New Mexico Museum of Space History

I didn't realize how rich in history WSMR and Alamogordo were until I visited the NM Museum of Space and History. You start on the 5th floor and then work your way down. The exterior of the level transitions are glass, so you can enjoy the views as you walk down. The entrance price is cheap compared to other museums. While most of the exhibits were antiquated, I still found them valuable and appealing. You can easily spend several hours roaming the exhibits.

It was a pleasant experience, although some displays were malfunctioning. Apart from that, it was informative and well-organized. This is my third visit, and it remains a great place. While some displays definitely need replacement, it’s still a fantastic destination for children. Some images were edited using Apple Intelligence to protect the identities of certain individuals.

Re-adding my lost/deleted review from 2012. Someone decided to add a new marker vs updating the original one... that action removed many reviews, photos, and memories! This museum is incredible. Very in depth of an area and the area. Many displays inside and outside. Take at least 2-4 hours to enjoy the grounds. If you go early you will almost have the entire place to yourself and don't have to worry about taking all day to see everything. The staff that I remember from my original 2012 visit were very polite and friendly.

If you ever wanted to feel like you’ve stepped onto the *USS Enterprise* without accidentally activating a red alert, the New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo is the place to beam into. 🖖 From the moment we walked in, I half expected Captain Kirk to pop out and give us a dramatic monologue about the final frontier. Instead, we got something even better; space suits, rockets, satellites, and enough cosmic facts to make Spock raise an eyebrow in approval. The exhibits were fascinating, the views stellar, and not once did we encounter any Klingons. 10/10 would recommend. If you’re anywhere near Alamogordo, set your phasers to *fun* and make the trip. It’s a warp speed good time for the whole family. 🌌 🖖 Live long and explore!

Very fun experience from the outside to inside... love how it starts from top to bottom and has such a great view from up top. Great for families. Just wish for more interaction

Really neat. Nice design for a small building. You start at the top floor and walk down 5 flights on a gradually sloping corridor. No stairs. Easy for elderly, handicapped, strollers, and scooters. Fun and interactive!

Fantastic collection! Something for everyone, including a few interactive displays. If you read everything you could easily send the whole day. We went through in about 90 min. Great value for the low price of admission.

I was outside today, walking around the path a bit. I did not go into the museum. Someone wrote with lava rock pieces on the ground the word Jesus. I thought that was really cool.

The educational facility has a very bad first impression, They misspelled receipt on the admission tickets. Over priced gift shop . A long walk to theatre. Handicap taking is available there.

a month ago What an experience! The Museum of Space History was not only educational but also super fun and interesting. Starting with the gravesite of Ham, the first chimp in space, everything from the moon replica to historical movies props my favorite area. You start from the fifth floor and go down to the first floor. You can also watch a film which was sad to say was not able to do. If you love space a must stop place to see.

Awesome museum!! Lots to see inside and outside. We are glad we went! Was well worth the drive from El Paso.

At least two hours here and that's just the exhibits inside. A well organized walk through space history starting from the earliest rockets and continuing through the more modern stuff including the Space Shuttle. A collection of science fiction including a huge exhibit on Star Trek and its influence on space programs. An actual moon rock. At least two or three different movie exhibits with looped films. And a couple of interactive exhibits where I landed the Space Shuttle (after four tries). Do stop to check out the memorial to lost astronauts and if it's not too hot (like it was today), then walk through the aircraft and rockets on display outdoors. [Review 17469 overall - 79 in New Mexico - 987 of 2022.]

Interactive exhibits were the best part. The history of space exploration was comprehensive. Included Russia and other counties travel. The Space Hall of Fame ended at 2016. Fortunately the museum is undergoing renovation and updating. No mention of the private space travel. Those accomplishments should be included. Enjoy!

I brought my mom here and the staff was so nice to us. We had a fun time checking out the levels and learning. I think it's a great short and sweet family activity!

