DCA Today - News From the Department of Cultural Affairs

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0600

FORT STANTON, NM – Fort Stanton Historic Site, one of eight New Mexico Historic Sites, earned recognition with an Architectural Heritage Preservation Award for rehabilitating four significant historic structures on the site: the Visitor Center (1855), Laundress Quarters (1876), Hospital (1936), and Nurses’ Quarters (1941).

The award, presented by the New Mexico Cultural Properties Review Committee on May 29, 2026, in Albuquerque, recognizes major preservation work that protects and revitalizes significant historic buildings in New Mexico ensuring they remain available to future generations.

\"Fort Stanton is arguably the most complex built environment in New Mexico,\" said Oliver Horn, Fort Stanton and Lincoln Historic Sites Regional Manager. \"As the most intact Territorial-era fort remaining in the Southwest, intertwined with a New Deal-era medical facility, Fort Stanton preserves the stories of Mescalero Apache people, Civil War soldiers, Buffalo Soldiers, laundresses, doctors, nurses, and countless others who shaped the history of the region.\"

The Visitor Center was originally built as military barracks in 1855 and housed US troops protecting settlers as the nation expanded westward. The old shake shingle roof was a fire hazard not suited for New Mexico\'s dry climate. The building received a new synthetic roof preserving its historic appearance and providing a Class A fire rating with a lifespan of 50-years.

The Laundress Quarters was built by Buffalo Soldiers from the 9th Cavalry in 1876 after the US Civil War and is a memorial to the women who supported military life at the fort. Historians believe it may be the last surviving building in the state directly connected to nineteenth century black military troops and their history.

The Hospital, built in 1936, is an important part of the state\'s healthcare history serving as one of the nation\'s leading tuberculosis treatment facilities and helping establish New Mexico’s modern health care system.

The Nurses\' Quarters, completed in 1941, was designed by one of the nation\'s leading New Deal-era architects, Louis A. Simon. He designed the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in New York the same year he designed the Nurses Quarters at Fort Stanton.

The award-winning rehabilitation projects are part of a broader investment of $10 million in infrastructure improvements across Fort Stanton Historic Site in recent years. \"These projects demonstrate the importance of preserving the places that tell New Mexico’s diverse and complex history,\" said Horn. \"By investing in these historic structures today, we are ensuring that future generations can continue to learn from and experience the stories they contain.\"

About New Mexico Historic Sites

New Mexico Historic Sites is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Regents for the Museum of New Mexico. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and and our site\'s five supporting friends group donor. The New Mexico Historic Sites system was established in 1931 by an Act for the Preservation of the Scientific Resources of New Mexico. The eight Historic Sites include Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner, Coronado, Fort Selden, Fort Stanton, Jemez, Lincoln, Los Luceros, and Taylor-Mesilla. Learn more at nmhistoricsites.org.. . .

New Mexico Historic Sites selected for prestigious Award of Excellence for impact of Taylor-Mesilla on state and local history

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0600

About New Mexico Historic Sites

MESILLA, NM — New Mexico Historic Sites was selected as a 2026 Award of Excellence winner for the opening of Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site by the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) Leadership in History awards committee.

\"The staff of New Mexico Historic Sites is honored to have received this most esteemed award from the AASLH, an organization that represents thousands of small regionally focused historic venues such as the Taylor-Mesilla site,\" Anne McCudden, director of New Mexico Historic Sites, said. \"We accept this award on behalf of all our colleagues and the Taylor family for decades of hard work.\"

This year, AASLH confers 42 national awards honoring people, projects, exhibits, and publications that represent the best in the field. The awards establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history to make the past more meaningful and accessible to all people. For more information about the Leadership in History Awards, visit aaslh.org.

After more than two decades of hard work and anticipation, Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site opened its doors on Nov. 8, 2025, becoming the eighth state-managed historic site. The grand opening featured a ribbon cutting ceremony, live music on the Mesilla Plaza, and special community activities celebrating the site\'s long-awaited debut. The site embodies the rich history and heritage of the Southwest borderlands and offers tours, lectures, and interactive programming for the public. The property is located on the historic Old Mesilla Plaza, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and consists of two storefronts and a large residence.

Since 1953, the three adobe buildings were home for the late J. Paul and Mary Daniels Taylor and their family. The Taylors donated their extraordinary collection of Spanish Colonial, Mexican, and New Mexican artwork and textiles from around the world. The gift of their collection and precious home reflects the deep desire the Taylors held in promoting a better understanding and appreciation of the history, culture, and architecture of New Mexico.

The Award of Excellence will be presented to staff at the AASLH Annual Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, a conference held jointly with the National Council on Public History on Sept. 18, 2026.

About New Mexico Historic Sites

New Mexico Historic Sites is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Regents for the Museum of New Mexico. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and our site’s five supporting friends group donors. The New Mexico Historic Sites system was established in 1931 by an Act for the Preservation of the Scientific Resources of New Mexico. The eight Historic Sites include Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner, Coronado, Fort Selden, Fort Stanton, Jemez, Lincoln, Los Luceros, and Taylor-Mesilla. Learn more at nmhistoricsites.org.. . .

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0600

About New Mexico Historic Sites

The Award of Excellence will be presented to staff at the AASLH Annual Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, a conference held jointly with the National Council on Public History on Sept. 18, 2026.

About New Mexico Historic Sites

New Mexico Historic Sites is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Regents for the Museum of New Mexico. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and our site’s five supporting friends group donors. The New Mexico Historic Sites system was established in 1931 by an Act for the Preservation of the Scientific Resources of New Mexico. The eight Historic Sites include Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner, Coronado, Fort Selden, Fort Stanton, Jemez, Lincoln, Los Luceros, and Taylor-Mesilla. Learn more at nmhistoricsites.org.

Santa Fe, NM – As America celebrates its 250th birthday, New Mexico celebrates 114 years as a state. A new exhibition at New Mexico History Museum, \"1912,\" opens September 5, 2026, offering a snapshot of the state at a time of remarkable change and growth, and exploring what formally tied 327,000 Nuevo Mexicanos to the union.

The exhibition lets visitors step back into 1912 and explore a striking matrix of 36 historic objects that reveal interesting, surprising, and sometimes unusual connections from that time, sparking curiosity about the past.

\"The state we know and love today is rooted in this time,\" says Mark Dodge, Curator of Southwest Memories at the History Museum. \"This exhibition shows how our government, schools, economy, and many of the towns were forged by the whirlwind of struggle and triumph of statehood.\"

Highlights in the show include the first elected governor, William C. McDonald’s, top hat, a rare Wooten desk belonging to pioneer merchant Charles Ilfeld, one of the first state flags, an ore car from one of the largest open pit copper mines, and an oversized valve cylinder from Elephant Butte Dam.

