Entry No. 13 — the Albuquerque file — filed under: oddities
American International Rattlesnake Museum
Founded by a former high school biology teacher, this hyper-focused conservation museum holds the world's largest collection of live rattlesnake species alongside snake-themed pop culture artifacts, vintage snake-bite kits, and antique snake art.
The story
In May 1990, former high school biology teacher Bob Myers opened what formal academia wouldn't: a sanctuary dedicated entirely to pit vipers. Having spent his youth in New Mexico flipping rocks for racers and salamanders before teaching in Florida, Myers moved back to Albuquerque and roped his friends into a garage assembly line to construct display cases. He possessed a degree in biology, zero business experience, and an obsession with the most feared family of reptiles on the continent.
What resulted on San Felipe Street in Old Town is a hyper-focused, quiet alternative to traditional public zoos. The museum holds more live rattlesnake species—over 34 distinct varieties—than the Bronx Zoo and Philadelphia Zoo combined. Inside glass-fronted vivariums designed to mimic native desert scrub and rocky crevices, you will spot everything from massive eastern diamondbacks and desert sidewinders to rare albino rattlers and venomous Gila monsters.
Myers didn't stop with living specimens. He became a relentless collector of serpentine pop culture and history. Surrounding the live terrariums are cases packed with vintage snake-bite kits, antique snake art, serpentine glassware, snake-branded beer cans, and postmarks from towns named after reptiles. The point isn't cheap carnival horror; it's dismantling Hollywood-driven viper phobias through sheer, detailed exposure.
What it's like
You step off the bright street of Old Town into cool, dimly lit terrarium galleries where the quiet hum of climate control is occasionally punctuated by a low rattle behind glass. The atmosphere leans toward a retro herpetology lab rather than a tourist attraction. Look closely into the rockwork of each vivarium, as species like the southwestern speckled rattler rely on camouflage that makes them easy to miss at first glance. The catch is that the layout is compact, but that keeps the experience intimate. Before heading out, collect your official printed 'Certificate of Bravery' at the gift shop counter. Tip: double-check current operating hours before you go, and give yourself time to inspect the oddities tucked into the back wall display cases.
The move: Walk through the dimly lit terrarium galleries together pointing out rare albino rattlesnakes and Gila monsters, then receive your official 'Certificate of Bravery' at the gift shop exit before heading across Old Town Plaza for margaritas.
- 📍 Old Town
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 202 San Felipe St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Back Alley Brujas — Pair live pit vipers with handcrafted silver talismans and witchy curiosities tucked down a nearby Old Town alley.
- Church Street Cafe (Casa de Ruiz) — Follow up your bravery certificate with New Mexican red chile and margaritas inside a haunted 1700s adobe hacienda one block away.
- Adult Night at Explora — Trade live venomous reptiles for hands-on after-hours science experiments and local craft beer down the street.
- Painted Lady Bed & Brew — Match the museum's obscure reptile oddity cases with local brews inside a restored 1881 red-light saloon in Sawmill.
Good to know
Are all the snakes in the museum live?
No, but the core attraction is the live collection of over 34 rattlesnake species and other desert reptiles. The rest of the venue holds preserved skeletons, vintage artifacts, artwork, and pop culture items.
Will I have to touch or hold any venomous snakes?
No. All venomous rattlesnakes and Gila monsters are strictly secured behind glass inside recreated natural habitats.
What is the Certificate of Bravery?
It is a small printed souvenir paper awarded at the gift shop exit counter to visitors who complete the walk through the live snake galleries.
How long does a typical visit take?
The museum is self-guided and compact; most visitors spend between 30 and 45 minutes viewing the terrariums and reading the historical exhibit cases.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Atlas Obscura · visitalbuquerque.org · reptilesmagazine.com · matadornetwork.com
last checked: 2026-07-21