Marfa & Presidio County Museum


Wandering around this homegrown museum is kind of like exploring your grandmother's attic: lots of old stuff to look at that gives you a glimpse into the past, but isn't necessarily organized in any strikingly prescriptive way. The one area where the museum beats out grandma is with its excellent collection of B&W photography documenting west Texas in the early 19th century.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Judd Foundation

0.04 MILES

The Judd Foundation maintains and preserves the living and work spaces of minimalist artist Donald Judd, who founded the Chinati Foundation Museum. Two…

2. Ballroom Marfa

0.13 MILES

Be sure to find out what’s happening at Ballroom Marfa, a nonprofit art space located in a former dance hall. The focus is on offbeat, interesting…

3. Chinati Foundation Museum

0.71 MILES

As you step inside the historic artillery shed, with its enormous windows, sweeping desert views and sun-dappled aluminum boxes, the Marfa hoopla suddenly…

4. Marfa Mystery Lights Viewing Area

8.62 MILES

Ghost lights, mystery lights…call them what you want, but the Marfa Lights, flickering beneath the Chinati Mountains, have been capturing travelers’…

5. Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center

19.63 MILES

Four miles south of town, the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center exhibits the region's flora in gardens and on trails. Take a 2-mile hike down into a canyon,…

6. Davis Mountains State Park

20.63 MILES

For majestic sunrises and sunsets, this remote park rivals any we've seen – and we've seen plenty. This wonderful place is just 3 miles northwest of Fort…

7. Overland Trail Museum

21.05 MILES

Pioneer doohickeys and Old West thing-a-majigs are on display in the former home of early settler Nick Mersfelter, located right along the stagecoach…

8. Fort Davis National Historic Site

21.27 MILES

Established in 1854, this well-preserved, beautifully sited frontier fort was named for then–Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. Staffed exclusively by…