A special aspirational video project titled \"Voices of 1912,\" proclaiming the future will be what we make it, blends words from 1912 politicians and poets and is presented in both English and Spanish. Visitors will also see early film footage from across the state in \"100 Years Ago, New Mexico\'s Early Film History,\" by ¡COLORES! New Mexico PBS.

\"1912\" will be on display through September 12, 2027. Join the museum for a celebratory public event on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, 5 – 7 p.m. The event will feature music in the Palace of the Governors Courtyard performed by the Santa Fe Concert Band, including the state song, a button-making activity with symbols of statehood, and refreshments provided courtesy of the Museum of New Mexico Women’s Board. The event is free and open to the public.

About New Mexico History Museum

New Mexico History Museum, a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, offers a welcoming place for exploration of multifaceted views on history, dialog that bridges social and cultural divides, and reflection on the conditions needed for a more resilient, just, and sustainable future. The museum campus is located on the north side of the historic Santa Fe Plaza. Learn more at nmhistorymuseum.org.

Image: New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

1. New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001). . .

The Roswell Files: Where UFO Lore Meets Constitutional Law

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0600

About New Mexico Historic Sites

The Award of Excellence will be presented to staff at the AASLH Annual Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, a conference held jointly with the National Council on Public History on Sept. 18, 2026.

About New Mexico Historic Sites

New Mexico Historic Sites is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Regents for the Museum of New Mexico. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and our site’s five supporting friends group donors. The New Mexico Historic Sites system was established in 1931 by an Act for the Preservation of the Scientific Resources of New Mexico. The eight Historic Sites include Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner, Coronado, Fort Selden, Fort Stanton, Jemez, Lincoln, Los Luceros, and Taylor-Mesilla. Learn more at nmhistoricsites.org.

About New Mexico History Museum

Image: New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

1. New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

New Mexico State Library, New Mexico Museum of Space History, and the University of New Mexico (UNM) Department of Political Science are pleased to announce a special, free online presentation, \"The 1947 Roswell UFO Incident Revisited: Constitutional and Legal Issues.\"

WHAT: Join a free online panel discussion featuring a legal examination of the legendary Roswell flying saucer crash of 1947. The program, one week before with the 79th anniversary of the Roswell crash, will be presented online by a panel of four high-achieving University of New Mexico pre-law students who recently completed an extensive constitutional law study at UNM of the Roswell incident and its legal implications. The program will feature a legal examination of the legendary Roswell \"Flying Saucer Crash” one of the most discussed and debated events in modern space and cultural history.

WHO: New Mexico State Library, New Mexico Museum of Space History, and the University of New Mexico Department of Political Science

WHEN: Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 4 - 6 p.m.

WHERE: Online. The webinar is free and open to anyone, but pre-registration is recommended at nmstatelibrary.libcal.com/event/16991439.

WHY: More than 75 years after reports of a mysterious UFO crash near Roswell captured worldwide attention, questions surrounding government authority, secrecy, public disclosure, military operations, and constitutional principles continue to fascinate both scholars and the public.

Media Contact:

Christina Claassen

christina.claassen@dca.nm.gov

505-946-7149. . .

Route 66 Caravan and 72oz Steak Challenge rolls onto the Santa Fe Plaza

Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0600

About New Mexico Historic Sites

The Award of Excellence will be presented to staff at the AASLH Annual Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, a conference held jointly with the National Council on Public History on Sept. 18, 2026.

About New Mexico Historic Sites

New Mexico Historic Sites is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Regents for the Museum of New Mexico. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and our site’s five supporting friends group donors. The New Mexico Historic Sites system was established in 1931 by an Act for the Preservation of the Scientific Resources of New Mexico. The eight Historic Sites include Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner, Coronado, Fort Selden, Fort Stanton, Jemez, Lincoln, Los Luceros, and Taylor-Mesilla. Learn more at nmhistoricsites.org.

About New Mexico History Museum

Image: New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

1. New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

WHO: New Mexico State Library, New Mexico Museum of Space History, and the University of New Mexico Department of Political Science

WHEN: Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 4 - 6 p.m.

WHERE: Online. The webinar is free and open to anyone, but pre-registration is recommended at nmstatelibrary.libcal.com/event/16991439.

Media Contact:

Christina Claassen

christina.claassen@dca.nm.gov

505-946-7149

People better bring their appetite for historic cars and big steaks as the spirit of Route 66 rolls into Santa Fe. The Route 66 Centennial Caravan and 72oz Steak Challenge is making a stop at New Mexico History Museum and the Santa Fe Plaza on Saturday, June 13, 1 – 7 p.m.

The event kicks off with \"Route-beer\" floats served courtesy of the MNM Women\'s Board in the History Museum\'s Palace of the Governors courtyard from 1 - 3 p.m. A caravan of historic cars will drive into the Plaza around 2 p.m. where they’ll be parked for the rest of the day. At 3 p.m. local dignitaries and special guests commemorate 100 years of the historic route. DJ Christina Swilley will be spinning 50’s and 60’s tunes at this family-friendly event.

The 72oz Steak Challenge, presented by The Big Texan Steak Ranch® of Amarillo, TX, and Santa Fe\'s Bull Ring steakhouse begins at 5:30 p.m. The caravan hits the road again at 7 p.m., heading to its next stop in Santa Rosa, NM. Activities inside the museum are included with museum admission while events on the Santa Fe Plaza are free. A full schedule of events is available on Eventbrite.

\"We\'ve been honoring the 100th anniversary of Route 66 this year and are excited to bring the community together at the significant Palace of the Governors, as well as the Plaza, to celebrate,\" said Maria Sanchez-Tucker, Interim Director at the History Museum. \"This special event will bring history to life through classic cars, music, art, and food, and we hope to see people of all ages attend.\"

This year, the History Museum is honoring Route 66 through a commemorative lobby mural, pop-up exhibits, and special events. The caravan spotlights the original Route 66 alignment through Santa Fe, where the Palace of the Governors and Santa Fe Plaza were important stopping points for travelers.

The Santa Fe Steak Challenge will also dare contestants to gobble down a massive four-and-a-half-pound steak along with a baked potato, 3 shrimp, side salad, and a roll in under one hour. Steak will be provided by the Big Texan Steak Ranch® and side dishes by the Bull Ring. To take part, contestants must post a video or message on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok explaining why they’re the perfect candidate, tagging @thebigtexan and including their city as a hashtag for consideration.

About New Mexico History Museum

About National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP)

NTHP is a privately funded nonprofit organization that works to save America\'s historic sites; tell the full American story; build stronger communities; and invest in preservation\'s future. The NTHP’s Preserve Route 66 initiative advocates for permanent, federal National Historic Trail designation for the historic route and provides grants and other assistance to legacy businesses, nonprofits, and public agencies serving Route 66.

