DCA Today - News From the Department of Cultural Affairs

Lillian Bowe and Oscar Navarro receive quarterly employee recognition awards for New Mexico Historic Sites

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0600

New Mexico Historic Sites is pleased to announce that Lillian Bowe, Interpretive Ranger at Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site, has been awarded the spring Quarterly Employee Recognition Award and Oscar Navarro, Instructional Coordinator Supervisor at Lincoln and Fort Stanton Historic Sites, has been awarded the summer Quarterly Employee Recognition Award.

Lillian Bowe was selected for her passion and dedication to improving Bosque Redondo Memorial and creating memorable events for visitors, such as the annual Fiber Fair and the Commemoration of the Treaty of 1868. A New Mexico native with a bachelor’s in mass communication from New Mexico State University and a master’s in museum science from Texas Tech University, she is a lover of history, an avid reader, and enjoys crafting in her free time.

She says, \"I love working at Bosque Redondo Memorial as I get to help keep this important history alive. I am able to interact with many people who are directly impacted by this history and hear their stories. I am very honored to receive this award.\"

Site manager Aaron Roth said, \"We are really proud of what Interpretive Ranger Lillian Bowe provides to historic sites and the visiting public. She employs new innovative technology to connect with visitors of all ages whether creating new digital archives for researchers or using 3D models of looms and drop spindles for classrooms and workshops. These innovations have expanded our ability to reach more visitors, so they have a positive fulfilling experience at our site.\"

Oscar Navarro was selected for going above and beyond his normal duties at both Fort Stanton and Lincoln Historic Sites. He helped coordinate with the US Forest Service during the Seven Cabins Fire in Lincoln County earlier this year. He has been working on updating numerous exhibit spaces in the historic Courthouse at Lincoln and at the Fort Stanton Hospital. He also plays an important role in planning the annual site events, Fort Stanton Live and Old Lincoln Days.

\"The New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs has given me the opportunity to grow professionally in ways I never imagined,\" says Navarro. \"I strive to create a welcoming environment of education and fun for both our staff and guests. None of my work is possible without the support from the staff I interact with daily.\"

\"Oscar has played an important role in our recent efforts to support wildland firefighters and execute complex capital projects to restore historic structures and landscapes. Throughout this busy period, he\'s also found time to improve visitor experience. I\'m grateful for all his hard work during this intense period,\" said Oliver Horn, Regional Manager of Lincoln and Fort Stanton Historic Sites.

Navarro is a native of El Paso, Texas, who holds a Bachelor of Art in History and Museum Studies from the University of Texas at El Paso. Throughout his career he has designed and curated many exhibits, as well as developed different educational programs and oral history projects. He was the Museum Director at Los Portales Museum and Information Center in San Elizario, Texas, prior to joining Historic Sites.

Next time you visit these three historic sites, say hello to Lillian and Oscar and join them in one of the many interesting programs offered. For more information about New Mexico Historic Sites, visit nmhistoricsites.org.. . .

Governor announces 2026 Awards for Excellence in the Arts

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham honors eight arts luminaries for the 2026 Governor\'s Awards for Excellence in the Arts in her final year of office. The recipients represent the unique and rich artistic heritage of the state.

\"Every year I am astounded by the talent and passion that recipients infuse into our state’s cultural fabric,\" Lujan Grisham said. \"This year\'s awards culminate with eight honorees from across the state who truly represent what it means to embody the arts in New Mexico.\"

The Governor, New Mexico Arts, and the New Mexico Arts Commission are proud to recognize these awardees who represent artistic achievement and dedication.

Adrián Aguirre, Visual Artist, Las Cruces

Adrián Aguirre is an artist whose experience crossing the El Paso–Juárez border daily informs his exploration of displacement and immigration. Drawing from news imagery and travels to refugee camps, he creates paintings and drawings that examine asylum, border enforcement, and their human consequences. Aguirre holds an MFA from the University of North Texas and was named one of Southwest Contemporary\'s \"12 Artists to Know in New Mexico\" in 2022.

Delbert Anderson (Diné), Musician, Kirtland

Delbert Anderson, a Diné (Navajo) jazz trumpet artist, composer, and educator, stands at the forefront of a vibrant Native American jazz scene. His work, deeply rooted in his Diné heritage, seamlessly integrates Navajo \"spinning songs\" of love, healing, and courtship with jazz and funk, thus marking him as a community-minded Indigenous individualist. His compositions are inspired by Navajo Nation landscapes, historical events, and the desire to preserve and educate about Diné history.

Bill Barrett, Sculptor, Santa Fe

Bill Barrett has wielded bronze, steel, and Carrara marble to create dynamic, abstract sculptures, as well as large abstract canvases from his studios in New York City and Santa Fe. Bill received a BS in Design, an MS, and an MFA, from the University of Michigan. He has taught at University of Michigan; Cleveland Institute of Art; SUNY New Paltz; City College and Queens College in New York before devoting fulltime to his career. Barrett’s sculptures and paintings can be found in public and private collections worldwide.

Andrew Connors, Albuquerque Museum Director, Albuquerque

Andrew Connors is Director of the Albuquerque Museum and previously served as its Curator of Art. His career includes roles at Albuquerque Academy, National Hispanic Cultural Center, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, among others, where he developed collections and exhibitions focused on Hispanic, Latino, Native American, and Folk Art. In 2022, President Biden appointed him to the US Department of State’s Cultural Properties Advisory Committee, where he continues to serve.

