The Centennial Museum is an academic support and outreach unit of The University of Texas at El Paso focusing primarily on the natural and cultural history of the Chihuahuan Desert.

The museum meets its responsibilities through the presentation and curation of the permanent collections, including the Chihuahuan Desert Gardens.

Furthermore, the museum promotes the scholarly research of UTEP students, faculty, and alumni, and supports the general mission of The University of Texas at El Paso.

[1] Temporary exhibits cover a wide range of subjects apropos to the museum's mission or to that of the University of Texas at El Paso.

The gardens are intended to demonstrate that the use of native plants in landscaping can be fulfilling in terms of beauty and water conservation.