About The Main Street of America Route 66 Centennial Caravan

Organized by the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, the caravan provides an opportunity to highlight preservation success stories in all eight states that make up the Mother Road. It also serves as a call to action for future preservation needs that can be supported by the Road Ahead\'s Route 66 Centennial Preservation and Economic Development Grant Program. Learn more at www.route66caravan.com.

Image courtesy of Darryl Willison, Willison West Studios.. . .

From the fire tower: 2026 New Mexico Great Reads titles announced

Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0600

About New Mexico Historic Sites

The Award of Excellence will be presented to staff at the AASLH Annual Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, a conference held jointly with the National Council on Public History on Sept. 18, 2026.

About New Mexico Historic Sites

New Mexico Historic Sites is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Regents for the Museum of New Mexico. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and our site’s five supporting friends group donors. The New Mexico Historic Sites system was established in 1931 by an Act for the Preservation of the Scientific Resources of New Mexico. The eight Historic Sites include Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner, Coronado, Fort Selden, Fort Stanton, Jemez, Lincoln, Los Luceros, and Taylor-Mesilla. Learn more at nmhistoricsites.org.

About New Mexico History Museum

Image: New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

1. New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

WHO: New Mexico State Library, New Mexico Museum of Space History, and the University of New Mexico Department of Political Science

WHEN: Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 4 - 6 p.m.

WHERE: Online. The webinar is free and open to anyone, but pre-registration is recommended at nmstatelibrary.libcal.com/event/16991439.

Media Contact:

Christina Claassen

christina.claassen@dca.nm.gov

505-946-7149

About New Mexico History Museum

About National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP)

About The Main Street of America Route 66 Centennial Caravan

Image courtesy of Darryl Willison, Willison West Studios.

The 2026 New Mexico Great Reads book selection honors two books rooted in fire watch life: The Burning Season by Caroline Starr Rose and The Mountain Knows the Mountain: A Fire Watch Diary by Philip Connors.

The books were selected by the New Mexico Center for the Book at the New Mexico State Library (NMSL) to represent the state’s literary landscape at the National Book Festival, an event showcasing the importance of books and reading. This year\'s festival will be held on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Washington, D.C., as well as online.

Katherine Miles, Public Services Bureau Chief at NMSL says, \"This year\'s youth and adult selections for the National Book Festival illuminate a theme deeply intertwined with life in New Mexico: fire. Each title reflects, through powerful poetry, the ways in which fire stewardship shapes the delicate balance of our forests, our communities, and the places we call home.\"

About the Books

The youth book selection, The Burning Season by Caroline Starr Rose, tells the story of Opal, a 12-year-old who is about to become a fourth-generation fire lookout on Wolf Mountain in the New Mexico wilderness. But Opal has a secret—she is afraid of fire. The book tells the story of her preparation for the job, her dreams, and how she spots smoke in the mountains and has to face her fears.

The Mountain Knows the Mountain: A Fire Watch Diary by Philip Connors is the adult book selection, and it shares firsthand accounts of the author\'s 14 years as a fire lookout in the Gila Wilderness. Written in the centuries-old haibun form that blends prose with traditional haiku, Connors interweaves close observation, personal reflection, memory, and decades of hard-won knowledge about the forest, the mountain, and fire.

Many libraries across New Mexico and the Southwest carry copies of The Burning Season and The Mountain Knows the Mountain: A Fire Watch Diary, as well as additional titles by these authors.

About the National Book Festival

The National Book Festival will include many livestreamed and recorded virtual programs celebrating books and authors, which will be posted on the National Book Festival website. You can also find out more about the New Mexico titles on the New Mexico State Library National Book Festival site.

About New Mexico Center for the Book

New Mexico Center for the Book is a state affiliate of the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress. The New Mexico center promotes literacy and a love of books, reading and libraries throughout the state, celebrating New Mexico\'s literary heritage, and is administered by New Mexico State Library, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information about New Mexico State Library and Center for the Book visit nmstatelibrary.org.

. . .

Free entry to NM museums and historic sites for active-duty military through Blue Star Museums

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 -0600

About New Mexico Historic Sites

The Award of Excellence will be presented to staff at the AASLH Annual Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, a conference held jointly with the National Council on Public History on Sept. 18, 2026.

About New Mexico Historic Sites

New Mexico Historic Sites is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Regents for the Museum of New Mexico. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and our site’s five supporting friends group donors. The New Mexico Historic Sites system was established in 1931 by an Act for the Preservation of the Scientific Resources of New Mexico. The eight Historic Sites include Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner, Coronado, Fort Selden, Fort Stanton, Jemez, Lincoln, Los Luceros, and Taylor-Mesilla. Learn more at nmhistoricsites.org.

About New Mexico History Museum

Image: New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

1. New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

WHO: New Mexico State Library, New Mexico Museum of Space History, and the University of New Mexico Department of Political Science

WHEN: Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 4 - 6 p.m.

WHERE: Online. The webinar is free and open to anyone, but pre-registration is recommended at nmstatelibrary.libcal.com/event/16991439.

Media Contact:

Christina Claassen

christina.claassen@dca.nm.gov

505-946-7149

About New Mexico History Museum

About National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP)

About The Main Street of America Route 66 Centennial Caravan

Image courtesy of Darryl Willison, Willison West Studios.

About the Books

Many libraries across New Mexico and the Southwest carry copies of The Burning Season and The Mountain Knows the Mountain: A Fire Watch Diary, as well as additional titles by these authors.

About the National Book Festival

About New Mexico Center for the Book

Active-duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families can receive free admission to any of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs’ eight museums and eight historic sites this summer through the Blue Star Museums program.

The New Mexico Arts & Military program is launching the campaign to raise awareness of this opportunity for more than 43,000 active-duty military members, National Guard, and their families in New Mexico. Free admission runs from Armed Forces Day, May 16, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.

The program includes free admission for up to five family members with a valid military ID. More information and a map of participating museums are available at arts.gov/initiatives/blue-star-museums.

\"Participating in the Blue Star Museums program is an incredible opportunity for DCA museums and historic sites to share New Mexico\'s rich artistic, historical, and cultural offerings with active-duty service members and their families,\" said Kevin Lenkner, Program Coordinator for New Mexico Arts & the Military.

Participating sites include eight state museums and eight historic sites across New Mexico, including the Museum of International Folk Art, Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, New Mexico Museum of Art, New Mexico History Museum, National Hispanic Cultural Center, New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, New Mexico Museum of Space History, Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site, Coronado Historic Site, Fort Selden Historic Site, Fort Stanton Historic Site, Jemez Historic Site, Lincoln Historic Site, Los Luceros Historic Site, and Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site.

NMDCA also partners with the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services to offer free one-time admission passes to veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 50% or higher. More information is available at nmdvs.org/state-veteran-benefits.

About New Mexico Arts

New Mexico Arts (NMA) is the state arts agency and a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs. NMA’s mission is to ensure the arts are central to the lives of New Mexicans, including active-duty members of the military and their families, as well as veterans. For more information about New Mexico Arts visit nmarts.org.. . .