Had an absolute blast at this gem-of-a-place when I went with my tour group in November. It was empty and quiet, so we had ample time and space to explore the place. We learned a lot and there were tons of interactive exhibits! We were all adults, but kids would love it here too. The Yelp app only allows for 10 photos but I must have taken a hundred!

This museum is a gem! Beautiful facility, interactive exhibits. It is 4 floors of awesome! The displays were awesome, super comprehensive. A lot of information I didn't know! They have a lot of items that have been to space as well as pristine test pieces and replicas. I am so impressed! 10/10 definitely recommend!

This museum is a little gem in Alamogordo. We came with our three young kids. We got the combo with the planetarium star show. The planetarium was really nice. The star show was too advanced for my kids because they mostly did constellations. The rest of the people in there were much older so best to inquire if you are thinking of it. The museums itself was really cute and well done. My kids really enjoyed it. There was even a dress up section with astronaut costumes. We liked learning about HAM the monkey. The only downside is their outdoor area was closed because of construction. I would not miss this spot if you are visiting with kids!

What a wonderful experience! My entire family loved it! There is so much to learn and to see at the museum. We purchased a one year membership which includes unlimited entry into the museum, and a Fourth of July fireworks parking pass. The pass alone is worth the price. I highly recommend the space museum!

We saw signs for this place. A local recommended it as a place she takes her kids. It's easy to see why. They are clearly adding to it regularly, but it is a great place to go for a couple of hours. Very informative. Lots of interactive exhibits and displays. Very reasonably priced and friendly staff. Their missile garden has a set up with 2 dishes with rings. One talks into one ring in a normal tone, the other listens through the other ring and it's like you're standing side by side instead of 50 feet apart. It's a trip, don't miss it.

When you enter, you go through the gift store, past the bathrooms. You will love this place if you love space, so pay the admission fee (for just the museum, or with the planetarium/for the film, or all three). With limited time, we chose just the museum & paid senior prices ($7 each). We climbed aboard the Endeavor (Discovery on the way down) elevator and felt as if we were in the modular as we lifted up to the exhibits on the 4th floor. Very clever design! Here we looked around to see the Icons of Exploration, and the moon model that was behind Walter Cronkite when he covered the Apollo 11 lunar landing. We sat for awhile, watching "On the Shoulders of Giants" - a film on a loop, about Apollo 17. It's by the Apollo snapshots, with 4 folding chairs. We passed by exhibits on a shelf as we walked down a ramp: Apollo, Gemini, Mercury. Before heading down the ramp, I tried (and failed) to land the space shuttle in the simulation. We also explored Space Station 2001. On the 3rd level, ROCKETS! We felt the force of a rocket launch. I loved this! I've lived in FL over 58 years, & never experienced a shuttle lift off. This came close to it! We saw exhibits in this area, and also on the windows. On the way to the 2nd floor, we saw that a new exhibit is on the way. We kept walking, and saw a wall of astronauts, past the red SPACE BOY trash can. Where are the women? Here on level 2 was an artifact installation. Looks good so far! The last ramp lead to level one. On the wall were more astronauts, and those who worked with them, including the women. But only 3. Before getting all the way to level 1 there was a sub level - a tribute to Gene Roddenberry. Don't forget to try the transporter, with sound effects! We continued on the ramp to 1, to read about more space explorers - five more women. I tried on the jet pack, but did not make a lunar module, & I did get suited up to be an astronaut. I love this place. We took Discivery down to the entrance, and could not resist the gift shop. Got a really cool tee shirt for only $20.

A must visit when in Alamogordo. Either before or after visiting the large pistachio!

the museum itself is wonderful. the staff was amazing! At the theatre we had a different experience. As my children and I and another family entered, the staff member/laser point holder embarrassed us by shouting at us and belittled us. I recommend that this staff member consider being a bit more polite to paying customers.

