With more than 300 years of history, Old Town is where Albuquerque’s story began in 1706. The neighborhood’s centuries-old adobe buildings, winding streets and hidden patios are filled with vibrant art. That’s where Albuquerque Old Town Art & History Tours comes in. These weekly walking tours are led by Santa Fe Art Tours, and they encompass the history of Albuquerque and the history of art in the city. I recently joined one of the tours and was amazed by how much I learned.
The tour starts at the Albuquerque Museum. Admission and parking is included in the ticket price, and you’re encouraged to return after the tour to explore the museum. Our tour guide, Mary, was incredibly knowledgeable about Albuquerque’s history and about art. She took us to the permanent collection at the Albuquerque Museum and provided an overview of some of the pieces.
At the museum, Mary taught us how to analyze artwork in a way that deepened our understanding. This method of looking at a piece and extrapolating meaning from it was interesting, and made me want to apply this analysis to other art I’ve seen.
From there, we began to explore Old Town. Mary shared a number of historical pictures and postcards of the areas we stopped in, which were exciting to see. She provided a lot of historical context for areas I’ve walked through countless times.
Along the way, we stopped in multiple galleries in Old Town, including the Albuquerque Photographers’ Gallery. It is a cooperative art gallery that displays the photographs of nine artists, with works capturing images of Albuquerque and the Southwest. Penfield Gallery has been in Old Town for decades and sells various Native American art, including hand-woven Navajo rugs.
On the tour, we also visited the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This tiny place of worship is tucked away in an Old Town patio and is typically closed to the public. However, the tour is granted access, and we were able to explore the chapel and learn some of the history behind it.
To wrap up the tour, attendees have the option of enjoying a wine flight at Sheehan Winery. This was a great way to wind down and learn more about local wine in Albuquerque.
Old Town Art & History Tours take place Saturdays at 10 a.m. Reservations are required, and you can book your tickets online. Whether you’re a visitor or a local who has strolled these streets a hundred times, this tour offers a fresh perspective of Albuquerque history and art.
