When I was asked to write this article, I sat down and thought about all the museums in Mérida that I’ve visited with my kids. I realized that I don’t feel the need to tell people about Museo del Mundo Maya or Palacio Cantón, two of the city’s most famous landmarks. That wouldn’t really count as helpful. I’m here, as ever, to help you delve deeper into the magnificent and diverse offerings of Yucatán. Therefore, here are four museums you may not have heard of before.
Museo de los Ferrocarriles de Yucatán
Mérida’s train museum is unlike any train museum I’ve ever seen before. Here, you can climb, explore, and run to your heart’s content; or, of course, you can sit and watch as your kids do exactly that, which is my personal preference. For younger kids, this is the perfect place to let imaginations go wild. What could be better than playing in an old passenger carriage pretending to serve up elaborate meals, or driving an old engine around the world?
If you do choose to take your little ones here, be sure to let them ring the bell and definitely get them to hunt down the carriage with a fold-out toilet (I’m not kidding)!
Calle 43 #429, Centro
Tel. 999 553 3899
FB: Museo de los Ferrocarriles de Yucatán MFY AC
IG: @museodelosferrocarrilesyucatan
Mon. – Sat. 10 am – 2 pm, dom. 9 am – 2 pm
Entry: $20 pesos adults, $10 pesos kids
Palacio de la Música
One of Mérida’s newest museums is the Palacio de la Música in Centro. It’s also the most interactive museum I’ve seen in the city, which makes it a sure-fire win with the kids as well as with anyone who cares about the history of Mexican music. Once my kids are done with pushing buttons (*hollow laugh*, are they ever done?), they adore the movie theater sections and the listening stations. As a parent, I really appreciate the use of space here as well as the innovative and thoughtful presentation.
Calle 58 #497 x 59 y 60, Centro
Tel. 999 923 0641
https://palaciodelamusica.yucatan.gob.mx/
FB: Palacio de la Música – Centro Nacional de la Música Mexicana
Wed. – Sun. 10 am – 4 pm
Entry: $200 pesos general admission ($100 pesos Mexicans, $50 pesos Yucatecans) Children 4 – 12 $25 pesos, Over 12, $50 pesos
Students, teachers, senior citizens, and people with disabilities, $25 pesos.
Museo de Historia Natural
This tiny little museum is home to six exhibition rooms dedicated to exploring the evolution of our planet. This includes a few models of dinosaurs, some geological exploration, and an exhibition that takes a look at the nearby nature reserve of Cuxtal. Despite the museum’s size, my kids really enjoyed looking around and have asked, several times, to go back (in their minds it’s just as good as the London Natural History Museum, apparently).
Calle 59, #648 x 84 y 84-A, Centro
Tues. – Sun. 9 am – 3 pm
Entry: Free
Museo Paranormal de Yucatán
One for the older kids now. In the south of the city is the Paranormal Museum, a small yet fascinating museum that’s fantastic for teens and adults. This museum is a labor of love for the founder, journalist, and paranormal investigator, Jorge Moreno. It consists of more than 500 objects said to have paranormal powers. What makes this particularly interesting is the stories that go with the objects. Tours are available in both Spanish and English.
Calle 63-B #230 x 8 y10 Col. Cortés Sarmiento
Tel. 999 185 1703
www.jorgemorenoparanormal.com
FB: Museo Paranormal de Yucatán
Mon. – Sat. 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
Entry: $40 pesos adults, $20 pesos kids, guided tours $50 pesos adults and $30 pesos kids
By Cassie Pearse
Photography by Cassie Pearse for use in Yucatán Today
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