Award-winning author Hampton Sides keynote speaker as New Mexico State Library celebrates volunteers

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 -0600

About New Mexico Historic Sites

The Award of Excellence will be presented to staff at the AASLH Annual Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, a conference held jointly with the National Council on Public History on Sept. 18, 2026.

About New Mexico Historic Sites

New Mexico Historic Sites is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Regents for the Museum of New Mexico. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and our site’s five supporting friends group donors. The New Mexico Historic Sites system was established in 1931 by an Act for the Preservation of the Scientific Resources of New Mexico. The eight Historic Sites include Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner, Coronado, Fort Selden, Fort Stanton, Jemez, Lincoln, Los Luceros, and Taylor-Mesilla. Learn more at nmhistoricsites.org.

About New Mexico History Museum

Image: New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

1. New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

WHO: New Mexico State Library, New Mexico Museum of Space History, and the University of New Mexico Department of Political Science

WHEN: Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 4 - 6 p.m.

WHERE: Online. The webinar is free and open to anyone, but pre-registration is recommended at nmstatelibrary.libcal.com/event/16991439.

Media Contact:

Christina Claassen

christina.claassen@dca.nm.gov

505-946-7149

About New Mexico History Museum

About National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP)

About The Main Street of America Route 66 Centennial Caravan

Image courtesy of Darryl Willison, Willison West Studios.

About the Books

Many libraries across New Mexico and the Southwest carry copies of The Burning Season and The Mountain Knows the Mountain: A Fire Watch Diary, as well as additional titles by these authors.

About the National Book Festival

About New Mexico Center for the Book

About New Mexico Arts

Volunteers who provided more than 1,800 hours of their time over the last year and brought books and resources to life for New Mexicans with visual disabilities were celebrated with an appreciation luncheon featuring keynote speaker Hampton Sides on Thursday, April 9, 2026.

Sides, an award-winning author known for his books on historical subjects, spoke about his career and particularly connected with volunteers by speaking about his own experience recording the commercial audio edition of his book Hellhound on His Trail: The Stalking of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the International Hunt for His Assassin. He also treated those in attendance with an excerpt reading from his yet untitled upcoming book about the Sand Creek Massacre in Colorado.

The volunteer luncheon was held to show appreciation and gratitude to volunteers who serve the Library for the Blind and Print Disabled (LBPD). A Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Tracy Kerr for her tireless reviewing work.

\"Without the valuable time and effort contributed by our volunteers over the past quarter century, hundreds upon hundreds of audiobooks would never have been produced,\" said Yavar Moradi, Collection Development Coordinator for LBPD.

Volunteers are an integral part of providing resources for LBPD, contributing 35 hours a week, or about 1,800 hours a year. The program currently has 16 volunteers who record and narrate audio books in the library’s recording studio, review and correct errors in narration, and repair and refurbish audio machines, among other important tasks. Volunteers are always needed at LBPD and those interested can contact the library at 505-476-9770 to learn more.

About New Mexico State Library

The New Mexico State Library, a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, provides services that support public libraries, as well as direct library services to rural populations, state agencies, the visually impaired, physically and print disabled, and students and citizens conducting research. For more information about New Mexico State Library visit nmstatelibrary.org.. . .

Applications open for musical opportunities with New Mexico Music Commission grant funding

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 -0600

About New Mexico Historic Sites

The Award of Excellence will be presented to staff at the AASLH Annual Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, a conference held jointly with the National Council on Public History on Sept. 18, 2026.

About New Mexico Historic Sites

New Mexico Historic Sites is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Regents for the Museum of New Mexico. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and our site’s five supporting friends group donors. The New Mexico Historic Sites system was established in 1931 by an Act for the Preservation of the Scientific Resources of New Mexico. The eight Historic Sites include Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner, Coronado, Fort Selden, Fort Stanton, Jemez, Lincoln, Los Luceros, and Taylor-Mesilla. Learn more at nmhistoricsites.org.

About New Mexico History Museum

Image: New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

1. New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

WHO: New Mexico State Library, New Mexico Museum of Space History, and the University of New Mexico Department of Political Science

WHEN: Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 4 - 6 p.m.

WHERE: Online. The webinar is free and open to anyone, but pre-registration is recommended at nmstatelibrary.libcal.com/event/16991439.

Media Contact:

Christina Claassen

christina.claassen@dca.nm.gov

505-946-7149

About New Mexico History Museum

About National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP)

About The Main Street of America Route 66 Centennial Caravan

Image courtesy of Darryl Willison, Willison West Studios.

About the Books

Many libraries across New Mexico and the Southwest carry copies of The Burning Season and The Mountain Knows the Mountain: A Fire Watch Diary, as well as additional titles by these authors.

About the National Book Festival

About New Mexico Center for the Book

About New Mexico Arts

About New Mexico State Library

The New Mexico Music Commission\'s \"Music in the Community\" Grant Program strikes a new chord for communities across the state, amplifying opportunities for musical appreciation and inspiring community engagement through the power of music. Currently accepting applications for the 2026-27 fiscal year, the grant supports musical performances, education, and activities across the state.

\"Continuing the grant program is vital for fostering music engagement and education across New Mexico, especially in our rural, tribal, and underserved communities,\" said Music Commission Chair Carlos Medina. \"Our hope is that these grants will empower organizations to create accessible opportunities that inspire future generations, cultivate appreciation for diverse musical traditions, and enhance community connections through the arts. We are grateful to Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham, our legislators, and the taxpayers of the great State of New Mexico for their support and trust.\"

The Music in the Community Grant Program serves communities all over New Mexico, including rural, tribal, veteran, disability, and other underserved people through funding that supports new or existing music engagement, education, or performances.

The funding will support a variety of programs, including performances in local venues or festivals, lectures or presentations about music-focused topics, instrument demonstrations, workshops, exhibitions, or other similar projects that engage people regardless of age.

The application period is open through June 13, 2026. Selected organizations will receive $2,500, paid on a reimbursement basis after program activities are completed. For more information about the 2026-27 grant requirements, and to apply, visit www.nmmusic.org/grants or contact Katherine Bruell, New Mexico Music Commission Administrator, at katherine.bruell@dca.nm.gov or 505-487-0519.

During the 2025-2026 grant cycle, 11 organizations throughout the state offered a variety of unique programs that were funded by the grant. Horizons of Albuquerque expanded their summer guitar program for 4th-12th graders to a year-round initiative. Eastern New Mexico University used funding to host educational workshops for film students who produced a concert film of Robert Mirabal’s campus performance. The Cibola Arts Council used the grant for their annual Day of the Dead Celebration as well as a Bayanihan, Filipino Cultural Extravaganza. A full list of recipients and their projects can be found online.

