On February 19, 1909, the New Mexico Territorial Legislature passed a law establishing the Museum of New Mexico, designating the historic Palace of the Governors on the north side of the Santa Fe Plaza as its home — three years before New Mexico became a State.
Nearly a century later, those pre-statehood ambitions of the New Mexico Territorial leaders have grown into what is widely considered to be the nation’s largest system of state-run museums, historic monuments, and other arts and cultural programs. The Museum’s first director, from 1909 until 1946, was Edgar Lee Hewett (1865–1946).

In 2009, the Museum of New Mexico marks its 100-year birthday with 100 special exhibitions and events planned through the state. The cornerstone of that celebration will be the much anticipated grand opening on Memorial Day weekend of the New Mexico History Museum, currently being built behind the Palace of the Governors, the institution that started it all.