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The Museum

The oldest museum in El Paso is part of the University of Texas at El Paso, and also serves the binational community of the Chihuahuan Desert region. View our exhibits on display.

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The Gardens

A botanical garden dedicated to the flora of the Chihuahuan Desert and adjacent regions in the United States and Mexico.

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The Lhakhang

The hand-carved and hand-painted Lhakhang is a gift from the people of Bhutan to the people of the United States and entrusted to UTEP.

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Collection Highlights

Our permanent collection consists of over 70,000 objects- from dinosaur bones to 20th century luxury items. See a select few here!

Temporary Summer Closure Notice



The Centennial Museum will be temporarily closed to the public from May 18 through August 22 for essential building maintenance and the installation of a new HVAC system. These upgrades will enhance the comfort of our visitors and help preserve our collections for years to come.

We appreciate your understanding during this time and look forward to welcoming you back when we reopen on August 24.

Please note that the Chihuahuan Desert Gardens will remain open throughout the summer. We will also continue to offer select programming in the gardens, be sure to check on our social media for upcoming activities.

For questions or additional information, please contact us at              centennialmuseum@utep.edu.

El Centennial Museum permanecerá temporalmente cerrado al público del 18 de mayo al 22 de agosto debido a trabajos esenciales de mantenimiento del edificio y a la instalación de un nuevo sistema de aire acondicionado (HVAC). Estas mejoras incrementarán la comodidad de nuestros visitantes y ayudarán a preservar nuestras colecciones durante muchos años.

Agradecemos su comprensión durante este periodo y esperamos recibirlos nuevamente cuando reabramos el 24 de agosto.

Los Chihuahuan Desert Gardens permanecerán abiertos durante todo el verano y continuaremos ofreciendo programación selecta en los jardines.

Por favor, consulte nuestras redes sociales para conocer las próximas actividades. Para preguntas o información adicional, favor de comunicarse con nosotros por correo electrónico centennialmuseum@utep.edu .

Hours of Operation

Centennial Museum

  • 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
  • Closed Sunday, on holidays and during UTEP Football home games.

Chihuahuan Desert Gardens

  • Open daily from dawn to dusk.

The Lhakhang

  • 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every Wednesday and first Saturday of the Month. 

Admission

  • Free and open to the public
  • Donations help fund various educational programs and exhibits throughout the year.

Parking

  • The Museum has a free parking lot (ask toll booth for directions.)
  • Additional parking is available at the Sun Bowl Parking Garage.

Address and Directions

Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens
The University of Texas at El Paso
610 W. University Ave.
At the corner of University Ave. and Wiggins Rd.
El Paso, TX 79968

E: centennialmuseum@utep.edu
P: (915) 747-5565
F: (915) 747-5411 

 

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