This place was so cool, even without all of the interactive items! The lady at the front desk was okay, didn't seem like she was happy to see visitors. We questioned the admission because the website wasn't exactly clear and she seemed annoyed by it & didn't attempt explain the confusion. However, the lady in the gift shop was wonderful! Very friendly, patient, and talkative. We will definitely be returning once Covid is over!

We went to NM Museum of Space History because hubby was interested in it, I was meh. Lots of cool missiles and space stuff outside. If you don't care much I think it's good enough to see and FREE. Go to HAM's Gravesite - the monkey that went up into space. Inside you have to pay, admission was $8 to look around. We didn't pay for the Planetarium or whatever was in the building across the ways. Lots of information about space travel, even stuff about Star Trek which is made up but whatever. Don't miss out on seeing the Daisy Track that's outside in the back. That's interesting. We spent about 1hr total I think in there.

5 floors of space exhibits. Many are closed due to Covid, but they lowered the ticket price to $5. More than fair. I enjoyed every floor and want to come back when all exhibits are back up and running.

Really fun place to visit with lots of history to learn about! Great place to take family to learn about some big events in our country's past.

I wish I can give zero stars to this place, and unfortunately, it has nothing to do with museum content, or/ and display. Purely, with a terrible customer service. We, group of 9 friends, drove from Carlsbad caverns for 3 hours, and booked overnight stay in Alamogordo town just so we can visit this museum as a part of our exploration of New Mexico. We came to the museum at 4:30, and were denied entrance by a couple of receptionists: Lindsey ( refused to give her last name), and Thomas Parker. They said that with museum closing at 5 pm, they don't want to allow attendance to us as a group, offered to let only 2 people in, stated that will allow one person at a time, but not our group, and suggested they need to start closing ahead of time to be closed at 5 pm. Never ever I have been denied the entrance to any bussiness 30 minutes before closure because employees want to be ready to leave precisely at closing time. No respect to customers, no curtesy, rudeness at its worse! My understanding is that this bussiness encounter belongs to Smithsonian group of museums, and not privately owned. If that museum relies on citizens taxes, or on government support, I am triple surprised, and disgusted do not be allowed to enter 30 minutes before closure time. I would definitely appreciate the response to this review from management of the museum.

Nice tour! It was not overly crowded. Everything was nicely spaced out so you're not too close to other visitors.

Within sight if the white sands missle range the International Space Hall of Fame is quite the sight! Monolithic up against the mountains it beckons the curious geek with its come hither blocky scientific architecture. My guess is it was built in the seventies. Out front of the museum are artifacts from the space age and are worth the stop on their own. Inside you take an elevator to the top floor and wind your way down ramps past a delirious amount of space stuff. All if this is great but, the real reason to come here is Ham. Ham was THE space ape! They have his little space suit and his remains are buried on the grounds. Ham was my favorite space hero. They have Ham stuff in the gift shop. Ham t-shirts, stickers, stuffed space monkeys and more! Also you can get pressed pennies here. Rates for resident New Mexicans! The view over Alamogordo is awesome. Go visit Ham!

Good deal, very neat. Definitely worth stopping if you're in town. Nice views and good picture spots.

This is one of the many touristy attractions when visiting Alamogordo NM. Driving up, It's a small museum, but hey! Why not? Learning about space is pretty cool. P A R K I N G The building looks like a business building and not really a museum. You park in the back of the building, where there's like less than 20 spaces available. Parking is free. O U T S I D E There are a lot of wonderful aircraft displayed outside. So go ahead, snap some awesome pics! I N S I D E Once you walk in-- you are presented with the restrooms to the left, a small gift shop in the middle, and the pay area on the right side. 1. Pay 2. Elevator to the 4th floor 3. Explore from there and all the way back down E X P E R I E N C E As the elevator doors slid open, it makes a super cool noise that may attract you Star War fans! You'll see... Also, once you are at the 4th floor, there's no need to go back on the elevator because the floors lead you down. Until you hit the 1nd floor, then take the elevator and it'll lead you back to the basement floor where you entered. The things I saw were pretty cool, like all the astronaut gear/parts of the rockets/food etc.. take some selfies with them. Lastly, at the end, you can dress up as a real astronaut and take a picture in front of the moon O.o **military discount available. I recall it being $6 per person with that discount.

