Museum Hill, Santa Fe

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New Mexico
Museum Hill, Santa Fe
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Museum Hill is a lovely spot up high over the town of Santa Fe, with lots of beauty to enjoy. There is a giant sculpture of an Indian warrior, as well as a long sculpture of an Indian shepherdess and her sheep. Other sculptures dot the landscaped areas. You can sit out on the shaded patio of Museum Hill Cafe, a waiter-service restaurant. Wide open spaces make it fun for kids to run around and let off steam. 

There are four museums to enjoy, and they are small enough to squeeze in a few in one afternoon. Make sure to ask for the two-museum pass ($15) if you want to visit the Museum of International Folk Art as well as the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture- just ask when you pay at the first museum you go to. 
The Museum of International Folk Art is a treat. Here you can see colorful items such as dioramas from around the world. There are yarn paintings from Mexico, mantle pins arranged by country of origin, religious Virgin sculptures and crowns, amazing large retablos (brightly painted boxes with two hinged doors and a scene inside) from South America that depict urban and rural life (my favorite section of the museum),  tramp art (a woodworking style characterized by notches and layers, originally made by skilled men from Northern and Eastern Europe, especially between 1870 and 1930), altars and frames, and large extensive dioramas from many countries (these are not labeled, unfortunately).
The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture exhibits pottery, jewelry, baskets and more.  The Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian displays art and jewelry, and has a fantastic trading post where you can buy Native American items. Colorful art, textiles, and furniture are displayed in Museum of Spanish Colonial Art (see admission and hours below). 
Of course, while you're in Santa Fe you must also visit the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, in the main part of town not far from the square. 

Continue to directions...

Museum Hill Cafe and sculpture garden.

The gift shop inside Museum of International Folk Art.

Work by Freeland Tanner, in the Museum of International Folk Art.

Round Huichol yarn painting, and Huichol painting reflecting struggle against oil corporations.

Works from Cantagallo, Lima.

Heart mantle pins from Peru, at the Museum of International Folk Art.

Retablo about the black market on the border of Peru and Ecuador.

Tramp art satchel from France, made of wood, leather, and metal.

Tramp art polychrome church, at Museum of International Folk Art.

Tramp art home altar. Tramp art was not made by tramps but started with skilled craftsmen from Northern and Eastern Europe, and involved woodworking with notches and layers.

Diaroma likely from Mexico.

Cute Mexican street scene- notice the couple in the upstairs doorway, woken by the noise!

Diorama in the Museum of International Folk Art.

Diorama in the Museum of International Folk Art.

Accordion player and dancers.

Diorama of people gathered.

Diorama scene of Mexican kitchen.

Street musicians in a diorama.

Amulets from Lebanon.

Collection of amulets from around the world.

Yellow amulets from Mexico.

Palm Sunday processional staff from Oaxaca, Mexico, with artificial flowers.

Museum Hill is pretty and spacious!

Blossoming trees at Museum Hill.

Large sculpture at Museum Hill.

Museum of Indian Arts and Culture.

Statue of an Indian warrior at Museum Hill.

Museum Hill Cafe has a nice view and shady patio.

Directions

Museum Hill Cafe, 710 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM 87505. Open daily 11-3. 
Museum of International Folk Art (colorful folk art figures and dioramas), Museum Hill, 706 Camino Lejo, On Museum Hill, Santa Fe, NM 87505. Open Tues-Sun 10-5. Closed Mondays. Entrance is $12 for adults, $8 for NM residents, free for children aged 16 and under. 
Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian (art, jewelry, trading post), Museum Hill, 704 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM 87505. Open daily 10-5. Entrance is $8 for adults, free for students with ID, children under the age of 12, Native Americans, and military. 
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture (pottery, baskets, turquoise jewelry), Museum Hill, 710 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM 87505. Open Tues-Sun 10-5. Closed Mondays (except during the summer). Admission is $12 for adults, $7 for NM residents, and free for children aged 16 and under. 
Museum of Spanish Colonial Art (art, furniture, textiles), Museum Hill, 750 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM 87505. Open daily 10-5. Admission is $10, free for children under 16.

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JC R

Fri, 18 Jan 2019

My sister and I come every winter and visit the museums. Many new things to see each time.

Last Updated: Thu, 21 Jun 2018 16:39:13 GMT

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