About New Mexico Music Commission (NMMC)

NMMC, a governor-appointed body, protects, promotes, and preserves the musical traditions of New Mexico. The Commission consists of a cross-section of New Mexico citizens representing all facets of the state’s unique and diverse music industry. NMMC is administrated by New Mexico Arts, the state’s federally recognized arts agency and a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs.. . .

Release: Outer space is for the birds: Launch Pad Lecture on June 5

Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 -0600

About New Mexico Historic Sites

The Award of Excellence will be presented to staff at the AASLH Annual Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, a conference held jointly with the National Council on Public History on Sept. 18, 2026.

About New Mexico Historic Sites

New Mexico Historic Sites is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Regents for the Museum of New Mexico. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and our site’s five supporting friends group donors. The New Mexico Historic Sites system was established in 1931 by an Act for the Preservation of the Scientific Resources of New Mexico. The eight Historic Sites include Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner, Coronado, Fort Selden, Fort Stanton, Jemez, Lincoln, Los Luceros, and Taylor-Mesilla. Learn more at nmhistoricsites.org.

About New Mexico History Museum

Image: New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

1. New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

WHO: New Mexico State Library, New Mexico Museum of Space History, and the University of New Mexico Department of Political Science

WHEN: Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 4 - 6 p.m.

WHERE: Online. The webinar is free and open to anyone, but pre-registration is recommended at nmstatelibrary.libcal.com/event/16991439.

Media Contact:

Christina Claassen

christina.claassen@dca.nm.gov

505-946-7149

About New Mexico History Museum

About National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP)

About The Main Street of America Route 66 Centennial Caravan

Image courtesy of Darryl Willison, Willison West Studios.

About the Books

Many libraries across New Mexico and the Southwest carry copies of The Burning Season and The Mountain Knows the Mountain: A Fire Watch Diary, as well as additional titles by these authors.

About the National Book Festival

About New Mexico Center for the Book

About New Mexico Arts

About New Mexico State Library

About New Mexico Music Commission (NMMC)

Release: Don’t chicken out of going into space, Launch Pad Lecture on June 5

Launch Pad Lecture explores “Chix in Space” at New Mexico Museum of Space History

Media Contact:

Greg Gurule

NM DCA Communications Manager

Greg.gurule@dca.nm.gov

505-469-9730

(Alamogordo, NM) — New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Launch Pad Lecture Series features “Chix in Space” on Friday, June 5, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium. The free program, open to everyone, will be presented by Dr. Rebecca Anklam.

“Chix in Space” highlights the work of a Purdue University graduate whose experiment to hatch chicks in space grew into the commercial space venture Redware and helped advance today’s space payload industry, including work supporting companies like Virgin Galactic.

The Launch Pad Lecture Series is held on the first Friday of each month in the New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium at the New Mexico Museum of Space History. Museum staff and special guest speakers explore topics ranging from space history to the future of space exploration in an informal setting that encourages questions and discussion.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History is located at 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, New Mexico 88310. For more information about this lecture or other museum programs, visit nmspacemuseum.org or call (575) 437‑2840. . . .

Rocketeer Academy Summer Camp Blasts Off at NM Museum of Space History Registration Now Open!

Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0600

About New Mexico Historic Sites

The Award of Excellence will be presented to staff at the AASLH Annual Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, a conference held jointly with the National Council on Public History on Sept. 18, 2026.

About New Mexico Historic Sites

New Mexico Historic Sites is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Regents for the Museum of New Mexico. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and our site’s five supporting friends group donors. The New Mexico Historic Sites system was established in 1931 by an Act for the Preservation of the Scientific Resources of New Mexico. The eight Historic Sites include Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner, Coronado, Fort Selden, Fort Stanton, Jemez, Lincoln, Los Luceros, and Taylor-Mesilla. Learn more at nmhistoricsites.org.

About New Mexico History Museum

Image: New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

1. New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

WHO: New Mexico State Library, New Mexico Museum of Space History, and the University of New Mexico Department of Political Science

WHEN: Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 4 - 6 p.m.

WHERE: Online. The webinar is free and open to anyone, but pre-registration is recommended at nmstatelibrary.libcal.com/event/16991439.

Media Contact:

Christina Claassen

christina.claassen@dca.nm.gov

505-946-7149

About New Mexico History Museum

About National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP)

About The Main Street of America Route 66 Centennial Caravan

Image courtesy of Darryl Willison, Willison West Studios.

About the Books

Many libraries across New Mexico and the Southwest carry copies of The Burning Season and The Mountain Knows the Mountain: A Fire Watch Diary, as well as additional titles by these authors.

About the National Book Festival

About New Mexico Center for the Book

About New Mexico Arts

About New Mexico State Library

About New Mexico Music Commission (NMMC)

Release: Don’t chicken out of going into space, Launch Pad Lecture on June 5

Launch Pad Lecture explores “Chix in Space” at New Mexico Museum of Space History

Media Contact:

Greg Gurule

NM DCA Communications Manager

Greg.gurule@dca.nm.gov

505-469-9730

RELEASE: Rocketeer Academy Summer Camp Blasts Off at NM Museum of Space History

Registration Now Open!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 8, 2026

Media Contact:

Greg Gurule

DCA Communications Manager

Greg.gurule@dca.nm.gov

505-469-9730

Alamogordo, NM - The International Space Hall of Fame Foundation and New Mexico Museum of Space History have announced that registration is now open at spacehalloffame.org for the Rocketeer Academy Summer Camp. The camp offers two one‑week sessions with two class levels: Explorers (grades 3–5) and Challengers (grades 6–8), each limited to 25 students.

Cost is $275 per cadet and includes the week-long space-based camp, field trip to Holloman AFB, lunches, and a camp t-shirt. The camp is held at the Tombaugh Education Building on the grounds of the Museum of Space History on July 6-10 and July 13-17, with two classes each week. Camp hours are Monday and Thursday 9 - 4, also Friday 9 -12. Friday is graduation day, complete with a pizza party.

Activities include rocket building and launches, astronomy, coding, drones, robotics, and hands‑on science. Cadets in both programs will learn about the museum’s 50-year history and the five nominees who will be inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame on October 3rd, as part of the museum’s anniversary celebration.

A field trip is planned to Holloman Air Force Base and the 704th Test Group, where cadets will get an up-close look at the High Speed Test Track, the centrifuge, and other facilities the Test Group operates. A limited number of parents will be able to register to attend for an additional fee. Parents must provide full ID as required by Holloman security in order to access the base.

Several organizations within the community came together to help provide funding for the camp, including the Sacramento Mountains Foundation, Alamogordo Rotary Foundation, the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, Desert Sun Foundation, DSH Entertainment, Inc., and Christus Health. Scholarship sponsorships are available to all businesses and organizations in the community. For more information, contact info@spacehalloffame.org.

