A new and exciting place to learn about the world has opened near the Millicent Rogers Museum. The Wheaton Museum of World Artifacts is a special museum filled with interesting items from around the globe. It was created by Novella Wheaton Nied, who grew up in Taos and spent more than 50 years living and traveling in different countries.The museum will re-open on May 2 through October from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m, Friday and Saturday through the summer and early fall.

Mrs. Nied worked for the U.S. Department of State and lived in Switzerland, Jamaica, Cameroon, and even the Kingdom of Tonga. Along the way, she collected unique items from more than 100 countries. Now, all of those treasures are on display at the museum for others to enjoy.

Some of the most fascinating objects include a leopard carving from Cameroon, tiny Chinese embroidery you can carry in your pocket, and a beautifully decorated gourd from the Amazon in Peru. Every object has its own story, and Mrs. Nied wants to share those stories with students and families right here in northern New Mexico.

For many years, Mrs. Nied dreamed of bringing her collection home to Taos. After her husband passed away, she returned to Taos from Switzerland in 2020 to make her dream come true. She hopes the museum will inspire young people to learn about different cultures, travel the world, and even try creating their own art.

Right now, the museum is open one day a week by appointment but it’s expanding in May. During these visits, students are offered guided tours to learn about the different artifacts from experts. The museum hopes to open its doors to more schools in the future, and maybe even have family days, music recitals, and other fun learning events.

Mrs. Nied says she created the museum to help young people become curious about the world. She believes that learning about other countries and people helps us understand each other better. She also hopes that students will be excited to try things like exchange programs, foreign languages, and art projects of their own.
So, if you love learning about faraway places, colorful art, and amazing stories from around the world, this museum is the perfect place to visit. As Mrs. Nied says, “Your journey begins here!”

For more information about the Wheaton Museum of World Artifacts, visit https://wheatonmuseum.com/.