DCA Today - News From the Department of Cultural Affairs

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

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

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

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

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.

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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 . . .

RELEASE: Ancient Skies, Modern Eyes: Museum of Space History and Jornada Research Institute Present Free Archaeoastronomy Program on Creekside Village Great Kiva

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0600

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.

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

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.

###

Contact:

Office of Broadband Access and Expansion

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

(ALAMOGORDO, NM) – New Mexico Museum of Space History, in collaboration with Jornada Research Institute, will host a special free public presentation, “ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATIONS OF THE CREEKSIDE VILLAGE GREAT KIVA AND THE AGRICULTURAL CYCLE,” on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater as part of the museum’s annual Archaeoastronomy outreach program and will be followed by a question‑and‑answer session.

Archaeologist David H. Greenwald, President and Director of Jornada Research Institute, will demonstrate how the Creekside Village great kiva in Tularosa Canyon functioned as an astronomical observatory and horizon calendar. Using the eastern horizon as viewed from the great kiva, Greenwald will show how specific celestial events, including solstices and key lunar positions, were tracked to guide agricultural activities, a practice that continues today among Hopi, Zuni, Acoma, and other Pueblo peoples of the American Southwest.

“Between the physical archaeological remains and the implications from these remains, Creekside Village may be one of the most important sites of this time period yet studied in New Mexico,” said Greenwald. “The information we continue to gather is astounding.”

Greenwald has focused on the archaeology of the Southwestern United States for the past 50 years, conducting research on Hohokam, Basketmaker, and Pueblo groups in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. After moving to Tularosa in 1997, he founded Jornada Research Institute in 2012, leading its mission to investigate the prehistory and history of the Tularosa Basin and surrounding areas. His research emphasizes setting up permanent homes and agriculture rather than a hunter-gatherer way of life in the American Southwest, including farming strategies, architecture, and the use of interior and exterior space.

In 2004, Greenwald discovered Creekside Village in Tularosa Canyon. Initial surface indications suggested a site far more complex than any other known in the Tularosa Basin from the Mesilla phase (AD 200–1000), and subsequent Jornada Research Institute investigations have revealed dispersed pithouse villages with great kivas, irrigation systems, terraced agricultural fields, and reservoirs dating to approximately AD 600–900. The great kivas identified at Creekside Village are the first recognized in the Tularosa Basin, and some were used as celestial observatories; the irrigation systems emulate those found in Hohokam communities of southern Arizona, although at a smaller scale.

Through continued JRI‑led research, Greenwald and his colleagues determined that the Creekside Village great kiva was used to monitor the movements of the sun and moon, tying celestial observations directly to agricultural cycles. These findings form the basis of his upcoming presentation at the New Mexico Museum of Space History, where the Museum and Jornada Research Institute will bring this observatory and its cultural significance to the forefront of current archaeoastronomy studies.

This collaborative event is included with regular museum admission, with seating available on a first‑come, first‑served basis in the New Horizons Dome Theater. For more information about this program or the museum’s annual Archaeoastronomy program, please contact the New Mexico Museum of Space History. . . .

New Mexico Arts expands creative aging programs with new funding

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0600

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.

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

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.

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Contact:

Office of Broadband Access and Expansion

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

New Mexico Arts, the state\'s federally authorized arts agency and a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, recently secured new funding from a national grant program to advance creative aging programs for older adults throughout New Mexico.

The Creative Aging, Creative Futures program, a joint initiative of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) and E.A. Michelson Philanthropy, builds upon the remarkable success of two previous initiatives, \"Leveraging State Investments in Creative Aging\" and \"States Leading Creative Aging.\" These vital investments have strengthened creative aging leadership for state arts agencies, significantly expanded arts opportunities for older adults, further integrated the arts into state aging services, and enhanced expertise in creative aging program delivery.

New Mexico Arts secured $77,500 for the Creative Aging Partnerships Project (CAPP), an initiative designed to expand high quality arts learning opportunities for New Mexico’s rapidly growing population of people 60 years and older.

\"We are grateful to NASAA for the opportunity to offer funding support to organizations in New Mexico who want to build resources and programs to serve this important segment of our communities,\" said Michelle Laflamme-Childs, Executive Director of New Mexico Arts.

