A folk-art classic, the Tinkertown Museum stands just up Sandia Crest Rd (NM 165), west of Cedar Crest. Huge, detailed hand-carved dioramas of Western towns, circuses and other scenes come alive – sometimes with a quarter. Woodcarver and wisdom collector Ross J Ward, who passed away in 2002, built it and surrounded it with antique toys, ‘junque’ (fancy junk) and suggestions that you eat more mangoes naked.
Tinkertown Museum
Central New Mexico
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
17.73 MILES
Formerly known as the Albuquerque Museum of Art & History, this showpiece museum shouldn't be missed. With an engaging Albuquerque history gallery that's…
17.01 MILES
Collectively run by New Mexico's 19 Pueblos, this cultural center is an essential stop-off during even the shortest Albuquerque visit. Revamped in 2016,…
American International Rattlesnake Museum
17.84 MILES
Anyone charmed by snakes and all things slithery will find this museum fascinating; for ophidiophobes, it’s a complete nightmare, filled with the world’s…
New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science
17.58 MILES
Dinosaur-mad kids are certain to love this huge modern museum, on the northeastern fringes of Old Town. From the T. rex in the main atrium onwards, it’s…
18.53 MILES
The twin highlights in this peaceful park are the two large conservatories of Mediterranean and desert plants. You'll also find formal Japanese gardens, a…
19.79 MILES
The lava fields preserved in this large desert park, west of the Rio Grande, are adorned with more than 23,000 ancient petroglyphs (1000 BC–AD 1700)…
6.52 MILES
The United States' longest aerial tram climbs 2.7 miles from the desert floor in the northeast corner of the city to the summit of 10,378ft Sandia Crest…
17.77 MILES
Set on 60 shady acres beside the Rio Grande and home to chimpanzees, giraffes, elephants, crocodiles and more, this zoo puts on a busy schedule of events…
Nearby Central New Mexico attractions
6.52 MILES
The United States' longest aerial tram climbs 2.7 miles from the desert floor in the northeast corner of the city to the summit of 10,378ft Sandia Crest…
2. National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
11.81 MILES
Located at the edge of the massive Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque’s southeast corner, and surrounded by an outdoor Heritage Park holding discarded…
13.01 MILES
About 13 miles north of Albuquerque, this pueblo was established around 1300 AD. Thanks to the wealth it has generated from Sandia Casino, it has…
4. Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum
13.13 MILES
Ready to geek out on hot-air balloons? This informative museum covers it all, from the first manned flight in Paris (1783) to Bernoulli's principle (how…
14.79 MILES
When Spanish colonists established this village in 1710, Tewa Indians had already been growing crops here for a thousand years. These days, the hills…
15.43 MILES
This site preserves the ruins of Kuaua Pueblo, which was at its most active from the 14th to the 16th centuries. The stars of the show are 14 500-year-old…
15.47 MILES
There are several museums and galleries packed into the small but peaceful campus of UNM, along with abundant public art and a performing arts center. The…
8. University of New Mexico Art Museum
15.52 MILES
Most exhibits here are drawn from the university's permanent collection, which is particularly strong on lithographs and regional artists.