Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian

A really great museum of both traditional and contemporary Native American art, a short drive from central Santa Fe. And at $10, the entrance fee won't bust your bank!

Wheelwright is a hidden gem. Located across from the botanical gardens. It showcases native jewelry through the ages along with other traveling exhibits. Definitely worth the stop!

One of the crown jewels of Museum Hill, this storied institution has its own incredible collection as well as rotating exhibitions and featured artist shows with accompanying programs such as artist lectures. The bottom level has the Case Trading post, which has offerings for Native Art collectors of every kind.

What an amazing experience! The drive up to the museum is amazing. The staff are incredible, the fine details in the exhibits are amazing, and the experience was something we will forever treasure. And absolute must visit if you come to Santa Fe.

This is a special collection of art that is displayed very thoughtfully. I really had no idea how recent silversmithing work started in the southwest, so it was so wonderful to see the beautiful pieces while learning a lot of context. The gift shop here is really special - lots of absolutely gorgeous jewelry with opportunities to know about the artist who created them along with opportunities to get prints from certain artists on display. This is a private museum and not included on the cultural pass like the other museums in the vicinity, but the cost was very reasonable for the experience.

This is one of my favorite museums in Sante Fe. It’s very small, but worth a visit. One room is filled with cases of amazing Native American jewelry, and the history behind it. A true treasure! Oh, and I love the Buffalo man display. The trading post on the lower floor is like stepping back in time. It’s made to resemble an actual trading post from the early days, down to the squeaky wooden floors. It’s a great little gift shop, and I’ve bought items every time I visited.

Great small museum with spectacular art & displays of silver, jewelry, beadwork, & sculpture of the SW Indians. Knowledgeable docents, beautiful art from old to new.

Superb bathrooms at Wheelwright Museum. When you walk in you get a scent of bleach and similar aromas. Felt very clean and sturdy. Even without a bidet, I give five stars.

When I am in Santa Fe, I love to go to the Museum Hill, where there are several small museums, including the Museum of International Folk Art and the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian. Both have very good collections and great gift shops near the entrances. The Museum of the American Indian gift shop has a very nice collection of items, including lovely jewelry, books, notecards, ornaments and much more. Also, you can step outside the museum and enjoy quite a lovely 360 degree view of Santa Fe from this hill, with nearby mountains in your view. On Museum Hill, there is also a lovely restaurant, Museum Hill Cafe. Be sure to visit Museum Hill, whenever you go to Santa Fe. We enjoyed it and I bet you will too!

I really really enjoy a small but mighty museum. The Wheelwright museum is a perfect example of this. They had a special exhibit showcasing Native American art from California communities. Then of course the permanent display filled with exquisite jewelry. The hubs and I spent about an hour here including the more than impressive and must see gift shop.

Fantastic museum of contemporary native American art. The jewelry section shows the history of native silversmithing from the mid-1800s with gorgeous examples. The museum's shop, the "trading post," features fine museum-quality contemporary jewelry and art. One of my favorite museums in Santa Fe!

This museum is fabulous!! The jewelry exhibit is worth the trip and won't take that long to walk through! Be sure and go to the Museum store downstairs!!! Be sure to enjoy the mural on the wall around the stairway going down, it is terrific!!!

We had time for one more museum in Santa Fe, and I had read about this one. We had to find it, off the beaten path, up on Museum Hill....but, boy, are we glad we did. This place is very understated, but what we experienced was the exact right amount of visual stimulation, Native American art culture, and educational value. Though students and teachers (with ID) enter as guests of the museum, we were inspired to place a nice contribution in the donation box right there by the entrance/exit. An important investment in the future of the arts. Otherwise the entrance fee is a very modest $8.oo/Adult. The Silver and Turquoise Jewelry permanent exhibition was a fascinating reminder of the true meaning of that art. Honestly, there were so many masterfully crafted pieces classified, arranged and displayed that we almost went into a trance just looking at them. Presently, they have a wonderful exhibit of the artist Shonto Begay, (see photos). We loved his portrayals of modern Native life and culture. Beautiful, colorful, raw at times, real. His work inspires us to think of Native Americans as modern Americans, and less like romanticized or villainous movie characters. The exhibit left us wanting more.... more time, more pieces, more bio. The Wheelwright is actually very conveniently located, once you get to Museum Hill.... and it is a quite do-able dose of culture. It's very walkable, including an elevator to get you down to the lower level, and back up. The grounds and parking are right up next to the building, making the whole visit accessible to all.