Drawing on national best practices, CAPP will build a sustainable creative aging infrastructure in New Mexico by training teaching artists, strengthening organizational capacity, and fostering cross sector collaboration. Over 24 months, CAPP will convene eight demonstration site organizations across urban and rural communities and offer a wide range of professional development opportunities and resources to guide future creative aging work.

New Mexico Arts is one of 28 state arts agencies receiving awards from NASAA. With this funding, state arts agencies will expand access to high-quality, sequential arts learning opportunities for older adults by reducing barriers to participation.

For information about new creative aging activities taking place in New Mexico, contact Kevin Lenkner at kevin.lenkner@dca.nm.gov. For more information about NASAA\'s Creative Aging, Creative Futures initiative, visit https://nasaa-arts.org/nasaa_research/creative-aging/#cacf.

About New Mexico Arts

New Mexico Arts (NMA), the state’s federally authorized arts agency and a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, administers the One Percent for Public Art program, awards grants to nonprofit organizations for arts and cultural programs, and provides technical assistance and educational opportunities for organizations, artists, and arts educators throughout the state. Serving as a hub for the arts and culture sector in New Mexico, NMA is committed to ensuring New Mexicans across the state have access to the arts in their communities. Learn more at www.nmarts.org.. . .

Earth Day event celebrates ancestral roots at Jemez Historic Site

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0600

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.

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

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.

###

Contact:

Office of Broadband Access and Expansion

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

About New Mexico Arts

A special Earth Day celebration will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2026, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Jemez Historic Site in honor of Indigenous roots to the land. The celebration includes a hike, traditional children\'s games, an \"artifact\" dig, pottery demonstrations, bread baking in the horno, or outdoor adobe oven, and Native arts and crafts vendors.

Each year the site hosts an Earth Day hike, and this year visitors can go on a longer excursion with site staff, who will lead a 3.2-mile hike to Oak Canyon (a.k.a. Church Canyon) from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Hikers will stop at different points along the trail to learn more about the native plants, birds, and animals found in the Jemez mountains.

\"This hike is a good opportunity to explore an area not typically accessible to the public, and we\'ll learn about the various types of plants and animals Jemez people used in the past and present, as well as other interesting facts about Oak Canyon,\" said Marlon Magdalena (Jemez), Instructional Coordinator Supervisor at Jemez Historic Site.

Site manager Jaimie Adams said that in addition to the hike led by Marlon, visitors can also participate in hands-on activities. \"People can explore how the Jemez traditionally used their natural environment for food, medicine, and everyday tasks, allowing for a deeper understanding of the connection between culture and landscape.\"

This year visitors will enjoy clay pottery demonstrations, using their hands to sculpt clay and make their own vessels. They will have the chance to paint a flowerpot and plant a flower to take home. Children can practice their archaeology skills and dig in the dirt for \"artifacts.\" Site staff will also have touch tables with different plants and objects that visitors can feel and look at while learning about their uses. The site’s horno will be fired up to cook traditional Pueblo bread for visitors to taste.

The Friends of Coronado and Jemez Historic Sites are hosting their Customer Appreciation Day throughout the day. Visitors can enjoy free beverages, hot dogs, and delicious homemade Frito pies courtesy of the Friends group.

The Earth Day celebration is included with regular admission of $7 for adults and free to children 16 and younger, Tribal members, NM disabled veterans, NM foster families, Museum of New Mexico Foundation members, and Friends of Coronado and Jemez Historic Sites.

About Jemez Historic Site

Jemez Historic Site includes the stone remnants of the 700-year-old Gisewa village, which was built in the narrow San Diego Canyon by the ancestors of the present-day people of Jemez Pueblo (Walatowa). The name Gisewa refers to the natural hot springs in the area. The site also includes the ruins of the San José de los Jémez Church, a Catholic mission dating back to 1621-22. The mission was short-lived, and, in time, the people left the site and moved to the current location of Jemez Pueblo. The museum contains exhibitions that tell the story of the site through the words of the Jemez people, and a 1,400-foot interpretive trail winds through the outdoor ruins. Learn more at nmhistoricsites.org/jemez.. . .

Have a wooly good time this spring at two sheep shearing and fiber festivals

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0600

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.

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

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.

###

Contact:

Office of Broadband Access and Expansion

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

About New Mexico Arts

About Jemez Historic Site

Two sheep shearing and fiber community events bring family-friendly fun this spring to New Mexico Historic Sites. On Sunday, April 12, Los Luceros Historic Site in Alcalde is hosting their annual Sheep Shearing Day, and on Saturday, May 2, Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site is hosting their annual Fiber Fair.

