New Mexico History Museum opens Sunday

The latest addition to Santa Fe's museum scene lays out the story of New Mexico' from the beginning but in a most modern way.

The 96,000 square foot New Mexico History Museum , built at a cost of $44 million, will take visitors on an interactive tour of the state's rich past.

In six separate sections of the museum presents the history of a state from the time of the first inhabitants to present day.

"This is their story," said Patrick Gallagher, who helped design the new museum from the ground up.  "This is the story of the people of New Mexico"

Workers are scrambling to get all of the exhibits in order scraping on faux adobe walls and hanging pictures. The museum is on Lincoln Avenue just north of the Santa Fe plaza and behind the Palace of the Governors.

"It's really seeing a dream come together for you and for us it's probably one of the greatest moments in the process," Gallagher, the president of Gallagher and Associates, said.

The museum will help New Mexicans understand their own state, he added.

"When you leave the museum and you go out and visit Santa Fe, you visit Albuquerque, you go north, you go south, you will understand why New Mexico looks like it looks, how the environment affected the people where they live," Gallagher said. "You will begin to understand the character of the people and how distinct they are.

"Those identities are important"

The New Mexico History Museum opens Sunday with free admission for the public that day and Monday, which is Memorial Day. Free admission for New Mexico residents continues on following Sundays.

The New Mexico Rail Runner Express is offering a discounted fare for the grand opening. It usually does not operate on Sundays but is running trains through the holiday weekend.