NMDCA News:
ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science has shattered spring attendance records and boosted nearby businesses since its grand reopening on April 4.
“When we were preparing to reopen last month, we weren’t sure what the public response would be,” said Dr. Anthony Fiorillo, Executive Director of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science. “But from the moment we opened our doors, we’ve seen an outpouring of support from our community. We’re incredibly grateful to all the visitors who have stopped by since our reopening, and we’re excited to welcome even more visitors in the coming months.”
After reopening on Saturday, April 4 following its eight-month renovation project, the museum saw 32,481 visitors through April 30. That marks a 132 percent increase over April 2025’s numbers even accounting for less than a full month of revenue and proved to be the museum’s best April in at least a decade.
Additionally, 8,142 of those visitors attended a show at either the Verus Research Dynatheater or the Planetarium, Powered by Meta. This figure is a 30 percent increase over last April. The museum reported just under $203,000 in ticket revenue across all its venues in April, up 143 percent compared to April 2025.
This came after the museum reopened following an extensive $3.67 million renovation project that included a redesigned entrance and box office, an expanded gift shop, a rebuilt sewer line, new skylights, and updates to around one-third of the museum’s exhibit space. The museum also debuted a pair of new traveling exhibitions—Animal Armor: The Evolution of Armor in Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals, and the Sun Gallery—that visitors can explore on the museum’s first floor.
The museum’s reopening is just one of the exciting recent developments in and around Old Town Albuquerque that are giving the neighborhood momentum. The first new phase of the planned 7-mile Albuquerque Rail Trail connects Tiguex Park with Bellamah Avenue and the nearby Sawmill District, Explora’s Brillante Early Learning Center continues to take shape, and several new shops and restaurants have opened in recent months.
The result of these developments has been an increase in foot traffic in the neighborhood. One local business owner, Sidney Mallard at The Next Best Thing to Being There, has taken notice, noting an uptick in customers this spring, which she attributed to the museum’s reopening and a new mural on the west side of her shop. With more updates planned at the museum and additional investment slated for the neighborhood, it’s an exciting moment for Old Town Albuquerque.
To learn more about the museum’s current offerings and get tickets today, visit nmnaturalhistory.org.
About the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Trustees of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation, through the generous support of donors. Established in 1986, the mission of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science is to preserve and interpret the distinctive natural and scientific heritage of our state through extraordinary collections, research, exhibits, and programs designed to ignite a passion for lifelong learning. The NMMNHS offers exhibitions, programs, and workshops in Geoscience, including Paleontology and Mineralogy, Bioscience, and Space Science. It is the Southwest’s largest repository for fossils and includes a Planetarium and a large format 3D DynaTheater.
