To celebrate the fifth installment of the Department of Cultural Affairs’ series of coloring and activity books, the museum has built an interactive exhibit showcasing these designs and letting visitors create and share their own colorful displays of life in New Mexico! 

Unearth New Mexico explores a story written over hundreds of millions of years. Featuring illustrations by 12 New Mexico artists working with NMDCA paleontologists, the book brings ancient environments to life, from prehistoric seas to dramatic landscapes. Each page highlights a chapter of our distant past. 

Our accompanying exhibition showcases enlarged some of these unique illustrations, inviting visitors to color the pictures and display them on the exhibition walls. Explore where in the museum you can learn about each time period, find hidden details in each illustration, and make your own mark on New Mexico’s geologic history! 

This exhibit is located on the museum's second floor, and is included with museum admission. On view through August 2026.