8 Of The Best Museums In Taos, New Mexico

Taos has a surprising number of museums for such a small town, especially if you’re interested in art. The town has attracted artists for more than a century, and several of their former homes and studios are now museums. So don’t expect a bunch of traditional museums with large galleries. Many of these are intimate historic homes where you’re seeing the artists’ work in the same spaces where they once lived and created it. You’ll also find museums covering Native American and Hispanic art, local history, and the different people and cultures that have shaped Taos over the years.

Most of the museums are fairly small, which makes it easy to visit a few during the same day. Just be sure to double check hours before you go. Hours can change throughout the year, especially at the smaller museums and historic homes, and if you’re visiting during the off season, I’d even recommend calling ahead since information online isn’t always accurate.

With that said, let’s get into the best museums in Taos, New Mexico.

Kit Carson House and Museum taos new mexico — Best museums in Taos, New Mexico

art gallery courtyard area downtown taos new mexico — Best museums in Taos, New Mexico

Table of Contents

Best Museums In Taos, New Mexico

Harwood Museum of Art

If you only have time for one art museum in Taos, I’d probably pick the Harwood. Its galleries cover a wide range of art from northern New Mexico, including Hispanic, Native American, Taos Society of Artists, and contemporary works. The museum has been collecting art from the region for more than a century, so it’s also a great place to see how the Taos art scene has changed over time. One of the highlights is the Agnes Martin Gallery, which features seven large paintings she created specifically for the museum.

The Harwood is just a few blocks from Taos Plaza, so it’s really easy to visit while you’re already exploring downtown, plus there’s free parking in the museum’s lower lot. The museum is open year-round but not every day of the week, so be sure to check the schedule before you go. Admission is required, although there are occasional free and pay-what-you-wish days, and you don’t need to book ahead for a regular visit. Check Harwood Museum for current hours, admission, and upcoming exhibitions.

Taos Art Museum at Fechin House

The Taos Art Museum is worth visiting for the building alone. The museum is housed in the former home of Russian-born artist Nicolai Fechin, who spent several years transforming the adobe home after moving to Taos in the late 1920s. He designed and worked on much of it himself, and the detailed wood carvings throughout the house are especially beautiful. Today, you’ll find Fechin’s work alongside art from other artists connected to Taos, plus his former studio and gardens.

The museum is open year-round with reduced winter hours and is just a short walk from Taos Plaza, with free on-site parking. Admission is required to tour the museum, but the Fechin Studio and gardens are free to visit, so they’re worth stopping by even if you don’t have time for the full museum. For the most up-to-date information, check Taos Art Museum before your visit.

Kit Carson House & Museum

If you’re more interested in history than art, check out the Kit Carson House & Museum. Kit Carson and his wife, Josefa Jaramillo, lived in this adobe home in the mid-1800s, and today the museum looks at Carson’s life and the history of the Southwest. Inside, you’ll find period rooms, family belongings, historic artifacts, and exhibits that give you a better idea of what life here looked like during the 1800s. I also appreciate that the museum tells a more complete version of the area’s history, including perspectives from Native Americans, Hispanics, and women.

This is one of the smaller museums in Taos, making it an easy stop while you’re already exploring downtown. It’s located just off Taos Plaza, with free municipal parking about a block away. The museum is open year-round, and admission is required, but you don’t need to book ahead for a regular visit. For current information, head to Kit Carson House & Museum.

Millicent Rogers Museum

The Millicent Rogers Museum is home to an impressive collection of Native American, Hispanic, and Southwestern art, with everything from jewelry and pottery to textiles, paintings, and religious art. The museum is named for Millicent Rogers, a designer and art collector who moved to Taos in the late 1940s and became an important supporter of Native American and Hispanic artists. Her personal collection helped form the foundation of the museum, although the collection has grown significantly since then. I especially like this one if you want to learn more about the different cultures and artistic traditions that have shaped northern New Mexico.

