museum of nature & science

We enjoyed the exhibits with dinosaurs and examples of fossils. Small, but good for a rainy or cold day.

Drove by many times and wish I stopped in sooner. Lots of interesting displays and a really big amethyst geode you can crawl into if there wasn't a rope in front! Kids will like it too.

This was an unexpected delight to go through and see lot's about this area...very worthwhile!! Didn't expect also to see live animals....desert mostly....but the frogs were amazing too see as well!!

In downtown Las Cruces. Great displays on area environment. Most interesting was fossilized dino footprints. A few terrariums with local snakes, lizards and turtles. Some Saturdays there is bits farmers market and craft booths set up on street in front of museum. Lots of variety there.

The last time we visited this tiny museum was almost a decade ago. At the time, it was at one lonely end of a dying mall. It was somewhat interesting, with terrariums and aquariums filled with live critters from the Chihuahuan Desert. The new location, though, is much better and bigger. It's in Lac Cruces' Downtown Mall, near the fabulous COAS used bookstore. It's a great place to hit after visiting COAS or while beating the heat after going to Saturday's Farmers' Market.The new location, still free, is much larger than the mall location and has even more of the critters. It also has an extensive exhibit on the Permian-Era trackways that Jerry MacDonald found in the Robledos Monutains just outside of Las Cruces. It doesn't take long to get through, but it's a good stop if you want to get a little of Las Cruces' (pre)history. I wish there were a small gift shop where visitors could buy postcards - that might be good for fundraising.

Very interesting things to look at. My grandson liked the giant geode. It wasn't very big but free to get into.

Very well presented displays done with children in mind.. Very pleased with the reaction of my 10 year old grandson to all that he viewed especially the astronomy exhibit. Enjoyed the visit and interaction of children visiting and their prolonged interest in exhibits. Etta Kaufman

This month a great exhibit from the collection of Cheech Marin (of old Cheech & Chong fame) who is a big promoter of Chicano Art. He even came for opening of exhibit, spoke, autographed. Exhibits usually change monthly at the first part of the month. The week before the first Friday is usually closed as changing exhibits.

I unrolled my daughter in the one week marine biology class here and she got to dissect starfish and other species she enjoyed herself greatly. Wonderful knowledgeable staff very friendly and clean.

The museum has a lot of space and it is not all in use as yet. But it is a very interesting place and offers a lot for visitors to take in. There are exhibits especially for children who will enjoy their visit as well. I recommend it.

This is not a BIG museum but it is a definite must see if youre in Las Cruces.They have exhibits of dinosaur fossils and a section of dinosaur trackway. They also have exhibits of desert wildlife.Well worth the trip.And it is next door to the art museum. Go on Wednesday, there is a craft market just down the street.

My 5 yr old grandson was quickly bored. Half of the live reptile exhibits were above his eye level and there was only one interactive display. The gorgeous desert specimens of coyote, eagle, etc were located 20 ft above floor level- very difficult to see and appreciate. Do not recommend for kids 6 and under.

Really liked this place. It was very well done and the exhibits were very interesting! They had a nice mixture of active things to do and some real lizards, snakes etc… I especially liked the giant crystal and interactive earth/moon exhibit.

When we first moved to town a few weeks ago we spotted this place and it immediately grabbed our attention. When we found an afternoon to actually go there we were not disappointed. The entrance is free and the displays are fun and kid friendly. The animals on display are VERY interesting and well kept. There is an astronomy section that is delightful. The interactive solar system is very exciting for the kids as well as an interesting visual that it provides. the light room is also excellent as i got to finally show the kids first hand how a rainbow is made instead of trying to paint a picture in their heads. They even got to create their own rainbow with prisms and thoroughly enjoyed it. The museum connects to the art museum, I didn't spend long in there, obviously, but from what i could gather there wre some very interesting items and some great mountain range photographs.

Small well maintained displays. Richard the naturalist we spoke to was a wealth of knowledge. He has done an excellent job creating and maintaining the aquatic displays. This is worth the time to visit when in downtown Las Cruces. Wed or Sat morning farmers market is also worthwhile.