These two events are a great opportunity to see both sites\' flock of Navajo-Churro sheep up close and learn how their wool is removed, processed, and turned into fiber art. Events include sheep shearing, wool skirting, spinning and weaving demonstrations, and food trucks.

At Los Luceros\' Sheep Shearing Day, held from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., the sheep will be sheared using traditional double-bow hand shears. Visitors can help skirt the wool as it comes off the sheep and the site will have fleece available to take home for a suggested donation. The event will be held in conjunction with the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area’s Cultures and Creators event, which includes an art exhibition and hands-on activities at the site.

\"We are excited to host our first event of the season. It is an opportunity for the public to learn about and experience an activity with deep historic origins, and for the local community to celebrate one if its many long-standing traditions,\" said John Perrotto, Los Luceros Site Manager.

At Bosque Redondo Memorial’s Fiber Fair, held from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., visitors can watch sheep shearing in the corrals, help clean, wash, and card wool, or learn hand-spinning and hand loom weaving from Las Arañas Spinners and Weavers Guild volunteers. Additionally, this event will be showcasing a pop-up exhibit that features New Mexican fiber art professionals and their various creations in the site community room to celebrate the depth of fiber artistry.

Visitors can also learn the history of Navajo-Churro sheep from a ranger or visit the permanent exhibition, \"Bosque Redondo: A Place of Suffering, A Place of Survival.\" Self-guided audio tours along the outdoor interpretive trail will be available. Local food trucks provided by the Friends of the Bosque Redondo Memorial will sell food and drinks at the event.

\"Fiber art is one of those common human threads that is so vastly different from culture to culture and yet the similarity of methods connects us all together,\" said Aaron Roth, site manager at Bosque Redondo Memorial. \"We hope you will come to this event to celebrate our differences and take away a yarn worth spinning.\"

New Mexico has a rich and varied sheep and wool-related history, which is tied directly to both the Spanish settlers and the Diné (Navajo). Over time, the breed was threatened with extinction, however, concerted efforts have brought the Navajo-Churro Sheep back. Both sites care for and breed Navajo-Churro Sheep and the Friends of the Bosque Redondo Memorial offer a program to donate sheep to Diné families who want to continue the cultural practice of raising these sheep.

Admission to both events is included with site admission of $7 for adults and free to children 16 and younger, Indigenous people, NM foster families, NM disabled veterans, Friends members, and MNMF members.

About Los Luceros Historic Site  

Los Luceros Historic Site is located on a picturesque 148-acre ranch north of Alcalde, New Mexico, on the east bank of the Río Grande. The centerpiece of the site is a magnificent Territorial-style Hacienda that houses centuries of history within its walls (currently closed while undergoing restoration). The property also includes a 19th century capilla (chapel), Victorian cottage, carriage house, guesthouse, and farm. Learn more at nmhistoricsites.org/los-luceros.

About Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site  

The Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site delivers visitors into the heart of history and tragedy. In 1863, some 10,000 Navajos were forced to make the \"Long Walk,\" 450 miles across New Mexico to the Bosque Redondo Indian Reservation, or H\'weeldi, meaning place of suffering. Hundreds of Ndé were also interned there. Bosque Redondo Memorial was created in 2005 and revitalized in 2021 with strong support from the Diné and Ndé and designed by Diné architect David Sloan in the shape of a hogan and tepee.  Learn more at nmhistoricsites.org/bosque-redondo.. . .

RELEASE: New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum earns prestigious reaccreditation from American Alliance of Museums

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0600

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.

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

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.

###

Contact:

Office of Broadband Access and Expansion

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

About New Mexico Arts

About Jemez Historic Site

About Los Luceros Historic Site  

About Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site  

LAS CRUCES, NM — In the last year, New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum (NMFRHM) staff has conducted a self-study, made improvements, and hosted a site visit and peer review by the American Alliance of Museums Accreditation Commission. After an extensive review of the Museum, the commission announced the Museum was awarded the reaccreditation in early spring.