The museum is located in El Prado, a few miles north of downtown Taos, so you’ll want to drive rather than trying to work it into a walking day around the Plaza. There’s plenty of free parking on-site. The museum is open year-round, although operating days can change seasonally, so double-check Millicent Rogers Museum before visiting. Admission is required for most visitors, and you don’t need to book ahead for a regular visit.

Blumenschein House

The E.L. Blumenschein Home & Museum is the former home of Ernest Blumenschein, one of the founding members of the Taos Society of Artists, and his family. Much of the adobe home has been preserved as it was when they lived here, with original furnishings, artwork, and personal belongings still on display. The collection also includes work by Blumenschein, his wife Mary Greene Blumenschein, and their daughter Helen, who were artists themselves. It’s a nice mix of art and history, giving you a look at both the family’s work and what life was like in Taos during the early 1900s.

The museum is located on Ledoux Street, right near the Harwood Museum, so these two are especially easy to visit together. There’s no dedicated parking, but public parking is available around downtown Taos. The museum is open year-round, although its hours and operating days can change seasonally, so this is one I’d definitely double check before visiting, you can do so at Blumenschein House. Admission is required, and you don’t need to book ahead for a regular visit.

Couse-Sharp Historic Site

The Couse-Sharp Historic Site preserves the homes and studios of E. Irving Couse and Joseph Henry Sharp, two founding members of the Taos Society of Artists. Much of the property remains remarkably intact, including Couse’s home and studio and Sharp’s original studios, with artwork, furnishings, and personal belongings still in place. It’s one of the best places in Taos to get a sense of how the early art colony actually lived and worked, rather than simply seeing their finished pieces hanging in a museum.

This one requires a little more planning than the other museums on this list. The historic buildings are primarily seen on a docent-led tour, which takes around two hours and should be reserved in advance. The site is located on Kit Carson Road near downtown Taos, with free municipal parking about half a block away. Tours are offered throughout the year, but availability depends on volunteer docents, so it’s best to plan ahead. Tours are free, although donations are encouraged. For current tour availability and information on arranging your visit, head to Couse-Sharp Historic Site.

Hacienda de Los Martinez Museum

Originally built in the early 1800s, Hacienda de los Martinez is one of the best places in Taos to learn more about northern New Mexico’s Hispanic history. The large adobe hacienda was once the home of the Martínez family and an important trade center, with goods moving between New Mexico and areas farther south along historic trade routes. Today, you can explore the property’s many rooms and courtyards, with historic furnishings and exhibits covering everything from family life and farming to trade in the region.

Hacienda de los Martinez is a little outside downtown Taos, so you’ll want to drive, free parking is available on-site. The museum is open year-round and currently operates daily, although hours are often reduced during the winter, so double-check the schedule before visiting. Admission is required, but you don’t need to book ahead for a regular visit. Head to Hacienda de Los Martinez Museum for current information.

Taos Pueblo

Taos Pueblo isn’t technically a museum, but I couldn’t write a guide to the best museums in Taos without mentioning this important historic site. This living Native American community has been continuously inhabited for more than 1,000 years and is both a National Historic Landmark and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can explore designated areas of the historic village, learn more about the community’s history and culture on a guided tour, and visit galleries and shops run by Taos Pueblo artists and their families. It’s easily one of the most important cultural and historic places to visit in Taos.

Taos Pueblo is just a few miles north of downtown, with free visitor parking available on-site. Admission is required and includes a free tour, but bring cash for tipping your guide. Hours and closures can vary throughout the year, including closures for religious and community events, so always check Taos Pueblo before going. There are also a few important things to know about photography, restricted areas, and visitor etiquette, which I cover in my Tips for Visiting Taos Pueblo guide.

historic taos village taos pueblo new mexico — Historic Taos Pueblo

Taos’ museums are a great way to better understand the art, history, and cultures that have shaped the town. Even if museums aren’t normally a big part of your travels, I’d make time for at least one or two while you’re here.

Any questions? Please leave a comment below or reach out on social media.

Looking for more information? Check out Visit Taos or browse my additional Taos and New Mexico guides below!

8 Of The Best Museums In Taos, New Mexico