Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens

Created in 1936, the Centennial was the first museum in El Paso and one of the earliest buildings at the College of Mines, (now UTEP). The Museum’s permanent exhibits focus on the natural and cultural history of the Chihuahuan Desert region. The extensive stored collections of the Centennial are available for scholarly research. In the temporary galleries, the Museum presents a wide range of exhibits on themes related to border life and culture, the Americas, and the University. Temporary exhibits are generally related to border life and culture, or more broadly to the Americas. The extensive Gardens display native plants in a variety of settings.