Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Compiled by Freedom Newspapers
There are few cities in this area with as varied a choice in museums a Roswell, just a short 90 minutes to the west of Portales. For a quick and easy day trip to Roswell, visitors can begin their day at the Roswell Museum and Art Center, then drive a few minutes to the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art, and finish the day with a tour of the Historical Museum of Southeast New Mexico and then the International UFO Museum and Research Center.
What is it?
The Roswell Museum and Art Center is located on North Main Street in Roswell. According to their Web site, they are one of the Southwest’s great museums who offer an impressive collection of fine art, history and space science technology.
The Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art was established in 1994 and is located at 409 E. College Blvd. The museum features a permanent collection of work by over 130 artists from Roswell’s “Artist in Residence” program. Artists from all over the world have traveled to Roswell to live and work.
The Historical Museum of Southeast New Mexico is located at 200 N. Lea, at the intersection of U.S. 70.
The International UFO Museum and Research Center is located at 114 N. Main St. and according to the information on their website, they were first incorporated on Sept. 27, 1991.
What to do
The Roswell Museum and Art Center is currently offering several new exhibitions. The museum is home to the Bassett Education Center which offers a wide array of classes for all ages. The museum also houses one of the two largest planetariums in New Mexico which is named for Robert H. Goddard, a rocketry pioneer. There is the Solar System Holly-Daze, which answers the question of what the weather conditions would be like during the holidays throughout the solar system. Also, there is are exhibitions that feature the work of David Reed titled, “Leave Yourself Behind”, and an exhibition titled, “By Hand and Press”, Five Centuries of Drawings and Prints.
The Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art features works by the artists in residence that are housed in over 10,000 square feet of exhibition space, according to the museum’s Web site.
The Historical Museum of Southeast New Mexico offers a look at life during the early years of the region.
The International UFO Museum and Research Center, according to their Web site, is becoming the clearing house for information related to UFO’s and the phenomenon surrounding them.
Where is it?
Roswell is west on U.S. 70 approximately 90 miles and driving time one way is about 90 minutes. The locations of most museums are all within the city limits and fairly easy to locate.
The Roswell Museum and Art Center is on North Main on the right as you pass the New Mexico Military Institute.
To find the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art, turn left on College off of Main street and it is located on College just past the railroad tracks on the left.
The Historical Museum of Southeast New Mexico is located easily by turning right on Second Street off of Main and is located at its intersection with Lea Street on the right.
The International UFO Musuem and Research Center is located on Main Street on the right as you pass Second Street.
Who to contact
The Roswell Museum and Art Center can be contacted at http://www.roswellmuseum.org or 624-6744, the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art http://www.rair.org/amca.htm or 623-5600, the Historical Museum of Southeastern New Mexico at 622-8333, and the International UFO Museum and Research Center at http://www.iufomrc.com or 625-9495.