The International Space Hall of Fame Foundation (ISHFF) is a 501(c)3, non-profit corporation whose purpose is to receive and administer funds for scientific, educational, and charitable purposes including providing philanthropic support to the New Mexico Museum of Space History and its programs. As part of its ongoing commitment to the community, the ISHFF constantly seeks new avenues to fulfill its purpose such as becoming the program administrator for STARBASE Holloman. . . .

RELEASE: Pioneers of Space Program to be inducted into New Mexico Museum of Space History International Space Hall of Fame in October 2026

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0600

About New Mexico Historic Sites

The Award of Excellence will be presented to staff at the AASLH Annual Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, a conference held jointly with the National Council on Public History on Sept. 18, 2026.

About New Mexico Historic Sites

New Mexico Historic Sites is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Regents for the Museum of New Mexico. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and our site’s five supporting friends group donors. The New Mexico Historic Sites system was established in 1931 by an Act for the Preservation of the Scientific Resources of New Mexico. The eight Historic Sites include Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner, Coronado, Fort Selden, Fort Stanton, Jemez, Lincoln, Los Luceros, and Taylor-Mesilla. Learn more at nmhistoricsites.org.

About New Mexico History Museum

Image: New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

1. New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

WHO: New Mexico State Library, New Mexico Museum of Space History, and the University of New Mexico Department of Political Science

WHEN: Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 4 - 6 p.m.

WHERE: Online. The webinar is free and open to anyone, but pre-registration is recommended at nmstatelibrary.libcal.com/event/16991439.

Media Contact:

Christina Claassen

christina.claassen@dca.nm.gov

505-946-7149

About New Mexico History Museum

About National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP)

About The Main Street of America Route 66 Centennial Caravan

Image courtesy of Darryl Willison, Willison West Studios.

About the Books

Many libraries across New Mexico and the Southwest carry copies of The Burning Season and The Mountain Knows the Mountain: A Fire Watch Diary, as well as additional titles by these authors.

About the National Book Festival

About New Mexico Center for the Book

About New Mexico Arts

About New Mexico State Library

About New Mexico Music Commission (NMMC)

Release: Don’t chicken out of going into space, Launch Pad Lecture on June 5

Launch Pad Lecture explores “Chix in Space” at New Mexico Museum of Space History

Media Contact:

Greg Gurule

NM DCA Communications Manager

Greg.gurule@dca.nm.gov

505-469-9730

RELEASE: Rocketeer Academy Summer Camp Blasts Off at NM Museum of Space History

Registration Now Open!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 8, 2026

Media Contact:

Greg Gurule

DCA Communications Manager

Greg.gurule@dca.nm.gov

505-469-9730

ALAMOGORDO, NM – A select group of five trailblazing space pioneers have been chosen for induction into the New Mexico Space History International Hall of Fame later this year. They were selected from 25 nominees who were submitted from across the country and represent leaders in space exploration.

The Mercury 13, a group of American women who underwent the same testing and training as NASA’s original Mercury 7 astronauts in 1959 – 1960.

The winner of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics, Michel Mayor, for discovering the first exoplanet orbiting a sun-like star.

NASA astronaut twins Senator Mark and Scott Kelly, who took part in a milestone study of the long-duration effects of spaceflight.

NASA Mathematician Creola Katherine Johnson, whose calculations in orbital mechanics helped launch US crewed space missions.

Dolores “Dee” Ohara, the first aerospace nurse assigned to NASA’s first astronauts laying the foundation for the field of space nursing.

“As we celebrate our country’s 250th Anniversary and the Museum’s 50th anniversary, we felt it was important to showcase how our state has and continues to support the space program by holding an Induction Ceremony as part of our Anniversary Celebration,” said Museum Executive Director, Karen Kincaid Brady. “The International Space Hall of Fame is an integral part of the Museum designed to honor the men and women worldwide who have committed themselves to the dream of space exploration. Few people realize that southern New Mexico hosts White Sands Missile Range, the birthplace of America’s space and missile program, and one of the reasons the Museum is here today.”

Formal induction will be held in a ceremony on Saturday, October 3, 2026, as a centerpiece of the New Mexico Space History’s 50th Anniversary Gala.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo is a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. A Smithsonian Affiliate, the museum showcases the significant role New Mexico has played in the development of the U.S. Space Program and features the International Space Hall of Fame and New Horizons Dome Theater. . . .

Blast from the past with historic Library of Congress card catalog display at New Mexico State Library

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0600

About New Mexico Historic Sites

The Award of Excellence will be presented to staff at the AASLH Annual Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, a conference held jointly with the National Council on Public History on Sept. 18, 2026.

About New Mexico Historic Sites

New Mexico Historic Sites is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Regents for the Museum of New Mexico. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and our site’s five supporting friends group donors. The New Mexico Historic Sites system was established in 1931 by an Act for the Preservation of the Scientific Resources of New Mexico. The eight Historic Sites include Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner, Coronado, Fort Selden, Fort Stanton, Jemez, Lincoln, Los Luceros, and Taylor-Mesilla. Learn more at nmhistoricsites.org.

About New Mexico History Museum

Image: New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

1. New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

WHO: New Mexico State Library, New Mexico Museum of Space History, and the University of New Mexico Department of Political Science

WHEN: Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 4 - 6 p.m.

WHERE: Online. The webinar is free and open to anyone, but pre-registration is recommended at nmstatelibrary.libcal.com/event/16991439.

Media Contact:

Christina Claassen

christina.claassen@dca.nm.gov

505-946-7149

About New Mexico History Museum

About National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP)

About The Main Street of America Route 66 Centennial Caravan

Image courtesy of Darryl Willison, Willison West Studios.

About the Books

Many libraries across New Mexico and the Southwest carry copies of The Burning Season and The Mountain Knows the Mountain: A Fire Watch Diary, as well as additional titles by these authors.

About the National Book Festival

About New Mexico Center for the Book

About New Mexico Arts

About New Mexico State Library

About New Mexico Music Commission (NMMC)

Release: Don’t chicken out of going into space, Launch Pad Lecture on June 5

Launch Pad Lecture explores “Chix in Space” at New Mexico Museum of Space History

Media Contact:

Greg Gurule

NM DCA Communications Manager

Greg.gurule@dca.nm.gov

505-469-9730

RELEASE: Rocketeer Academy Summer Camp Blasts Off at NM Museum of Space History

Registration Now Open!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 8, 2026

Media Contact:

Greg Gurule

DCA Communications Manager

Greg.gurule@dca.nm.gov

505-469-9730

The Mercury 13, a group of American women who underwent the same testing and training as NASA’s original Mercury 7 astronauts in 1959 – 1960.

The winner of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics, Michel Mayor, for discovering the first exoplanet orbiting a sun-like star.

NASA astronaut twins Senator Mark and Scott Kelly, who took part in a milestone study of the long-duration effects of spaceflight.

