When you think about the desert, there are probably a handful of images that immediately come to mind. Cacti, sand, the sun... what about rattlesnakes?! Rattlesnakes are one of the most iconic creatures of the desert. Albuquerque, New Mexico is home to a marvelous museum dedicated to the scaly creatures, and it is worth a visit!
The American International Rattlesnake Museum is a fantastic experience that the whole family will enjoy. Exciting and educational, this museum is unlike any other conservation museum. A core mission of the museum is to teach the public about the important ways that rattlesnakes and other "scary" or "less desirable" animals have impacted humanity. To achieve this, the museum displays artifacts, memorabilia, and, of course, live snakes.
The Rattlesnake Museum is home to the largest collection of live rattlesnake species in the world. Species from North, Central, and South America are all present in expertly recreated habitats.
The museum website adds, "In fact, the Rattlesnake Museum hosts more different species than the Bronx Zoo, the Philadelphia Zoo, the National Zoo, the Denver Zoo, the San Francisco Zoo, and the San Diego Zoo, all combined!"
It also contains a mind-boggling amount of snake-related items, including toys, coins, snakebite kits, instruments, and more.
Next time you're in Albuquerque, you MUST check out this museum! Who knows, it may even cure your snake phobia!