Attractions in Roswell

Lots of eye candy, free to browse! Crack your own geodes, hold a megalodon tooth, park here and walk over to UFO Museum and downtown shops. Pets welcome!

Free admission. Your webmaster's #1 location to take my friends, family and tourists. Plan on 30–90 minutes; you'll be surprised. Off the beaten path and the reward of true seekers. Room after room of displays left by decades of collections from Roswell's famous Artist-in-Residence program.

A unique combination of gallery, classroom, and gift shop tucked inside a beautiful historic building on Walnut Street. The owner-instructor gives personal tours covering individual artists and the building's history. Local artisan gifts at all price ranges. 4.9 ★ on Google — those who find it, love it.

Housed in the historic Lea Mansion on Lea Avenue — a building said to be populated by a few friendly spirits. The society maintains archives, artifacts, and exhibits covering the deep history of Southeast New Mexico: cattle drives, the Chisum Trail, early Roswell settlers, and the region's ranching and farming heritage. A must for history buffs.

The reason most people come to Roswell. On July 8, 1947, the Roswell Daily Record announced the capture of a flying saucer by the Roswell Army Airfield. Whether it was extra-terrestrial or a weather balloon, the debate rages on. The museum covers the incident in exhaustive, entertaining detail — exhibits, artifacts, research archives, and a gift shop that will delight any UFO enthusiast. Downtown on Main Street.

One of the most delightful surprises in Roswell — an entire museum dedicated to miniatures, dollhouses, dioramas, and curious collections at a scale you have to see to believe. 4.9 ★ with 175 reviews. Staff are famously friendly and the displays are extensive, rotating, and genuinely unlike anything else in New Mexico.

A local indoor shopping plaza about 1.5 miles west of downtown, home to a mix of vendors, antiques, collectibles, and small shops. Worth a browse if you are heading west on 2nd Street — you never know what you will find.

One of the few remaining art museums built under the WPA, turned over to the City of Roswell in 1941. Inside you'll find Robert Goddard's original rocket workshop — moved intact from his Roswell lab — the largest public collection of Peter Hurd and Henriette Wyeth's work, WPA muralist Howard Cook, and rotating exhibitions from the museum's Artist in Residence program. A genuine cultural treasure hiding in plain sight on Richardson Avenue. ⚠️ Temporarily closed for repairs — see website for pop-up locations and events!

Inside the Roswell Air Terminal, the Walker Aviation Museum honors Walker Air Force Base — named for native New Mexican Brig. General Kenneth N. Walker, lost over Rabaul in WWII. The base trained pilots and experimented with air travel in the 1940s. The museum covers that history with aircraft, artifacts, and exhibits.

Roswell's most unexpected local legend — the Werewolf of Roswell! Literally bitten under a full moon, local author Guy Malone stalks the night, leaving dead alien idols in his wake. 29 days per month, he's a nice guy. Too nice. It's kind of creepy, actually ... Find him at Monterey Plaza, 1400 West 2nd Street, Booth #23 — with his books and rare bibles. Visit AlienStranger.com for the full story. But on a full moon ... $1,000 suggested donation for "quality time," i.e., "Let's go kill something---in effigy---together!"

Running along the Pecos River north of Roswell, Bitter Lakes is a birder's paradise and home to the annual Dragonfly Festival — one of the most unique wildlife events in the Southwest. The refuge hosts hundreds of species of migratory birds and an astonishing diversity of dragonfly species. Open sunrise to sunset.

New Mexico's oldest state park, about 12 miles east of downtown Roswell. A series of stunning red bluff-rimmed sinkholes filled with clear, deep water — the 'bottomless' name comes from early cowboys who couldn't find the bottom with their lasso ropes. Swimming, fishing, kayaking, hiking, and camping on site. One of the most beautiful spots in Southeast New Mexico.

Roswell's biggest park, built by the WPA along Spring River and named after pioneer banker E.A. Cahoon. The original block-work steps leading to the riverbed are still there — a quiet monument to the city's New Deal history. The park connects to the Spring River Zoo path and is a great spot for a picnic, a walk, or just watching the world go by.

Roswell's beloved city zoo sits on 34 acres of park land along Spring River. Home to a great selection of animals, an antique wooden horse carousel (seasonal), and a miniature train. The park connects to the Nancy Lopez Golf Course and the J. Kenneth Smith Bird Sanctuary via a winding path that passes under Main Street through the riverbed — look for the German POW rockwork from WWII.

A family-friendly social club with arcade games, pool tables, and dart boards. Home of Alien City Darts — regular tournaments draw players from across the region. A fun stop for all ages at Sunset Center.

Founded in 1891 by Colonel Robert S. Goss and Captain Joseph C. Lea on land donated by J.J. Hagerman, NMMI is one of the oldest military academies in the country. The campus is stunning — Spanish Colonial architecture, manicured parade grounds, and a palpable sense of history. The General Douglas L. McBride Museum on campus is open to the public and covers NMMI's 130+ year history.

One of the oldest family-owned businesses in New Mexico, Roswell Seed has been operating since the railroad days. The original seed cabinet and clock are still in use. In spring, you'll find the best garden plants, baby chicks, and even honey-bee setups on their way out to hives in the area. Step inside and you step back into early Roswell — it's worth a look even if you're not buying seeds.

The oldest community theater in New Mexico — and one of the best-kept secrets in the state. RCLT puts on a full season of comedies, dramas, and musicals with a dedicated local cast and crew. Productions consistently punch above their weight. If there's a show running while you're in town, go. You won't regret it.

Roswell's beloved children's and family theatre company. WWOB produces high-energy, professionally staged musicals aimed at younger audiences — but adults have just as much fun. Productions have included Frozen, The Little Mermaid, and other crowd favorites. A wonderful evening out for families visiting Roswell.

Roswell's premier live music venue, hosting national and regional touring acts across rock, country, blues, and more. The Liberty books a steady calendar of ticketed shows — check the events calendar on this site for upcoming dates and direct ticket links.

The Roswell Symphony Orchestra has been performing for over 60 years, bringing world-class classical music to the high desert. The RSO performs a full season of concerts at the Pearson Auditorium at NMMI. An evening with the RSO is one of the finest cultural experiences Roswell has to offer.