As a Native American, I realized that I have never been to this museum. I always thought, ehhhh, I am Native American, what can I possibly learn about Native Americans that I don't already know. Oh was I wrong! It was under construction, which was unfortunate, but we were able to see the current exhibit, which focused on the experience of Indigenous women living along the US/Mexican border. The exhibit that was quite interesting was the that of the Jewelry collection, history of silversmithing, and how it has evolved since its beginnings in Native communities in the 1800s. I won't spoil the rest of the exhibits, but I will say that the "old school style" trading post has some great pieces from Native artists contemporary and classic. I was able to find a pottery made by my grandmother Candelaria Gachupin, and that made my day. The staff was awesome. I say check it out!

Serendipitously found out about Wheelwright in a magazine at our AirBnB and I'm so glad we checked it out. We saw a ton of amazing art during our stay in Santa Fe, but the Laughter and Resilience exhibition was definitely a highlight for me. It was super refreshing to see playful pieces get the attention they deserve, but also see how the artists use satire and humor to unpack Native American history. Lots of really fun pieces to see, but I really enjoyed the works by Ricardo Cate (pictured below). This exhibit was a great reminder that art can come from many forms, and it doesn't always have to be serious all the time. We don't usually buy things at museum bookstores but we had to pick up Ricardo Cate's Without Reservations. Love his work! I can't speak to their other seasonal exhibits but I highly recommend checking out Laughter and Resilience!

As a museum, this place feels somewhat small & is mostly focused on jewelry. It was difficult to find the door as the sign points in an ambiguous direction and the door isn't labeled! So strange.

This is such a beautiful museum. The setting outside has gorgeous views, and the exhibits are diverse and well designed. It's small so you can see it in an hour or so which is the perfect amount of time for me. The current Shonto Begay exhibit is really moving, as is the exhibit Border Matters featuring four women living on the border of US/Mexico--varieties of sculpture, drawings, and other unusual mediums.

I was a little conflicted with this review. This museum wasn't for me but I'm very happy it exists for others than can appreciate contemporary art, especially by native peoples. As a student, I was very happy I got in for free. Adults are $8. The museum isn't too large. There was a contemporary exhibit in the front that was not my taste at all. In fact, the sculptures were unnerving. The permanent exhibit on jewelry was interesting and beautiful. The gift shop (trading post) was over priced and mostly sold items I could never afford.

So much to see. So well arranged. So fascinating. So diverse. We loved this museum. It's privately owned so theSanta Fe culture pass cannot be used here but the admission is only $8 so you'll have quite a lot of culture for a very minimum investment. The displays and exhibits change regularly and feature various artists from the area.My personal favorite was Melanie Yazzie, a most interesting artist with a unique perspective and very interesting life. There were exhibits by other artists of jewelry, basketry, weaving, wood cut and linoleum cut prints and explanations of the different techniques. Do not be misled...the name "Wheelwright" refers to the family who fostered the museum. I was dreading a display of bicycle, auto and other vehicular wheels! I figured there would be demonstrations of ancient materials and techniques used to create wheels from found materials. Brother was I wrong. By all means visit this venue on Museum Hill while you're in Santa Fe. It's time well spent!

This is a specialty museum on "Museum Row". It had 3 major exhibits this visit: Modern Feminist Native American "sculpture", a SW artist Paintings, and a permanent (?) exhibit of silversmithing and jewelry. Interesting, but perhaps not a full $8 worth. You have to decide. We found an ad that provided free admission if you proactively state "New Mexico True", quite an incentive. Neat gift shop with some very expensive items.

The major exhibition changes quite often. The exhibit this week wasn't a personal favorite, but the historic display of silversmith development in the area was fascinating.

A little expensive for what it is. Currently there is a very small beadwork exhibit, and a fairly large silver jewelry exhibit. So if you don't have any interest in either of these, there's no point in going. The jewelry exhibit was a little interesting since I did not really know how the styles changed over the last century. You can get through in an hour or less even if you take your time. The gift shop is mainly very expensive items and a elderly shop person watching you like a hawk every five feet. Also super squeaky floors.

Do yourself a favor and visit this jewel of a museum (self-indulgent pun intended), which is housed in the architectural style of an authentic hogan. This lesser-known museum, just a 3-minute walk from the world-famous Museum of International Folk Art, could not be a bigger and more fascinating surprise. The museum is manageable-- in no way overwhelming, nor tediously academic. The exhibits are beautiful, well-organized, and our docent, Sue Knuth, made the past come to life in a spell-binding way. Her verbal presentation was a cultural tour de force. The museum is divided into two major areas, and, in this reviewer's opinion, the jewelry section steals the show. The depth and breadth of items displayed are not only visually pleasing and stimulating, but also provoke personal reflection on the Navajo, Zuni and Hopi.

