Get an insight into the artistic talents of the civilizations that once inhabited the cultural regions of Aridoamerica and Mesoamerica before the Spanish arrived.
The Chamizal Museum of Archaeology (Museo de Arqueología de El Chamizal) is an institution that strives to promote the ancient cultures and archaeological legacy of Mexico. It presents a visual understanding of the development of the nation from its pre-Colombian era. In the museum see artifacts from thousand-year-old civilizations such as the Aztec, Maya, Olmec and Toltec empires.
A major highlight of the museum is its outdoor sculpture trail. Inspect the originals and replicas of statues that are representative of Mexico’s many ancient cultures. Stand in the shadow of tall pyramids and walk amid reconstructed temples. Interpretative signs in both English and Spanish provide historical information about each artifact. Exhibits include an Aztec sundial and the carved head of the Aztec serpent god Xiuhcoatl.
Inside the museum building is an anthropology exhibition about the Paquimé region, located in the Casas Grandes district of Chihuahua state. During the 1300s and 1400s it played a vital role in establishing cultural connections between northern Mexico and southwestern U.S. Browse displays of ceramics, paintings and sculptures excavated in the region.
Located within Chamizal Federal Public Park, the museum is a 15-minute drive from the Ciudad Juarez’s historic center and a 20-minute drive from downtown El Paso. Use the free parking available outside the museum’s entrance. Additional parking is possible about a 5-minute walk away.
Chamizal Museum of Archaeology is free to enter. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Ask at the museum’s reception area about events held in the garden. These range from open-air concerts and children’s art workshops to handicraft and food markets.