Space CHECK! instagram worthy pic places CHECK! monkey space shuttle DOUBLE CHECK! If your a space nerd like me this place is your space jam. There isn't much to do in Alamogordo but this is definitely a place you gotta visit if your in the area They have a IMAX theater showcasing short movies, a museum, gift shop and tons of touchable rockets and missiles. You can easily spend 1-3 hours at this place but If you want to check out everything leave yourself a good 2-3 hours. 1 for the IMAX movie and another 2-3 for the museum. This place has a bunch of cool factoid facts ranging from movies that influenced modern inspirations of space, space food, a Space shuttle simulator and the last floor is basically a huge photoshoot so you can pretend youre on the moon. You can purchase the tickets inside the museum for all the attractions. Military discounts are available as well as packages for those extra savings. Go during the last 2--3 hours before closing on a weekday and it'll feel like you have your own private tour. BEWARE* sometimes the gift shop does close a bit early especially on weekdays. So grab them when you get there so you can really use your time learning all the cool attractions. Overall an awesome place to get lost and get your nerd on. If you don't feel inspired to become an astronaut after this place I don't know what will. Lots of attractions and a little bit of everything for everyone. Make sure to check out the gift shop and grab a space helmet for the journey back home to earth and back home!

While this isn't the Air & Space Museum in Washington DC, this is still a really nice museum. It is very logically laid out and there some interesting historical items on display. In addition, there are some fun interactive exhibits like a simulator where you can "try" and land a space shuttle. We were not successful :-) For the trekkies out there there is a also small exhibition honoring Gene Roddenberry along with some actual props from the TV show. I learned a few things which goes to show you are never too old to learn something new. I would highly recommend a visit.

What a really neat museum. They have actual artifacts and mockups of many space vehicles, rockets, space suits, and interactive displays. Before coming here I had no idea that the 1st chimpanzee in space, ham, is buried here. I highly recommend this experience because it really dives deep into the local history of Alamogordo and white sands missile range in New Mexico

Outstanding from beginning to end and from inside and out! Before stepping in to the actual building there are plenty of interesting artifacts and photo worthy finds. I took my niece and nephew who have been before and they still enjoyed themselves and saw some things they missed the first time. Outside there are plenty of static displays of test vehicles, engines, a mercury capsule, HAM's gravesite, and the Daisy track. There were some other things like the IMAX that we didn't do because we just couldn't fit it all in (if you buy an IMAX ticket keep in mind this is a separate building). We were there for a few hours. I could have stayed longer but that was the max attention span for an 11 and 13 year old. There are plenty of interactive elements within the museum along with more traditional displays. Some areas were under renovation so if you've been before, eventually you'll have something new to see. The layout takes you through multiple floors, is easy to follow and divides the collection up in a way that makes sense. I've been to NASA in Houston and that's pretty mind blowing. The big difference in the two is that this museum focuses a lot on the New Mexico aspect of space exploration and provides more detail about testing that was done in the area that NASA doesn't offer. At the end of the tour there's a photo opp where kids and adults can dress in space suits and stand in front of a large backdrop. I wasn't a fan of putting on the suit personally but the kids loved it. What did impress me was the detail they provided; suits, boots, helmets, backpacks and gloves. It was completely immersive. I'd gladly go back in a few years just to check out the new additions.

Thus place is under construction, but still a good place to visit. You take the elevator to the fourth floor & walk down the ramps. The elevators are so neat. It looks like a cockpit! There are sound effects, too!

