Museum

WNMU Museum

Founded in 1974, the university museum is located in Fleming Hall. Fleming Hall was built between 1916 and 1917 as a gymnasium and the science department for the Normal School. The museum features both permanent collections of historic and prehistoric Southwestern cultures and various traveling exhibits.

Permanent exhibits and collections include the internationally famous Eisele Collection of Pottery and Artifacts, one of the largest most comprehensive collections of Mimbres pottery and artifacts on permanent display in the world. This major collection includes approximately 600 pieces of prehistoric pottery and 50 pieces of prehistoric basketry and footwear dating back to A.D. 200. Other permanent exhibits and collections include historic photographs and memorabilia documenting the history and the evolution of the university, the O.C. Hinman and John Harlan Photography Collections featuring historical photographs taken in southwestern New Mexico and surrounding mining district, and the WS Ranch Site Collection of Mogollon Indian artifacts.

The museum provides educational tours of its facility to the University community, visitors, and various school and civic groups that focus on Mimbres prehistory, Southwest prehistory, campus history, and other topics. The museum provides educational arts and culture tours in the U.S. Southwest, Northern Mexico, Peru, and other countries. The museum also has an extensive rotating short-term exhibition program.

The museum is a member of the American Association of Museums, the New Mexico Association of Museums, the Association of College and University Museums and Galleries, the University Museums and Collections Association, the Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce, and the Council for Museum Anthropology.

Beginning August 1, 2016, and throughout 2016-2017 year, Fleming Hall will be under transformation. The WNMU Museum Shop and an exhibition of Mimbres Pottery will be temporarily housed in Watts Hall, at the corner of Silver Heights Blvd/Hwy 180 and Swan St. This temporary location will be open Monday through Friday and from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and closed weekends and all university holidays. Admission is free. For more information visit the Museum’s website, www.wnmumuseum.org.