NASA Mathematician Creola Katherine Johnson, whose calculations in orbital mechanics helped launch US crewed space missions.

Dolores “Dee” Ohara, the first aerospace nurse assigned to NASA’s first astronauts laying the foundation for the field of space nursing.

Formal induction will be held in a ceremony on Saturday, October 3, 2026, as a centerpiece of the New Mexico Space History’s 50th Anniversary Gala.

A unique interactive display featuring a historic Library of Congress card catalog has opened at the New Mexico State Library (NMSL) in Santa Fe during National Library Week, celebrated April 19 – 26. The catalog is the gateway to the Library of Congress, which holds more than 170 million items, including books, manuscripts, sound recordings, photographs, maps, and films in more than 400 languages.

The display is one of only 56 in the country, and was created from the original card catalog cases once used at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Physical card catalogs largely died out in the 1980s following the shift to computer systems, and this project breathes new life into the historic furniture by transforming it into an interactive information hub.

The display features 15 individual drawers, each highlighting a different program or service offered by the Library of Congress. By opening a drawer, visitors can find cards with brief descriptions and QR codes that link directly to expanded digital resources on the Library of Congress website.

\"It brings both professional and personal delight to the librarians and staff at the New Mexico State Library to receive a piece of the Library of Congress\' historic card catalog,\" said Katherine Miles, NMSL Public Services Bureau Chief and Coordinator for the NM Center for the Book. \"The Library of Congress stands as the foundation for the library systems in our nation, and these physical card catalogs represent a tangible, cherished piece of library history.\"

The card catalog includes an informational panel detailing the history of the original catalog system, which was arranged by author, title, and subject. Visitors can explore the display during the State Library\'s regular business hours.

Location: 1209 Camino Carlos Rey, Santa Fe, NM 87507

Hours: Monday–Friday, 1 – 5 p.m.

About New Mexico State Library

New Mexico State Library (NMSL), a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, provides services that support public libraries, as well as direct library services to rural populations, state agencies, the visually impaired and physically disabled, and students and citizens conducting research. Since 1996, NMSL has administered the Center for the Book affiliate in New Mexico, promoting literacy statewide and the state’s rich literary heritage nationally. For more information visit nmstatelibrary.org.. . .

NEWS RELEASE: From space to White Sands: U.S. Army Astronaut to Speak at NM Museum of Space History Launch Pad Lecture on May 1st

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0600

About New Mexico Historic Sites

The Award of Excellence will be presented to staff at the AASLH Annual Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, a conference held jointly with the National Council on Public History on Sept. 18, 2026.

About New Mexico Historic Sites

New Mexico Historic Sites is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Regents for the Museum of New Mexico. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and our site’s five supporting friends group donors. The New Mexico Historic Sites system was established in 1931 by an Act for the Preservation of the Scientific Resources of New Mexico. The eight Historic Sites include Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner, Coronado, Fort Selden, Fort Stanton, Jemez, Lincoln, Los Luceros, and Taylor-Mesilla. Learn more at nmhistoricsites.org.

About New Mexico History Museum

Image: New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

1. New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

WHO: New Mexico State Library, New Mexico Museum of Space History, and the University of New Mexico Department of Political Science

WHEN: Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 4 - 6 p.m.

WHERE: Online. The webinar is free and open to anyone, but pre-registration is recommended at nmstatelibrary.libcal.com/event/16991439.

Media Contact:

Christina Claassen

christina.claassen@dca.nm.gov

505-946-7149

About New Mexico History Museum

About National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP)

About The Main Street of America Route 66 Centennial Caravan

Image courtesy of Darryl Willison, Willison West Studios.

About the Books

Many libraries across New Mexico and the Southwest carry copies of The Burning Season and The Mountain Knows the Mountain: A Fire Watch Diary, as well as additional titles by these authors.

About the National Book Festival

About New Mexico Center for the Book

About New Mexico Arts

About New Mexico State Library

About New Mexico Music Commission (NMMC)

Release: Don’t chicken out of going into space, Launch Pad Lecture on June 5

Launch Pad Lecture explores “Chix in Space” at New Mexico Museum of Space History

Media Contact:

Greg Gurule

NM DCA Communications Manager

Greg.gurule@dca.nm.gov

505-469-9730

RELEASE: Rocketeer Academy Summer Camp Blasts Off at NM Museum of Space History

Registration Now Open!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 8, 2026

Media Contact:

Greg Gurule

DCA Communications Manager

Greg.gurule@dca.nm.gov

505-469-9730

The Mercury 13, a group of American women who underwent the same testing and training as NASA’s original Mercury 7 astronauts in 1959 – 1960.

The winner of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics, Michel Mayor, for discovering the first exoplanet orbiting a sun-like star.

NASA astronaut twins Senator Mark and Scott Kelly, who took part in a milestone study of the long-duration effects of spaceflight.

NASA Mathematician Creola Katherine Johnson, whose calculations in orbital mechanics helped launch US crewed space missions.

Dolores “Dee” Ohara, the first aerospace nurse assigned to NASA’s first astronauts laying the foundation for the field of space nursing.

Formal induction will be held in a ceremony on Saturday, October 3, 2026, as a centerpiece of the New Mexico Space History’s 50th Anniversary Gala.

Location: 1209 Camino Carlos Rey, Santa Fe, NM 87507

Hours: Monday–Friday, 1 – 5 p.m.

About New Mexico State Library

ALAMOGORDO, NM – The New Mexico Museum of Space History’s next Launch Pad Lecture will feature distinguished astronaut Col. Andrew R. Morgan, M.D. (U.S. Army), the Senior Commander of White Sands Missile Range. The event is scheduled for Friday, May 1, 2026.

Morgan will present \"A Soldier’s Journey to Space,\" offering insights into his leadership career that spans military medicine, special operations, and human spaceflight.

A 1998 graduate of West Point and a 2002 graduate of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Morgan served aboard the International Space Station from July 2019 to April 2020 on Expeditions 60, 61, and 62. During this mission, he performed seven spacewalks, a record for a single spaceflight. Before his selection as a NASA astronaut in 2013, he served as an emergency physician with U.S. Army Special Operations units, deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa. His career also includes serving as the Army Senior Astronaut and Detachment Commander at the Johnson Space Center and commanding the U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Since June 2025, he has served as the Senior Commander of White Sands Missile Range.

The Colonel\'s military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star Medal. His NASA honors include the Distinguished Service Medal and the Space Exploration Medal. Morgan and his wife, Stacey, have been married for 25 years and have four children.

\"We are honored to host Col. Morgan for May\'s Launch Pad Lecture as an exciting start to Astronaut Week,\" said Karen Kinkaid Brady, Executive Director of the New Mexico Museum of Space History. \"His knowledge and commitment to the space program are unsurpassed.\"

The lecture will take place on Friday, May 1, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium, located at 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM. Admission is free. Guests will enjoy complimentary coffee and donuts, courtesy of the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation.