“Reaccreditation by the American Alliance of Museums is a significant accomplishment for the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum,” Interim Director Steve Loring said. “This reflects the excellent work done by our staff and volunteers who truly care about the Museum.”Receiving this reaccreditation means the museum continues to meet National Standards and Best Practices for U.S. Museums and remains a member of a community of institutions that have chosen to hold themselves publicly accountable to excellence. The reaccreditation also confirms that the museum has proven good stewardship of its resources held in the public trust and is committed to a philosophy of continuous institutional growth. “The New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum continues to be a vital and mission-driven institution,” Lisa Tremper Hanover, chair of the accreditation commission, wrote in the award letter. “Its exhibitions, public programming, and community engagement efforts are strong, authentic, and aligned with its public service role. We commend its exemplary practices, especially its government relations and volunteer management.”Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, roughly 1,100 are currently accredited. NMFRHM is one of only 26museums accredited in New Mexico. NMFRHM has been accredited since 2015. All museums must undergo a reaccreditation review at least every 10 years to maintain accredited status. Learn more about AAM at aam-us.org.

About the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum:

nmfarmandranchmuseum.orgThe New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs. The 47-acre interactive museum brings to life the 4,000-year history of growing food and fiber in this region. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, it features livestock, indoor and outdoor exhibits, barns, greenhouse, gift shop, and demonstrations. The Museum is supported by the Friends of the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum. For More Information Contact:

Alison Penn

Public Relations Specialist

alison.penn@dca.nm.gov

575-740-5957

. . .

Sage Drake receives quarterly employee recognition award for New Mexico Historic Sites

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0600

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.

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

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.

###

Contact:

Office of Broadband Access and Expansion

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

About New Mexico Arts

About Jemez Historic Site

About Los Luceros Historic Site  

About Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site  

About the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum:

Alison Penn

Public Relations Specialist

alison.penn@dca.nm.gov

575-740-5957

New Mexico Historic Sites (NMHS) is pleased to announce that Sage Drake, Instructional Coordinator at Fort Selden Historic Site, has been awarded the Quarterly Employee Recognition Award. Sage was nominated for her passion and dedication to improving the site and creating memorable events for visitors.

Sage joined NMHS in the fall of 2024 as an Interpretive Ranger at Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site. She graduated from New Mexico State University in 2021 with a Bachelors in Anthropology. Sage was promoted in the fall of 2025 to the Instructional Coordinator position at Fort Selden Historic Site in Radium Springs.

She says, \"I have loved every victory and challenge that has come my way. Being raised in Alamogordo, the Air Force core values of \'Integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do\' have always been a strong and prevalent guiding force in my life and have carried me through my work here at NMHS. I’m looking forward to the next year full of history, interpretation, and teamwork!\"

Next time you visit Fort Selden, say hi to Sage and join her for one of the many interesting programs offered year-round at the site.. . .

New Mexico Poetry Out Loud 2026 champ headed to National Competition in Washington, DC

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0600

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.

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

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.

###

Contact:

Office of Broadband Access and Expansion

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

About New Mexico Arts

About Jemez Historic Site

About Los Luceros Historic Site  

About Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site  

About the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum:

Alison Penn

Public Relations Specialist

alison.penn@dca.nm.gov

575-740-5957

Next time you visit Fort Selden, say hi to Sage and join her for one of the many interesting programs offered year-round at the site.

The New Mexico Poetry Out Loud champion, Hadas Frish, a 10th grader attending La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, NM, is headed to the Poetry Out Loud National Finals in Washington, DC, April 27 – 29, 2026. Eleven high school students from schools throughout New Mexico participated in the state finals on Sunday, March 8 at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque.

In addition to competing in the National Finals, Frish will receive a $200 cash prize, and her high school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry materials. As the first runner-up, Noelle Humphreys, a 12th grader at Volcano Vista High School in Albuquerque, will receive $100, with a $200 stipend going to her school.

\"What I love most about Poetry Out Loud is how it lets me bring the voices of the women who fought for equality to life,\" said Frish. \"The poems I recite are all about the suffrage movement and equal rights for women, and I’m so grateful to be a part of sharing the history and emotions behind it.\"

Champions from states across the country, including Frish, will compete in the national semifinals on Tuesday, April 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET. Champions from each state will perform in one of three semifinal groups, and the top three students from each semifinal group will move on to the Poetry Out Loud National Finals on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. ET. Both days are free and open to the public and will be available through a one-time-only webcast at arts.gov.

