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Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens


The El Paso Centennial Museum was built to celebrate the anniversary of Texas independence, making it the oldest museum in El Paso. Permanent exhibits in the museum focus on the natural and cultural history of the Chihuahuan Desert region, the largest desert in North America, and the ties of friendship that exist between the University and Bhutan can be seen in its surroundings.

The Centennial Museum and Gardens sponsor such events as lectures/talks, collaborative exhibits with other museums on campus or in El Paso and FloraFEST.

Mission Statement

The Centennial Museum is an academic support and outreach unit of The University of Texas at El Paso focusing primarily on the natural and cultural history of the Chihuahuan Desert. It promotes and shares knowledge and understanding of the natural diversity of the region and its people. The museum meets its responsibilities through the presentation and curation of the permanent collections, including the Chihuahuan Desert Gardens. Furthermore, the museum promotes the scholarly research of UTEP students, faculty, and alumni, and supports the general mission of The University of Texas at El Paso.

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.

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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 the University’s care.

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Hours of Operation

Centennial Museum

  • 10 a.m. to 4:30 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

  • Open 11 a.m to 1 p.m. every Wednesday and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. the first Sunday of every month.

Admission

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

Parking

  • The Museum's free parking lot is located just off University Avenue.
  • Additional parking is available at the Sun Bowl Parking Garage.

FEATURED NEWS


UTEP Student Health and Wellness Center Offers New Services for Fall Semester

As The University of Texas at El Paso kicks off the fall 2019 semester, the Student Health and Wellness Center (SHWC) has rolled out enhanced services to help students remain healthy Miners.

UTEP School of Pharmacy Awarded NIH Grant to Study Thirdhand Smoke

Researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso's School of Pharmacy have been awarded $1.8 million from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the effects of thirdhand smoke on platelet function and cardiovascular disease such as heart attack and stroke.

UTEP Initiative Seeks Low-Cost Options for Textbooks

An interdisciplinary cohort of faculty members from The University of Texas at El Paso will work with select UTEP staff from fall 2019 through fall 2020 to develop Open Educational Resources (OER) or other affordable instructional materials that eventually could save students millions of dollars.

STAY CONNECTED

Connect With Us

The University of Texas at El Paso
Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan
Desert Gardens
University Avenue & Wiggins Rd
El Paso, Texas 79968

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