Silver City Museum

Arts & Culture
Children and Families
Community Building
Education
Schools--Classroom, Events, Activities
Seniors

Who We Are

The museum opened in 1967 as a department of the Town of Silver City. It offers exhibitions, educational programs for all ages, community-wide events, a quarterly newsletter, The Mansardian^TM, and a gift store offering regional crafts, local history books, and southern New Mexico souvenir items. It is also a steward for a vast collection of historical objects.

It has gained national recognition for its high standards of operation by being accredited by the American Alliance of Museums--one of only seven museums in all of New Mexico to receive this honor.

What We Do

The Silver City Museum serves Grant County residents and visitors, using authentic records of the region’s multicultural past to foster informed perspectives on the present.

Agency Needs

Is Ongoing

Museum Store Cashier

Silver City Museum

Runs Until Jun 25, 2026

The 42nd Ice Cream Social ~ July 4th 2026

See more needs

	312 West Broadway St Silver City , NM 88061
	The Silver City Museum's storied past began in 1881 when H.B. Ailman, a successful prospector turned banker, built the Mansard-Italianate style house at the height of the mining boom using local brick and lumber. The original pine flooring can still be seen on the upper floors. After Ailman's bank failed in 1887, the property changed hands multiple times. The Hobart family, owners of the Tremont Hotel (located on the northeast corner of Main and Yankie Streets), added two rooms and reconstructed the stairway, allegedly using salvaged materials from the Tremont after flooding. In 1908, the house became a health-seeker's haven under Catherine Johnson's ownership, catering to TB patients visiting sanitariums. Later that year, following a court judgment, the property was sold to Nan Kaufman, who quickly sold it to the town of Silver City. The town repurposed the Ailman House as City Hall in 1926, installing large pylons out front. By 1967, local artist and professor Harry Benjamin transformed it into Silver City's first history museum, though portions remained a firehouse until 1970. The building's west side still features visible fire engine garage doors, and a large bell used to sound alarms can be seen above the entrance pylons. In 1987, with help from Phelps Dodge, the museum expanded, adding a modern gallery and back wing for collections and curatorial space. The museum's evolution continued into the 21st century. The back rooms, constructed in the 1980s, serve as collections, staff offices, and curatorial space. Bobbie Neal Little, the fire chief's daughter and the last person born in the Ailman house, passed away in 2021, marking the end of an era. Today, the Silver City Museum stands as a testament to the region's rich history, inviting visitors to explore its past through its carefully preserved architecture and curated exhibits.
	The Silver City Museum is Opened Tuesday through Friday from 9 am to 4:30 and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.