Poetry Out Loud is a poetry recitation competition for high school students in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and New Mexico Arts. A program of the NEA and administered by Mid Atlantic Arts, this poetry recitation competition for high school students is designed to improve public speaking skills, build confidence, and teach about literary history. In recognition of America’s 250th anniversary, this year’s Poetry Out Loud program is focused on poems that celebrate the rich tapestry of American history and culture.

In total, $50,000 in awards and school/organization stipends, including a $20,000 cash award for the Poetry Out Loud National Champion, will be presented at the National Finals. Mid Atlantic Arts provides and administers all aspects of the monetary prizes awarded and travel arrangements to the Poetry Out Loud National Finals. For more information about this program visit PoetryOutLoud.org.

About New Mexico Arts

New Mexico Arts is the state’s federally recognized arts agency and a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs. New Mexico Poetry Out Loud is made possible by New Mexico Arts through support from the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information about New Mexico Arts visit nmarts.org.. . .

'Get your reading shoes on' and Read Across New Mexico

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0600

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.

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

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.

###

Contact:

Office of Broadband Access and Expansion

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

About New Mexico Arts

About Jemez Historic Site

About Los Luceros Historic Site  

About Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site  

About the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum:

Alison Penn

Public Relations Specialist

alison.penn@dca.nm.gov

575-740-5957

Next time you visit Fort Selden, say hi to Sage and join her for one of the many interesting programs offered year-round at the site.

About New Mexico Arts

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham gathered with educators and students at the Roundhouse on Monday, March 9, to proclaim March as Read Across New Mexico Month. Her proclamation inaugurates a month-long celebration of New Mexico\'s diverse books and authors and aims to inspire a lifelong love of reading.

National Education Association (NEA NM) New Mexico, in partnership with the New Mexico State Library (NMSL), has selected nine children\'s books that reflect the unique cultural and linguistic diversity of our state. As part of the Read Across New Mexico initiative, NEA NM and NMSL will promote the selected books in local communities throughout the state and host a variety of events.

Eduardo Holguin, an NEA NM retired member said, \"Get your reading shoes on for our March Madness Reading Marathon! Peruse exciting tales, skim through heartwarming fiction, and meander through relaxing stories focused on all the wonderful diversity our state has to offer.\"

The selected books reflect the lived experiences of a wide variety of students in the state and are appropriate for ages pre-K through 8th grade. The featured books are: Book Fiesta, by Pat Mora; Tumble, by Celia C. Perez; Tortilla Sun, by J.C. Cervantes; Where Butterflies Fill the Sky, by Zahra Marwan; Finding My Dance, by Ria Thundercloud; Herizon, by Daniel W. Vandever; My Pet Rattlesnake, by Joe Hayes; I Dreamed I was a Dog, by Joel Nakamura; and Bad News for Outlaws, by Vaunda Michaeux Nelson. For more information about these books visit https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/65ac062175ff4e4cb656adad161e1ae8.

Kelly McCabe, NMSL Youth Services Coordinator, said, \"The nine books selected celebrate native born New Mexican authors, as well as those who have embraced New Mexico as their home.\"

Copies of the selected books, as well as posters with a QR code linking to an interactive map and book information, will be distributed throughout the state to libraries and local NEA NM affiliates.

Due to the efforts of educators and students in New Mexico, reading scores in grades 3 – 8 have risen 10 percentage points since 2022. Students in grades 3, 6, and 8 posted the highest one-year gain ever recorded on the New Mexico Measures of Student Success and Achievement. The Read Across New Mexico initiative further supports literacy improvements throughout New Mexico.

About National Education Association New Mexico

NEA-NM was founded in 1886 as the Territorial Education Association. Every year since, the organization has been an advocate for New Mexico Public Schools, its students, and its employees. Learn more at www.neanm.org/about-nea-nm.

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 and physically disabled, and students and citizens conducting research. For more information about New Mexico State Library visit nmstatelibrary.org.

Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor.. . .

Democracy on the move: Wonders on Wheels celebrates America's 250th in New Mexico

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0600

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.

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

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.

###

Contact:

Office of Broadband Access and Expansion

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

About New Mexico Arts

About Jemez Historic Site

About Los Luceros Historic Site  

About Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site  

About the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum:

Alison Penn

Public Relations Specialist

alison.penn@dca.nm.gov

575-740-5957

Next time you visit Fort Selden, say hi to Sage and join her for one of the many interesting programs offered year-round at the site.

