There aren't many parts of the U.S. that have a deeper, richer cultural history than New Mexico. From prehistoric tribes and more modern Native American groups to the various waves of Spanish, Mexican, European, and American colonists and settlers that have swept through, New Mexico has seen it all. Fittingly, this 96,000-sq.-ft. history museum is a lot bigger than it looks from the outside. It was opened in 2009 as part of the state's 400th anniversary celebration, anchoring a complex that includes the Palace of the Governors, the Palace Print Shop & Bindery, the photo archives, and the Fray Angelico Chavez History Library. It's worth at least half a day here, with immersive, interactive exhibits (permanent and changing) on cowboys, indigenous cultures, the Santa Fe Trail, Spanish colonial religious icons—you name it. All the displays are clearly laid out, with photos, historical artifacts, and videos to help explain the complex tapestry of New Mexican time.