ceramic vessels spanning from early pottery-making to the present day in The Buchsbaum Gallery of Southwestern Pottery, or marvel at optical illusions in ancestral pottery displayed in Painted Reflections.

You can also experience Clearly Indigenous, an exhibition highlighting Native visions in glass along with field innovator Dale Chihuly. For a deep narrative connection, the major Here, Now & Always exhibition pairs over 1,300 collection objects with song, poetry, story, and scholarly discussion, ensuring you leave with a profound appreciation for the Southwest's vibrant indigenous communities.

What to see at Museum of Indian Arts and Culture

• The Buchsbaum Gallery of Southwestern Pottery featuring nearly 300 Pueblo ceramic vessels
• Clearly Indigenous exhibition displaying glass art by 33 distinct artists alongside Dale Chihuly
• Painted Reflections featuring 9th-century to modern ancestral pottery with optical illusions
• Here, Now & Always exhibition pairing over 1,300 objects with poetry, story, and song
• Extensive collections of Southwestern textiles, baskets, jewelry, and contemporary art

Visiting tips

Be sure to explore the Here, Now & Always exhibition to experience Southwestern Native culture through a combination of physical objects, song, poetry, and storytelling.

How long: 2-3 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Museum of Indian Arts and Culture is easy to reach on Santa Fe’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Palace of the Governors and Santa Fe Plaza. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Santa Fe travel guide.