About New Mexico Arts

Kelly McCabe, NMSL Youth Services Coordinator, said, \"The nine books selected celebrate native born New Mexican authors, as well as those who have embraced New Mexico as their home.\"

Copies of the selected books, as well as posters with a QR code linking to an interactive map and book information, will be distributed throughout the state to libraries and local NEA NM affiliates.

About National Education Association New Mexico

About New Mexico State Library

Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor.

In honor of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Wonders on Wheels Mobile Museum, a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, is traveling a new exhibit, \"The Arts of Democracy in New Mexico\" beginning this spring.

The all-ages exhibit on the Wonders on Wheels (WoW) RV, highlights ideals of freedom and self-government embedded in the Declaration and traces the development of those same ideals in New Mexico, showing how they have been expressed in art forms such as textiles, print media, political cartoons, protest buttons, and zines.

\"We are very excited to invite all New Mexicans into a statewide conversation about democracy and common values,\" said program supervisor, Jennifer Hasty. \"The exhibition shows the proud New Mexican tradition of democracy and gives people the opportunity to express their own perspectives.\"

As part of the larger state commemoration of the Declaration of Independence this year, the exhibition is aimed at including all New Mexicans in the celebration of democratic forms in New Mexico\'s diverse communities and common cultural heritage.

Onboard the RV, visitors can touch and handle a wide variety of objects created by New Mexicans to express their political perspectives. Visitors can use a nib pen to compose a \"declaration\" on parchment paper using 18th century writing style. They can handle coin replicas and a military shield. They can also explore the modern arts of democracy by operating a printing press, making a zine, or \"voting\" by using a ranked choice voting simulator.

The WoW is a specially retrofitted 38-foot RV featuring 300 square feet of arts, culture, history, and science exhibits and curriculum-based programming. The WoW team serves all 33 counties in New Mexico annually, traveling around to fairs, festivals, public libraries, and schools, touring the exhibit, and leading hands-on educational activities that tie directly to the exhibit topics.

To schedule a WoW visit to your school, community library, or special community event, please contact Jennifer Hasty at jennifer.hasty@dca.nm.gov or (505) 487-3620. Learn more at nmculture.org/museum-resources/wonders-on-wheels.. . .

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0600

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.

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

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.

###

Contact:

Office of Broadband Access and Expansion

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

About New Mexico Arts

About Jemez Historic Site

About Los Luceros Historic Site  

About Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site  

About the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum:

Alison Penn

Public Relations Specialist

alison.penn@dca.nm.gov

575-740-5957

Next time you visit Fort Selden, say hi to Sage and join her for one of the many interesting programs offered year-round at the site.

About New Mexico Arts

Kelly McCabe, NMSL Youth Services Coordinator, said, \"The nine books selected celebrate native born New Mexican authors, as well as those who have embraced New Mexico as their home.\"

Copies of the selected books, as well as posters with a QR code linking to an interactive map and book information, will be distributed throughout the state to libraries and local NEA NM affiliates.

About National Education Association New Mexico

About New Mexico State Library

Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor.

The story of three remarkable Diné (Navajo) women who helped defeat the construction of a coal-fired power plant on the Navajo Nation, known as Desert Rock, is the focus of a new exhibition, A Question of Power, at the New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe. Opening April 19, 2026, the exhibition shares their story through photographs taken by Carlan Tapp, as well as videos and audio interviews of the Diné residents who organized to protect their land, health, and communities affected by the proposed power plant.

The exhibition captures the leadership of the three Diné women, Sarah Jane White, Lucie A. Willie, and Molley Hogue. They drew from the strength of their matrilineal cultural system as land managers to lead a successful campaign against the construction of the power plant. They organized and managed a protest camp near the proposed Desert Rock site, held campfire vigils, met with journalists, and spoke to New Mexico State legislators and Governor Bill Richardson.

Cathy Notarnicola, Curator of Southwest History at the History Museum explains why this exhibition tells an important story. She says, \"The promised economic benefits of coal to the Diné people were never realized, while the industry\'s operations have impacted residents\' health and the environment. Electricity generated from coal travels hundreds of miles to cities such as Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Albuquerque, while one-third of Diné homes lack electricity, and 40% lack access to water.\"

The exhibition highlights the work of documentarian Carlan Tapp, who photographed and recorded the perspectives of residents near Farmington between 2004 and 2011. Forty black and white photographs, as well as interviews with Diné stakeholders, document the controversy.

