Museum of Nature & Science in Downtown Las Cruces, New Mexico - stock photo

Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA - Major renovations in recent years have helped transform historic downtown Las Cruces into a cultural and artistic gathering place, where visitors can view museums featuring displays of art and natural science. The pedestrian friendly downtown area is adjacent to historic adobe dwellings in a city originally established in 1849 after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo incorporated this area as part of United States territory. Many themed musical and cultural events are conducted in the Main Street downtown area throughout the year. Las Cruces with a population of about 100,000 is the largest city in southern New Mexico and the third largest in the state.