Founded in 1889, The University of New Mexico now occupies 600 acres along old Route 66 in the heart of Albuquerque , a city of more than 700,000 people. From the magnificent mesas to the west, past the banks of the historic Rio Grande to the Sandia Mountains to the east, Albuquerque is a blend of culture and cuisine, styles and stories, people, pursuits and panoramas.
Offering a distinctive campus environment with a Pueblo Revival architectural theme, the campus echoes the buildings of nearby Pueblo Indian villages. The nationally recognized Campus Arboretum and the popular Duck Pond offer an outstanding botanical experience in the midst of one of New Mexico's great public open spaces.
A number of legends have arisen over the years as to how The University of New Mexico got "Lobo" as its official nickname. When the university began playing football in 1892, the team was simply referred to as "The University Boys" or "Varsities" to distinguish themselves from the prep school kids.
The student body, at least as early as 1917, began to seriously explore the possibilities for both a mascot and a new name for the student newspaper, which was then called simply the "U.N.M. Weekly." Several names for the paper were suggested, including The Rattler, the Sand Devil, the Ki-yo-te and the Cherry and Silver. However, there was no single name that struck a responsive chord among the students and when school opened in the Fall of 1920 the U.N.M. Weekly was still there.
On Sept. 22, 1920, sophomore George S. Bryan, editor of the U.N.M. Weekly and student manager of the football team, was present at a Student Council meeting for the purpose of suggesting that the University teams be given a mascot name as at that time many universities had mascot names for their teams. Bryan suggested Lobo, the Spanish word for wolf, as the nickname. The name was enthusiastically received. The Oct. 1 issue of the student paper said, "The Lobo is respected for his cunning, feared for his prowess, and is the leader of the pack. It is the ideal name for the Varsity boys who go forth to battle for the glory of the school. All together now; fifteen rahs for the LOBOS."
From that beginning, the Lobo nickname has remained with The University of New Mexico for over 70 years.
The University of New Mexico Welcome Center is a place to get your bearings as you come to the campus. It is a starting point for campus visitors, prospective students, conference guests or alumni.
Located across the street from George Pearl Hall, the Architecture and Planning Building, and the UNM Bookstore, the Welcome Center is on the ground floor in the southwest corner of the Cornell Visitor Parking Structure.
In the center, visitors will find a selection of current brochures and facts about UNM, Albuquerque and New Mexico. One can also pick up local and area maps as well as a campus map. Our informed staff is always eager to assist visitors to find any location on campus and to answer questions.
Prospective students can pick up general information and will be directed to the appropriate advisement center.
Parents who want to know more can visit UNM's Parent Relations Office .
You can arrange a UNM Campus Tour through our Office of Recruitment Services.
Geology Museum Northrup Hall (Earth & Planetary Sciences - #24) Mon-Friday: 8:am-12noon & 1pm-4:30pm
Greenhouse Conservatory Castetter Hall (Biology - #21) Mon-Friday: 8am-4:30pm
Maxwell Museum of Anthropology Anthropology Building (# 11) Tues-Friday: 9am-4pm, Sat:10am-4pm Reserved parking to west of building. Must obtain permit
Meteorite Museum Northrup Hall (Earth & Planetary Sciences - #24) Mon-Friday: 9am-12noon & 1pm-4pm
The Museum of Southwestern Biology C.E.R.I.A. #83 Must have appointment
University Art Museum Center for the Arts #62 Tuesday - Friday: 10:00 am-4:00 pm Saturday - Sunday: 1:00 pm-4:00 pm
Location: 1621 Central Ave NE 505-277-1938 parktran@unm.edu
Hours Parking is Enforced: Monday - Thursday 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. Friday 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Visit UNM Parking and Transportation Services for more information on parking at UNM including parking regulations, parking tickets, and Visitor and Event Parking. For questions about parking you can contact parking services using the contact information to the right.
After 8:00 p.m. on Friday evening, and all day Saturday and Sunday, visitors may park in any permit zone. Visitors may also park free in any meter from 8:00 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Please do not park in a reserved or handicap space or next to any colored curb at any time, 7 days a week.
The new Human Resources Service Center is located in the Lobo Center located off campus at 1726 Lomas Blvd., the southeast corner of University and Lomas NE. Please park in the reserved spaces in front of and along the east side. Parking is free with a permit, which may be obtained inside at the front desk.
There is limited temporary parking for Alumni who have business at Hodgin Hall (Must obtain permit from inside).
Visitors who are on campus for a conference, to take a test, to visit the libraries or to receive advisement should park in the Parking Structure or at a meter.
There is limited free parking at the Maxwell Museum and at the Jonson Gallery (Visitor must obtain permit from inside). Park in the Visitor Lots or at a meter for all other Museum parking.
Students with appointments at the Student Health Center may park with a permit in the lot located at the back of the building. Obtain patient permit inside.
Patients at any of the Medical School Clinics on the North Campus will be given a temporary patient parking permit, as well as the patients at the Psychology Clinic on main campus.
Visitors to Continuing Education may park free in their parking lots (1634 University Blvd NE).
Visitors/ Patients to University Hospital, Children's Hospital or the Cancer Center may park free in the parking structure on Camino de Salud, North of Lomas and Yale.
Visitors to the Medical School Buildings and Library must park in a Meter in their parking lot off Tucker and Yale NE - And visitors to the Law School must park at a Meter in their parking Lot off Tucker and Stanford NE.
Visitors to the Science and Technology Park may park free in their parking structure off University and Basehart Dr. SE.
Meter parking along Central Avenue and the adjoining close side streets to the south of Central; day parking lots located 1 to 3 blocks south of Central on Buena Vista, Yale and Cornell, as well as University at Copper - west of campus. These lots charge from $1.00 up to $2.00 per day. Be careful about parking on residential side streets close to campus, because every street within two to four blocks of the University also requires a permit. Churches and businesses surrounding the University are also restricted and may ticket or have your car towed.
Please check with the Welcome Center if you have other parking needs.
For more information, please visit Parking and Transportation Services
UNM Travel & Lodging Portal
Thousands of visitors arrive in Albuquerque daily at the Albuquerque International Airport located just three miles from the University of New Mexico. Nine airlines serve Albuquerque:
Albuquerque is also a major stop on Amtrak Railway lines from Chicago and Los Angeles. Our station welcomes the " Southwest Chief " once a day from each direction.
For visitors traveling by bus, Albuquerque's Greyhound station is the area's hub, receiving 40 buses a day from all US major cities.
Traveling by car, our visitors will find easy access to the City from two major Interstate Highways, Interstate 25 and Interstate 40 which intersect at the City's center.
The University is bordered on the West by University Blvd, the North by Lomas Blvd, the South by Central Blvd, and the East by Girard Blvd.
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