Look up. What do you see? From radio astronomy to solstice calendars, Indigenous peoples look to the sky for timing, meaning, and beauty. Makowa: The Worlds Above Us juxtaposes ways of seeing, noticing, and understanding the skies and the beings in them. Told through stories of an ever-changing world, the exhibition connects science, stories, and observations.
For Indigenous peoples of the Southwest, observing the sky brings joy, information, and a connection to the worlds above us.
Stretching almost 2500 miles from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California, over half of Route 66 passes through Indian Country. Officially designated in 1926, the historic “Mother Road” ran through the tribal lands of more than twenty-five Native nations. In New Mexico, Route 66 went through or near the Pueblos of Cochiti, Santo Domingo, San Felipe, Santa Ana, Sandia, Isleta, Laguna, Acoma, and parts of the Navajo Nation. While non-Native businesses built their profits from the commercialization of the Southwest’s Indigenous cultures, tourism opened new economic opportunities for Pueblo and Diné peoples. Artists sold their pottery and jewelry from roadside stands positioned to catch the interest of highway travelers. Trading posts and other businesses purchased work directly from Native artists to sell to tourists seeking an authentic souvenir of their travels. Today, tribally owned enterprises—such as casino resorts and multi-plaza gas stations—have replaced many of the curio shops and roadside attractions that once lined the route. Pueblo communities along this historic corridor are now leading cultural tourism initiatives that support economic development and tribal autonomy while honoring their heritage and reclaiming cultural narratives.
Here, Now and Always centers on the voices, perspectives, and narratives of the Indigenous peoples of the American Southwest.
This groundbreaking exhibition features more than six hundred objects from the museum’s extraordinary collection of ceramics, jewelry, paintings, fashion, and more.
The Museum is located at 710 Camino Lejo off Old Santa Fe Trail on Museum Hill in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| SUN | 10-5 |
| MON | CLOSED |
| TUE | 10-5 |
| WED | 10-5 |
| THU | 10-5 |
| FRI | 10-5 |
| SAT | 10-5 |
From November through April, the museum is closed on Mondays.
| Type | New Mexico Resident* | Non Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Adult |
$7
Free on First Sundays*
|
$12 |
| Seniors 60 & up |
$7
NM residents Free on Wednesdays
|
$12 |
| Students |
$7
|
$12 |
| Kids 16 and under |
Free
|
Free |
| Members |
Free
|
Free |