My recent visit to the museum was to spend time in the galleries devoted to the Old Masters, a…read morecollection overwhelmingly due to the Kress donation. Kress was a discount store from many decades ago. Mr. Kress had assembled a truly monumental collection. Upon his death, paintings were given to quite a number of art museums around the country. The El Paso Museum of Art is one of them. I'm always blown away whenever I see the paintings donated by Kress in various museums that I've visited. I think that this museum received an especially vigorous selection and so many of the works on display seem so fresh and bright. These aren't lesser works by iconic artists, either. These are amazing and the collection alone make this museum a must-see. My favorite work on display is Vincenzo Catena's 'Portrait of a Woman', an oil on canvas work from about 1520-25; oil on canvas. The young woman staring directly at the viewer looks quite modern-day as if she's posing for a selfie to show off her finery; and, what finery it is: red velvet and fur with a large-jeweled broach. This is where Catena is also showing off: his skill in making the velvet and fur seem so real. This is quite the lush painting. I was also sure to visit a selection of paintings on the first level that presented works by local students. My favorite was Zoey Odette Valles' 'Tumbled Away, an acrylic on canvas piece that seemed ready for the permanent collection. Well done, Zoey! Some museums are hindered by their spaces. This museum falls into that category. This is an overhauled Greyhound bus station that I remember using years ago when I'd travel with a little backpack across the country. The space works as well as they can make it work and the engagement with the local community is truly impressive. However, if this museum's collection were in a truly dedicated space, people would trek here just for the art.

The employees started ushering us out 20 minutes before closing. We were waiting for our Uber 5…read moreminutes before closing by the doors, and they rudely told us we couldn't wait inside. While the art is beautiful, the employees were rude and made visitors feel unwelcome.

Charming gardens wander the perimeter of the museum; plants are clearly labeled and the volunteers…read morewe met told us they strive for a natural garden, meaning they leave debris over winter to protect insects and their eggs. Even in February we spotted blooms. The museum houses rotating exhibits on the lower level and permanent exhibits upstairs. The student at the desk offered us a warm greeting and clear directions. Downstairs we learned about the gardens and native plants; and appreciated an exhibit about the stories of local immigrants and advocacy groups. Upstairs we learned some of the history of the area, appreciated various artifacts, and admired the collection of taxidermy birds. This is a university museum that does what it says it will, and with a free admission no one should complain. Parking was easy to spot and the attendant at the entrance gave us a three hour pass.

While visiting El Paso we went to UTEP because we love the architecture and found the museum. It is…read morea well thought out and carefully maintained exhibit of all things Texas. The duck exhibit was interesting as was the mineral part. Who knew so many minerals in Texas. We really enjoyed the visit and recommend it as a lesson and a way to cool off.

Very nice Army base. The PX area is outstanding. There are a lot of options of places to eat in the…read moreFfod Court area.

Located on Ft Bliss, this very large building holds a number of tanks, artillery, and other…read morevehicles used over he years by the US and other Armies. There is not a lot other than these various military vehicles in the building, in fact it is probably more than half empty space, so lots of room for growth. Still, it provides a great opportunity to get up close and personal with every major tank iteration the Army ever used. All are hands off, but each has a nice poster with the very basic information about the vehicle. Didn't take long to wander through but enjoyable experience as an Air Force veteran from the Desert Storm era.

My nephew and his best friend have not been exposed to the atrocities of the Holocaust (they are 16…read moreand 15 years old, respectively). They were absolutely floored at what they saw and heard. They are also starring in Fiddler on the Roof next month and said how much more real the story is now that they've seen the reality of what the Jewish people experienced.

This is a great place to learn about history. It is very emotional. Yet not as emotional as what is…read moregoing on right now in Palestine.

On my last day in El Paso, we stopped by Surreal Sculptures after lunch. If you're a fan of art…read morelike I am, this is a pretty cool spot to check out. While we didn't go outside, we saw all of the sculptures surrounding the house. Since it's in a residential neighborhood, you can easily park on the street for free. In some ways, the artist's artwork is a little disturbing. Like the type of stuff you would create if you were on LSD. At the same time, it's also impressive. And it's an attraction you can check out quickly.

Ho's whimsical surrealist sculptures are inspired and a breathe of fresh air. He is a welcoming…read morehost whose mesmerizing anthropomorphic imagery merges dreams and reality. His faces within faces are captivating. A must see for anyone in El Paso!

I stumbled upon this museum while camping at the state park and needed a day off from the heat…read more This museum is definitely on the quirky side with a wide range of art as previously mentioned - I'll elaborate more in below paragraphs. I can't help but laugh at the "underfunded" comments. This is a local, unique museum: not a MoMA or Dallas Museum of Art with deep pocketed patrons/esses. I don't know of a single small museum that is rolling in extra funds and endowments to afford multiple curators or purchasing well-known works. Help them out and leave a donation if you feel offended by it! I went on a Sunday and there were two artists in person at the museum that were talking to and interacting with guests about their work. They made it a point to talk to every single person in the museum. It was really great to hear about their process and what their works mean to them. The museum features many varieties of exhibits; pre-colonial, Asian, bronze casts, furniture, photography, a huge display of local artist's work, and a case of creepy, definitely not-haunted dolls in the basement. Everyone in your party will find an exhibit they like. I enjoyed a set of tapestries by a local artist and am attaching a picture. Overall, I would recommend visiting this museum! The multiple exhibits, pride in local history, and visiting local artists are high points to this place. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful - I don't mind that they kept out of the way and I had freedom to explore wherever I wanted. No entrance fee, clean bathrooms, and private parking lot are available. Minus one star for a couple of rooms feeling incomplete.

I was invited to join the celebration of the 10th year of The City Magazine - "10 years - 100…read moreissues - 1,000,000 in circulation!" As a transplant I have never heard of the magazine before, but it's wonderful to see people come out and support the legacy that they're building. I knew not one soul there besides the police officer on duty helping out, and I ended up talking to him the whole night. I guess I'm more of the "help" type than a guest. They had cute desserts and a wine bar, and everyone was dressed to the nines! I was dressed like a 3, I can't be bothered nowadays, being so hot to suffer in a tight dress or heels. I'll leave it to Miss Texas 2021 and the other gorgeous ladies in attendance. I'll just gorge myself with the deserts. It was held at the International Museum of Art which is a really beautiful space, albeit hot and cold at times. They have the magazine on display right now and the museum is run on donations. Come check it out and see the treasures they hold. When I was in Paris they used to have these small museums free everywhere and the locals loved going to them as a family outings, it's part of their culture to embrace art and social studies. We're lucky to have similar museums in El Paso. International Museum of Art (915) 543-6747 https://maps.app.goo.gl/UxMJiEujP5Dhif9j7

This is a very interesting and well laid out museum. It's not very big, maybe 30-45 min to wander…read morethe two large rooms, but it has just enough detail to be interesting. Great overview of area history from archeological sites in TX, NM, and AZ. Outside the building is a great botanical garden with local plants, well labeled. Free to wander around but why not make a small (or large) donation to help support such a great place? Worth a trip if you're in or coming through El Paso.

We attended the archaeology homeschool event! It was absolutely amazing! I loved how passionate and…read moreknowledgeable the staff are. We never been to this museum prior to the homeschool event. It's a must see! They have so many beautiful artifacts, you learn so much about the native plants, animals and people who once lived here before. They have an excavation site where my kids enjoyed finding thing by using tools archaeologists use. They learned so much with the help of ms. Brooke! We enjoyed the classes and the hands on learning and skills. Highly recommend visiting and learning more about El Paso.