Only one exhibit was open and it's the jewelry. Mostly modern artists. Nothing ancient or much older than 1800s. Apparently there are two other display areas that are being changed over so don't go until those are completed. And jewelry has to be your main interest to enjoy. Very small museum overall.

Great museum to visit, especially on a nice sunny day like today with a good view of the scenery. They were having some sort of auction in the library and artist demonstrations outside. No admission fee, but they asked that visitors sign their guestbook. Upstairs featured baskets, jewelry, and a few paintings. I actually know one of the artists whose paintings were here and I thought that was kind of cool considering we live far away in Northern California. Downstairs had the gift shop (or trading post, as they call it) with lots of fine jewelry, books, figurines, bags, among many other things. The floors were really squeaky and they're supposed to be like that apparently. If you're in the area, go check out the other three museums in this complex as well.

I really liked the museum but I won't pretend that I left there a little angry. It pissed me off what early American settlers, government, etc. did to them. And are still doing to them. The exhibit had a lot of relevant information about how they were mistreated. Not like we don't all already know it. Anyway, the lady who greeted us was super nice and very helpful. The ladies in the store were helpful as well. It would have been really nice to see an actual Indian working there but all Caucasians. Sigh. Indians are very creative people. Those blankets and other things they made way back then were and still are remarkable. God Bless the Original Americans.

I took a taxi alone from downtown Santa Fe on a sunny weekday afternoon. The Wheelwright is a rustic, smaller museum that is off by itself and rather out in the middle of nowhere, but certainly worth the trip. When I was there, the museum was featuring paintings by California Native American (Maidu/Pitt River) artist Judith Lowry, and I was most impressed with her colorful, symbolic paintings. Her painting "The Funeral Of Frida Kahlo" left an especially deep impression on me (the description of the painting included the spooky true-life story behind it). I browsed the works for an hour or so before heading downstairs to the old-school trading post-style museum shop in the basement, which is also a feast for the senses and not to be missed, packed to the rafters with jewelry, kachinas, photographs, and other nice items in every price range (no touristy, souvenir-y stuff here). After looking at the wonderful eye candy inside the museum, I stepped outside to wait for my cab and wandered around the quiet desert grounds awhile. I saw a road runner, some hawks soaring in the sky, a couple of jackrabbits, and a coyote skulking off in the distance, keeping an eye on me. I would definitely come back to the Wheelwright again, and recommend it highly!

Free entrance. Small museum. In and out in 30 min, and that's me who likes to read all the signs explaining the art. A few nice Navajo rugs on display. More historical than beautiful. Great shop downstairs if you have a few hundred dollars to spend. Beautiful Kachina dolls and silver art pieces. Will definitely need to save up the $$$ and return.

We enjoyed this very much. Exhibits are somewhat uninspired. Could be a much more interesting venue with a little injection of 21st century curation. Store is great and all staff, throughout museum, were very friendly and accommodating. Small spaces, unnecessarily cut up, make docent tours annoying, as independent viewers can't escape traffic and noise.

Exceptional museum honoring the craft of Native American artisans. I always walk away inspired. And they have the best museum shop too, stunning silver work, at varied price levels. S One of the best stops in Santa Fe. Today's show was beautifully displayed showing various interpretations of approach to a theme. Necklaces that showed creativity and raw beauty.

Small but interesting museum. $8 to get in which seems a bit pricey. However, the jewelry exhibit is amazing, along with a special exhibit on the art of a jeweler named Eveli.

When you're feeling low and need a moment for yourself, visit the Wheenwright Museum of the American Indian. Peering into the legends of past American Indian arts is a sure way to regain your balance, and the Wheelwright has it in spades! This has long been among my favorite Native American museums because everything is so precise and educational. My wish . . . keep it as is, cozy, warm and full of rotating exhibits. Best part, the Case Trading post in the basement, a true Indian Art collectorium!

A wonderful jewel of a museum, with a cool exhibit on native jewelry, and a fab (current) exhibit on beadwork. Wonderful art - and the best "trading post" - that is, gift shop - in Santa Fe. A bargain at $8 a person.

Thank you for the weekend story telling - a great evening addition the a museum's events.

Founded in 1937 as a keeper of Navajo arts, culture and religion, The Wheelwright has a wonderful collection of both contemporary and historic Native American art.

The Wheelwright has long been one of our favorite destinations, but recent improvements make it extra special. Beautiful new parking & landscaping--everything looks fresh. A recent construction project is complete, & a new jewelry gallery will open next summer. Will Wilson's photo exhibit is astonishing & moving. Case Trading Post is the best museum shop in town. Manager Ken Williams is an important Native artist with great connections--the selection is awesome.