The Launch Pad Lecture series, held on the first Friday of each month, highlights notable figures and topics from space science, exploration, and history. The International Space Hall of Fame Foundation\'s support makes this program possible.. . .

State brings public Wi-Fi to 12 historic sites and museums (New access points support digital opportunity and cultural tourism)

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0600

About New Mexico Historic Sites

The Award of Excellence will be presented to staff at the AASLH Annual Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, a conference held jointly with the National Council on Public History on Sept. 18, 2026.

About New Mexico Historic Sites

New Mexico Historic Sites is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Regents for the Museum of New Mexico. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and our site’s five supporting friends group donors. The New Mexico Historic Sites system was established in 1931 by an Act for the Preservation of the Scientific Resources of New Mexico. The eight Historic Sites include Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner, Coronado, Fort Selden, Fort Stanton, Jemez, Lincoln, Los Luceros, and Taylor-Mesilla. Learn more at nmhistoricsites.org.

About New Mexico History Museum

Image: New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

1. New Mexico State Flag, about 1915. New Mexico History Museum (2008.023.001)

WHO: New Mexico State Library, New Mexico Museum of Space History, and the University of New Mexico Department of Political Science

WHEN: Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 4 - 6 p.m.

WHERE: Online. The webinar is free and open to anyone, but pre-registration is recommended at nmstatelibrary.libcal.com/event/16991439.

Media Contact:

Christina Claassen

christina.claassen@dca.nm.gov

505-946-7149

About New Mexico History Museum

About National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP)

About The Main Street of America Route 66 Centennial Caravan

Image courtesy of Darryl Willison, Willison West Studios.

About the Books

Many libraries across New Mexico and the Southwest carry copies of The Burning Season and The Mountain Knows the Mountain: A Fire Watch Diary, as well as additional titles by these authors.

About the National Book Festival

About New Mexico Center for the Book

About New Mexico Arts

About New Mexico State Library

About New Mexico Music Commission (NMMC)

Release: Don’t chicken out of going into space, Launch Pad Lecture on June 5

Launch Pad Lecture explores “Chix in Space” at New Mexico Museum of Space History

Media Contact:

Greg Gurule

NM DCA Communications Manager

Greg.gurule@dca.nm.gov

505-469-9730

RELEASE: Rocketeer Academy Summer Camp Blasts Off at NM Museum of Space History

Registration Now Open!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 8, 2026

Media Contact:

Greg Gurule

DCA Communications Manager

Greg.gurule@dca.nm.gov

505-469-9730

The Mercury 13, a group of American women who underwent the same testing and training as NASA’s original Mercury 7 astronauts in 1959 – 1960.

The winner of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics, Michel Mayor, for discovering the first exoplanet orbiting a sun-like star.

NASA astronaut twins Senator Mark and Scott Kelly, who took part in a milestone study of the long-duration effects of spaceflight.

NASA Mathematician Creola Katherine Johnson, whose calculations in orbital mechanics helped launch US crewed space missions.

Dolores “Dee” Ohara, the first aerospace nurse assigned to NASA’s first astronauts laying the foundation for the field of space nursing.

Formal induction will be held in a ceremony on Saturday, October 3, 2026, as a centerpiece of the New Mexico Space History’s 50th Anniversary Gala.

Location: 1209 Camino Carlos Rey, Santa Fe, NM 87507

Hours: Monday–Friday, 1 – 5 p.m.

About New Mexico State Library

Morgan will present \"A Soldier’s Journey to Space,\" offering insights into his leadership career that spans military medicine, special operations, and human spaceflight.

SANTA FE – Visitors to 12 of New Mexico\'s historic sites and museums will have free public Wi-Fi access after the state’s broadband office awarded the Department of Cultural Affairs a $460,000 grant to establish connectivity at sites ranging from the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque to the Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner.

The award comes from the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) through its Community Connect Grant Program, which funds public Wi-Fi expansion in communities across New Mexico. The Department of Cultural Affairs will use the grant to establish 213 new access points across 12 locations, with the project required to be completed by June 30, 2027.

“Wi-Fi accessibility and convenience in these public places will enhance the experience for anyone visiting these locations,” said Jeff Lopez, OBAE’s director. “This Wi-Fi access will help close the state’s digital divide and help travelers, remote workers, and others receive internet service in public places.”

“This investment in public Wi-Fi is a vital step toward expanding digital inclusion across New Mexico, particularly at the culturally significant sites that connect communities to our shared heritage,” said DCA Cabinet Secretary Debra Garcia y Griego.“By improving access to reliable high-speed internet, we are not only enhancing educational opportunities and enriching visitor experiences, but also providing an additional service by making broadband more accessible for the communities in which we are privileged to work.”

The sites getting public Wi-Fi include:

1. Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site, Ft. Sumner

2. Coronado Historic Site, Bernalillo

3. Jemez Historic Site, Jemez Springs

4. Ft. Selden Historic Site, Radium Springs

5. Los Luceros Historic Site, Rio Arriba County

6. Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site, Historic Mesilla Plaza, Mesilla

7. Center for NM Archeology, Santa Fe

8. NM Museum of Indian Art and Culture, Santa Fe

9. NM Museum of International Folk Art, Santa Fe

10. Stewart L. Udall Center for Museum Resources, Santa Fe

11. Laboratory of Anthropology, Santa Fe

12. National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque

“This Wi-Fi grant program aligns perfectly with our mission to preserve and interpret the cultural resources of New Mexico,” said Anne McCudden, executive director of NM Historic Sites. “It will also open up new avenues for community engagement, educational outreach, and cultural tourism, all of which are crucial for the sustainability and growth of our historic sites.”

This grant is the seventh awarded through OBAE’s Community Connect Grant Program. Previous recipients include the cities of Las Cruces and Raton, Luna and Dona Ana counties, SWC Telesolutions, Inc., and Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell. They received awards totaling $6.7 million.

The program draws from the $70 million Connect New Mexico Fund, established in 2021 by the legislature through the Connect New Mexico Act.

These Wi-Fi projects are part of the approximately $900 million in fiscal investments the state is making in building broadband infrastructure to homes, businesses and farms across New Mexico.

To see all ongoing and completed broadband projects, please visit maps.connect.nm.gov.

###

The Office of Broadband Access and Expansion is dedicated to serving New Mexico with a commitment to make high-speed broadband accessible to all New Mexicans. OBAE’s mission is to expand and improve high-speed internet service with passionate leadership that drives bold, equitable, affordable and inclusive broadband solutions. OBAE seeks results that honor the state’s rich heritage and elevate quality of life for all.

Contact:

Office of Broadband Access and Expansion

Mike Curtis, Michael.curtis@connect.nm.gov; (505) 231-4477 . . .