The New Mexico Museum of Space History is a must stop for those with an interest in space or history or both. It’s an interactive museum you’ll enjoy whether you’re six or sixty. Don’t miss it!

Ross and I recently spent a month living outside of Alamogordo, and my number one to-do while there was a visit to this museum. Ross was a little more on the fence, but since we both loved visiting the John C. Stennis Space Center and it had been two years, I convinced him and we headed there.

The first thing you’ll notice when you pull in is that everything is built into the hills, on a hill. It’s really pretty. Second, you’ll notice a planetarium (which we didn’t see). And third, you’ll notice the distinctive building housing offices and the Space Museum. Outside are several exhibits, so even if you don’t pay to go inside, it would be a fun stop…at least if you enjoy taking your photo next to giant spacecraft like I do.

Once you’ve gotten your fill of photo ops, head inside. Admission is $8 for adults, and I thought that was pretty cheap for what you get. You can also purchase a joint ticket if you’ll be watching a Planetarium movie while you are there.

Once we paid for our tickets, we took the elevator to the top floor. I loved the layout of this museum. It’s built with sort of a forced perspective, where you walk around the top floor and then walk down the ramp, through part of the Hall of Fame, until you reach the next floor. Then you repeat that process several times. I found it to be really effective, and it meant I was much more interested in reading about the Hall of Fame members than I would have been if we’d tried to take it in all at the same time.

There are lots of incredible exhibits, where you’ll learn the history of the space program and the era, see what space craft looked like, learn the science, experience art about the space race and much more. There are some spots where the museum is a little lacking in polish currently, but it’s made up for by the number of interactive exhibits, which allow you to train to pilot a space ship or feel the wind and ground when a spaceship takes off, or learn about Star Trek and its place in our cultural history.

It’s easy to spend several hours here. I’d recommend at least three or four. And be sure to check the schedule of the Planetarium too if that interests you.

There’s a beautiful nature trail, a memorial and other outside exhibits worth a stop before departure too.

If you’re considering a visit, a highly recommend it. It’s an awesome deal. And if you need a place to grab a bite or a coffee (and gelato if it’s in stock), I recommend Plateau Espresso nearby.

Thanks for stopping by! If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy A Long Day in Longmont, CO.

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