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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 11:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m. every Wednesday and 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. the first Saturday of every month, except holidays.

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 Announces Scholarships for High School Math Teachers with Support from Microsoft

The University of Texas at El Paso is launching a new program – the Microsoft Teacher Computer Science Academy – to increase the number of high school students who take computing courses by increasing the number of computer science teachers, with financial support from Microsoft Corp.

UTEP and EPCC Study Focuses on Antibiotic Resistance in Rio Grande

A 1,260-mile portion of the Rio Grande flows between the United States and Mexico along the entire length of Texas' southern border, providing water for drinking, irrigation and recreational activities to communities on both sides of the border.

UTEP Selected to Host Workshop that Tackles Disinformation

First Draft, an international network created in part to combat the spread of disinformation, has organized a workshop for journalists and others who collect and disseminate news, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, at The University of Texas at El Paso.

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