This museum is actually a nice little hidden gem up in Alamogordo. Don't expect much but do expect a really nice history lesson. I actually had been wanting to stop by this place since I was a kid and they would advertise the place as "come see the grave site of the first space monkey!" Not very PC but that was back in the day when I would beg my mom to take us when we would be on our way to white sands. Returning to the present, on a trip to Mascalero, I stopped by and I was glad I did. I'll admit the space monkey thing is what attracted me and I did pay my respects to HAM for his contribution to science. The museum was under some construction when I went and it looks like they are adding more kid friendly attractions. But for the history or space buff, this place is definitely interesting to check out. Of course, HAM's burial site is there, along with his original suit he wore in space. This was interesting to see since it was what started the whole space flight and you can see some of the progression of suits that were made to accommodate humans. There's also some space material that were used in training and live missions. An actual space rock sits in this place as well and that was a nice treat. I probably stood there for a good while thinking how far that rock had traveled to end up here... Then there are some rocket mock ups and the technology and science used to propel stuff into space is there as well. It's interesting to see the progression of the gyroscope and the technology used and how it now fits into a cell phone. Hopefully with all the construction completed it will look really nice. The place was a great history lesson through space and white sands missile range. I will caution you not to expect too much but for the price and proximal location to El Paso, you can't go wrong with a day visit.

Please use caution if you decide to have a child's birthday party here. We were so excited for this event only to leave disappointed. It was months in planning and a lot of hard earned money spent...

A perfect afternoon activity! Family friendly, interactive, extensive history. There are many fascinating exhibits as well as my personal favorite, the planetarium! Definitely check this special little museum out!

Nice place, kids enjoyed everything. Only trouble was our ASTC membership gave us free admission to museum only but on the fee board it states members are free to planetarium also, it doesn't say members there only.

Great place to visit. I took my three older boys (8,7,4) and they had a great time. Interactive properties are more outside than inside but there was plenty to see. Outside had a handful of different ships to look at to include a playground. Inside the exhibits include a level of Star Trek with a 9 minute film. The other floors had many different educational show and tell features. Worth a stop.

Our group was pretty excited to check this place out. But unfortunately, it felt like a major flop. First, we bought tickets for the theater, which was an imax style planetarium presentation. We were excited for the show, but it turned out to be a 40 minute presentation of the constellations, with no real video or movie-like feel. It was basically a PowerPoint presentation, only with a still picture of the night sky. So then we went through the museum, and was even more disappointed with the small amount of interesting things to look at over 4 entire floors. The coolest part was the aircrafts sitting outside the museum.

This was a great affordable treat for the entire family. Educational as well as fun. The kids were able to try on kid-size versions of space suits. Great gift shop as well. Staff was very personable.

Had a great time visiting here. Theres tons of cool history to read about here. They even have a space monkey memorial! You can see 8t from across the valley. Recommended.

I worked here for a few years so I can't be objective, but it's really great! I love the scope and depth of the displays and the great local twist to the interpretation. Some of my favorite past exhibits were"yesterday's tomorrows" and the Star Trek exhibit. Current/ongoing faves include the 'rockets through history' and Ham exhibits and..I'm drawing a blank I'd better go visit again soon!

One of the main reasons to visit Alamogordo, besides White Sands National Park. Tons of exhibits and things to do, plus Ham the monkey is buried here! I remember going to Space Camp as a kid and had a great time. Even wanted to maybe be an astronaut until I grew taller than the height limit :)

Space...The Final Frontier!! I love it!! This is one of the nicest places around!! Friendly faces everywhere!! I love it and I suggest you go here when you are in Alamogordo next!!

