Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens

Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens is a botanical garden at the university displaying more than 600 native plant species from the region's desert environment. The indoor museum sections hold 70,000 objects, ranging from prehistoric remains to items from the twentieth century.

The museum opened in 1936 to mark Texas' centennial and was the first museum established in the city. Its creation coincided with the university's early development as an institution.

The name reflects Texas reaching a century of independence, and you can see how the gardens embody the region's relationship with desert life. Walking through, you notice how plants here connect to the daily practices and survival strategies of people who have lived in this environment.

The gardens are open from sunrise to sunset each day, while the museum sections operate during fixed hours. Plan enough time to experience both the outdoor plantings and the indoor collections.

The site houses a Lhakhang, a hand-painted Tibetan structure given by Bhutan to the United States. This unexpected cultural addition sits within the desert landscape and opens to visitors on select dates.

Location: El Paso

Inception: 1936

Website: http://museum.utep.edu

GPS coordinates: 31.76931,-106.50595

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:22