The state of Oaxaca is home to one-third of all indigenous people in Mexico and maintains its production of traditional art. Many famous artists and political leaders, including 19th-century president Benito Juarez (who remains one of the most respected and popular leaders), were born in Oaxaca. There are also several important archaeological sites in the state. No wonder there are so many museums...

The Museo Cultural de Oaxaca details a lot of Oaxaca's history and culture, though it interestingly lacked much information about the Mexican Revolution. Or maybe we missed that section—we spent a lot of time simply staring in awe at the rooms and corridors. The museum is housed in what was the Santo Domingo monastary, so the building itself is beautiful and quite interesting. Also attached to Santo Domingo is the Jardin Etnobotanico. This is a garden of many different varieties of cacti, many of which are endangered.

The Museo de Pintores Oaxaquenos is dedicated to showcasing much of the art of Oaxaca's famous artists. Included is quite a lot of work by Rudolpho Morales.

The Museo Rufino Tomayo is a smaller museum of fantastic pre-Hispanic art. The building it's housed in was given to Rufino Tomayo by the city after it was damaged by an earthquake. He and his wife rebuilt it into a wonderful structure to house the art they had collected over the years; they then gave it back to the city.