It was these concerns that led the community to fight against the proposed power plant. The exhibition shares not only their opposition, but also the Diné people’s victory. Ultimately, as a result of their efforts, $85 million in tax credits to the power company were deferred, and construction of the plant was cancelled in 2011.

A Question of Power will be on exhibit inside the Palace of the Governors at the New Mexico History Museum from April 19, 2026, through June 27, 2027. A public reception hosted by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation Women’s Board will be held on Sunday, April 19, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

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 NMHM campus is located on the north side of the historic Santa Fe Plaza. Learn more at nmhistorymuseum.org.

Image Credit: Camp leader Elouise Brown pictured with American flag and Doodā Desert Rock Resistance sign on the land of Alice Gilmore, January 20, 2007. Photograph by Carlan Tapp. NMHM/DCA, neg. no. PAAC.0114.033. . .

New Mexico Arts Announces 2026 Poetry Out Loud State Finals at National Hispanic Cultural Center

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0700

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.

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

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.

###

Contact:

Office of Broadband Access and Expansion

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

About New Mexico Arts

About Jemez Historic Site

About Los Luceros Historic Site  

About Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site  

About the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum:

Alison Penn

Public Relations Specialist

alison.penn@dca.nm.gov

575-740-5957

Next time you visit Fort Selden, say hi to Sage and join her for one of the many interesting programs offered year-round at the site.

About New Mexico Arts

Kelly McCabe, NMSL Youth Services Coordinator, said, \"The nine books selected celebrate native born New Mexican authors, as well as those who have embraced New Mexico as their home.\"

Copies of the selected books, as well as posters with a QR code linking to an interactive map and book information, will be distributed throughout the state to libraries and local NEA NM affiliates.

About National Education Association New Mexico

About New Mexico State Library

Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor.

About New Mexico History Museum

New Mexico Arts announces the state finals for the 21st anniversary of Poetry Out Loud. On Sunday, March 8, 1:00 p.m., 11 high school students from across New Mexico will participate in the Poetry Out Loud® state finals. Held for the first time ever in Albuquerque at the Albuquerque Journal Theater in the National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 4th St SW, Albuquerque, NM. The event is free and open to all ages to watch the performances. New Mexico Poet Laureate Manuel González will read an opening poem and the Atrisco Heritage Academy Mariachi Herencia Varsity students will perform at the event.

The following high school students will be representing their school at the Poetry Out Loud New Mexico Final:

Vinny Valenzuela - Cottonwood Classical Preparatory, Albuquerque

Hadas Frish - La Cueva High School, Albuquerque

Aspen Keith - New Mexico Youth Arts Ambassadors, Albuquerque

Brendon Moore - Volcano Vista High School, Albuquerque

Roma Subedi - Arrowhead Park Early College High School, Las Cruces

Evaleen Vasquez - Organ Mountain High School, Las Cruces

Ameena Ankliss - United World College-USA, Montezuma

Sam Roberts - Portales High School, Portales

Kokomi Williams - V. Sue Cleveland High School, Rio Rancho

Elizabeth Nickell - New Mexico School for the Arts, Santa Fe

Carolina Moncrief Rivera-Torres - CMEC Homeschool Santa Fe, Tesuque

The winner of the Poetry Out Loud New Mexico finals will receive $200, and the winner’s representing school or organization will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry materials.

In addition to the cash prize, the New Mexico champion will receive an expense-paid trip to represent New Mexico at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals in Washington, DC, April 27-29, 2026. In total, $50,000 in awards and school/organization stipends, including a $20,000 award for the Poetry Out Loud National Champion, will be presented.

The 2026 State Finals event will include New Mexico Poet Laureate Manuel González, New Mexico Poetry Ourselves award winners, and the 2026 Phyllis Kennedy Teacher’s Award. Atrisco Heritage Academy\'s Mariachi Herencia Varsity will also perform at the State Finals event.

Presented in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, Poetry Out Loud® is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country.

About New Mexico Arts

New Mexico Arts is the state arts agency and a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs. New Mexico Poetry Out Loud is made possible by New Mexico Arts through support from the National Endowment for the Arts and The Poetry Foundation. For more information about New Mexico Arts visit nmarts.org.. . .