Throughly enjoyed my visit. Paid $6 for the museum, but did not have time to wait for the movie. Call ahead to plan for the movie If you are interested. The outdoor exhibits are interesting, even met a friendly local who gave us a quick lesson on John Stapp, the fastest man on Earth for whom that exhibit is named. Inside the employees were also friendly and told us to start on the fourth floor and work our way down. Learned quite a bit about the NM area and the history of the space program. My favorite artifacts were the moon rock, the space suits, and the models. Met Viggy, a talkative veteran who had worked on a particular missile. Was a little put off because he asked me "why on earth did you put (a large tattoo) on your leg," how old I was, and if I was planning on marrying. He shared his life's story and we humored him. A great little gem in Alamogordo. We spent about 2 1/2 hours, but could have spent more if we had time.

Great place for space enthusiasts, history lovers, and kids who can behave themselves.

This is an awesome place to take the family. So much of our space history in one building. And don't forget to check out the new and improved IMAX while you are on the grounds!

So cool and has been the same for years lol , would recommend. Can't wait for the new exhibit !

Great place to take the kids. The love looking at the rockets outside, and the staff was great. One took his time to have a mini science lesson with the kids on the moon rock floor. They also have the guidance system from the actual Apollo 13, which the staff member putting the exhibit together took his time to explain. Don't be looking for a fancy city museum here, but it is definitely worth the time and cost of admission.

Really cool place! The employees are very helpful and friendly, especially the lady at the ticket booth and the daily "knowledge guy" on the 4th floor...ours was Larry, a retired Air Force guy who gave us really interesting information on any subject you would strike up with him. He told us about astronauts who would visit the museum and even practice in the shuttle landing simulator (which anyone can try--it's on the 3rd floor) but noo ne I saw in two days of visiting actually landed the shuttle without blowing up. I tried 4x and thought I had it on the last one, even celebrating a perfect landing until I heard the explosion after the landing gear touched down! Larry also told us about Harrison Schmitt, the lunar commander from Apollo 17 who regularly visits here since he lives in NM. Schmitt also brought back many moon samples (one of which is on display here). Lots of things to see, read, watch, and get into. Many items here that have been flown in space. The outdoor park with the V2, rocket sled, Little Joe 2, etc. are fascinating as well. Great views of the Tularosa Basin and White Sands Missile Range from the 4th floor. Check out the IMAX while you're here...it is projected on a domed surface and is very relaxing. Make sure you buy your discs/sleds here at the gift shop for $10 before you head out to White Sands for sledding (20 minute drive from the museum. The only reason for 4 stars and not 5 is that we visited Johnson Space Cente (NASA) in Houston earlier this month and in comparison, the NM Space Museum is a bit dated.

I wish they would update their museum and have more interactive exhibits. Not intended for younger kids, too much to have them read and be interested. Hopefully they will get more money from the government to upgrade their museum now that they did away with the Space Program.

Great stop on the way to White Sands, New Mexico which is by far the most enthralling natural landform I've ever been to (miles and miles of white sand stretching out to infinity -- you almost want to get lost in this middle of nowhere place if it wasn't such a real possibility). We did not actually go inside the museum but the outdoor exhibits are well worth a stop all on their own (and a nice treat for the budget conscious). Fascinating space machinery from all over the world and then the grave of Ham . . . though the closing on his epithet should really have read 'Ham proved that 'primate-kind' NOT mankind could live and work in space' . . . touching and a little foreboding, especially with White Sands Missile Range just a stones throw away.

Good way to pass the middle of the hot day before hitting the dunes. The IMAX theater is the kind that is dome shape so you feel like you are in the movie. We saw monster of the sea and it was entertaining and didn't feel like it was educational even though I learned a lot about dinosaurs. HAM the first space chimp is buried by the flag poles. The views from the top of museum was the best part. On the first floor you can dress up like an astronaut they even have adult sizes. You can also build a Lego like space vehicle or try and launch a rocket that you built on one of the video monitors. The museum has a lot of interesting information. They have a moon rock and a space shuttle simulator.

Amazing place to visit with rich history from the local NASA days of past to present. The old rockets out front are a hit with little kids as well as big kids.