The Tremendous Turquoise Museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico!
While I have never been much of a jewelry person, I have always been interested in gems, minerals, and rocks in general. My dad was an avid rock enthusiast and so it was hard NOT to become interested in rocks myself. One of the gems (minerals) that has always fascinated me was turquoise. You can almost always spot turquoise throughout history due to its beautiful, distinct blue-green color. Egyptian pharaohs wore it (see King Tut’s Ceremonial Mask below ⬇️). Native Americans wore it and designed with it, as did many other cultures across the globe.
When I traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico this Fall, I was pleasantly surprised to see a Turquoise Museum located downtown. I made an online reservation ahead of time at the museum web link below ⬇️ (which is required, by the way) and decided to check it out.
***Please note: Due to the Turquoise Museum photography policy, I am not able to display any photos I took at the museum. Trust me, the photos I have are beautiful and the museum is well-worth visiting. The photos in this post are stock photos of turquoise artifacts and jewelry in general. Please enjoy the actual photos and videos at the museum website above. ⬆️
I was surprised to learn Turquoise Museum is a family-owned endeavor and has been open for more than 50 years. You can find family members in the gift shop, serving in administrative positions, and more. Recently, the museum has moved into a new building that was previously a two-story church. The gorgeous surroundings are a beautiful complement to the gemstones and other artifacts displayed in the museum.
I started my visit by viewing an informative video in a covered outdoor courtyard area. The video covered the history of the museum and information about the characteristics of turquoise gems. It was a fitting introduction to what you are about to encounter in the museum.
You are then guided into a door on the back side of the museum and onto the first floor of exhibits. You are free to browse and wander the exhibits as you like. There is quite a bit to see. I would definitely recommend budgeting two or three hours here if you wish to read the descriptions in some of the exhibits. It would likely take a whole day or multiple visits to read it all.
Note: This beautiful museum may be more of interest to older teens and adults. There is an elevator between floors but you must ask staff to assist you in using it.
The museum contents are arranged by geography. It is amazing to see the artifacts from all over the world. We as humans are so creative!
