A trip to visit the Shroud Exhibit and Museum in Alamogordo, New Mexico is a fascinating look at one of the most interesting religious artifacts ever found. Featuring interactive exhibits that allow for an in-depth look not only at the Shroud of Turin but also at the research surrounding it, guests will come away having learned something about this important part of religious history.

History

One of the main goals of the museum is to make sure the shroud can be accessed by everyone, including those who made be visually impaired. Shroud Exhibit and Museum is a non-for-profit and tax exempt 501(c)3 charity that is operated based entirely on donations. It is currently located at 923 New York Avenue, Alamogordo, NM, 88310. The museum has been open since 2009 and counts among its main benefactors the Las Cruces Diocese, Shroud.com, and The Olde Post (a local religious goods and antique store). The entire museum is staffed by volunteers, which they are in constant need of. These volunteers run tours, answer questions, etc and are a vital part of keeping the exhibit and museum running smoothly and able to welcome the number of volunteers that pass through the doors every year.

Permanent Exhibits

The main exhibit at the museum is the information about the Shroud of Turin itself, offered in a multitude of different media styles.

The exhibit itself is interactive, with a full-sized, backlit picture of the shroud, as well as a 3D experience featuring the only VP8 interactive image analyzer in the country (which allows guests to be able to actually interact with a previously inaccessible analog computer). It also showcases all of the research done on the shroud as well as interactive kiosks with interesting facts and videos for viewing that presents the information in real time.

- The shroud is said to be the piece of linen cloth that Jesus was buried in, and his face can be seen in it.

- The actual shroud is located in northern Italy, in a cathedral dedicated to John the Baptist.

- The shroud has not been accepted or denied by the church, but it has been referred to many times. Most recently Pope John Paul referred to it as being a “mirror” of the gospel itself.

- The shroud was first photographed in 1898, which is the same year that the town of Alamogordo was founded.

There are also photographs located in the museum from a conference that occurred in Albuquerque in 1977, which lead directly to the 1978 scientist convention to study the shroud in more detail. This was the most scientists studying the shroud in one place at any given time in history. The photograph in display from this conference is created from Barrie Schwortz’s 1978 collection that was taken as part of the STURP (Shroud of Turin Research Project).

Tours are offered by both reservation and as drop-in. It is recommended that guests who would like a tour to call the staff ahead of time at (575) 415-5206. Tours are provided free of charge in English, Spanish, and German.

Special Events

There are special events offered occasionally at the museum, focusing on any new research done on the shroud or just religious celebrations local to the area. Although they are not frequent, they will be updated on the main website and guests can check ahead of their visit to see if anything will be going on during their time at the museum. Most recently, the museum was host to a conference of scientists meeting again to diagnose its authenticity.

In addition, presentations can be done outside of the museum by some of the people involved with the daily operations. Deacon Pete Schumacher, who was the engineer of the VP8 machine from 1972 to 1978, and Deacon Andy Weiss, who is the current director of the museum and webmaster for the research website, are available to speak on-location at any church, school, or other organization. The presentations offered are adaptable for each audience and can focus on archeological, scientific, religious, social, or historical aspects. The deacons can do combined presentations or even lead a spiritual retreat, if requested. Length of presentation can also be catered to each individual group.

Shroud Exhibit and Museum, 923 New York Avenue, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, Phone: 575-415-5206