Mesilla: Museums, Exhibitions & Discounts

Mesilla, located in southern New Mexico, is a historic town that preserves significant cultural heritage from both Mexican and American periods. Originally part of Mexico until the Gadsden Purchase of 1854, Mesilla was an important stop on the Butterfield Overland Mail route and a commercial center during the American frontier era.

The town features well-preserved adobe architecture centered around its historic plaza, which remains the heart of the community. The Plaza de Mesilla, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is surrounded by buildings that reflect the town's Spanish colonial and territorial architectural styles. Mesilla has maintained much of its 19th-century character, with several historic structures now housing cultural institutions, restaurants, and shops. The town played a notable role in the American Civil War and was briefly the capital of the Confederate Territory of Arizona.