Anne Hillerman, Author, Los Cerrillos

After an award-winning journalism career with publications in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and beyond, Anne Hillerman stepped into the world of mystery fiction. Her first novel, Spider Woman’s Daughter, paired characters her father Tony Hillerman made famous with Anne\'s own creativity. That book and the nine that followed celebrate New Mexico\'s vivid landscape as a setting. All have been national best sellers. The Hillerman characters inspired the popular Dark Winds television series.

Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), Santa Fe

Since its founding in 1962, IAIA—the University for Indigenous Creative Excellence—has empowered creativity, leadership, and innovation in Indigenous arts, scholarship, and cultures. IAIA is the only higher education institution dedicated to contemporary Native American and Alaska Native arts. Chartered by Congress and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, IAIA serves approximately 500 Native and non-Native students representing nearly 100 federally recognized Tribes.

Eli Levin (a.k.a. Jo Basiste), Painter, Dixon

Unable to cross the Rockies on his small motorbike, Eli came into Santa Fe in 1964 and met members of the old art colony, so decided to stay. He is known for his bar scenes and strong social commentary after the leftist artists of the 1930\'s. He has run a drawing group since 1969 that continues to this day, and he co-founded the Santa Fe Etching Club in 1981. He still paints every day.

Sam Scott, Painter, Santa Fe

Sam Scott was the first living painter to be given a one-person show by New Mexico Museum of Art in 1974. This institution also presented a 30-year retrospective of Scott\'s work in 1997-1998 entitled, Sam Scott, an American Voice. In the following two years, 1999–2000, Scott was honored to represent the western United States as attaché for the resumption of cultural relations with the republic of Vietnam.

New Mexico Arts, a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, and the New Mexico Arts Commission will host events in October recognizing this year’s Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts recipients. The awards will be presented at a ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, 5 p.m. at the St. Francis Auditorium of the New Mexico Museum of Art Plaza building. The ceremony will be followed by a public reception in the courtyard with light refreshments and a sparkling cider toast. An exhibition of work from the 2026 recipients will be on display in the Governor’s Gallery on the fourth floor of the Roundhouse Capitol Building beginning Thursday, Oct. 15 with an opening reception from 2 – 3:30 p.m. that day.

About the Governor\'s Awards for Excellence in the Arts

The Governor\'s Awards for Excellence in the Arts are presented by the New Mexico Arts Commission and New Mexico Arts division in collaboration with the New Mexico Museum of Art. Established in 1974 by then-Governor Bruce King and First Lady Alice King, the Governor’s Arts Awards celebrate the significance of art in the economic and cultural life of New Mexico. For more than 50 years, a diverse and prestigious list of arts practitioners, supporters, and philanthropists have been honored. Learn more at nmarts.org/all-programs/governors-arts-awards.

This year\'s Awards are made possible in part by major contributions from Allen Theatres, Jerry and Connie Hines, Sheryl and Steve Parsley, the New Mexico Music Commission, and the New Mexico Arts Commission.

About New Mexico Arts

New Mexico Arts (NMA), the state’s federally authorized arts agency and a division of the New Mexico 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.. . .

NM Museum of Natural History & Science researchers identify new bird-like dinosaur species in northwest New Mexico

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0600

The Governor, New Mexico Arts, and the New Mexico Arts Commission are proud to recognize these awardees who represent artistic achievement and dedication.

Adrián Aguirre, Visual Artist, Las Cruces

Delbert Anderson (Diné), Musician, Kirtland

Bill Barrett, Sculptor, Santa Fe

Andrew Connors, Albuquerque Museum Director, Albuquerque

Anne Hillerman, Author, Los Cerrillos

Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), Santa Fe

Eli Levin (a.k.a. Jo Basiste), Painter, Dixon

Sam Scott, Painter, Santa Fe

About the Governor\'s Awards for Excellence in the Arts

About New Mexico Arts

Albuquerque, NM – Paleontologists from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science have identified a new genus of two-legged dinosaur that lived in New Mexico more than 70 million years ago.

“This new work illustrates the dynamic nature of dinosaur studies as we continue to test what we think we know,” said New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science (NMMNHS) Executive Director Dr. Anthony Fiorillo. “Furthermore, it demonstrates that New Mexico clearly has a prominent place in those global conversations.”

In a paper recently published in the journal Fossil Studies, Dr. Jasinski and museum Research Associate Dr. Robert Sullivan identified a new species of dinosaur as Dinevenator robustus. Dinevenator was a troodontid, a family of two-legged, bird-like, omnivorous dinosaurs. These theropods are known for having unusually large brains relative to other dinosaurs.

“This really helps us get a clearer picture of the diversity in this family of dinosaurs during the Late Cretaceous in North America, and it adds to our knowledge of dinosaurs that once roamed New Mexico,” said NMMNHS Paleontology Curator Dr. Steven E. Jasinski.

Dinevenator roamed New Mexico 73 million years ago and lived alongside other dinosaurs like the famous crested duck-billed dinosaur Parasaurolophus tubicen, as well as armored ankylosaurs, horned ceratopsids, dome-headed pachycephalosaurs, swift dromaeosaurids and giant tyrannosaurs, on a sub-tropical floodplain. Little fossil material from Dinevenator has been uncovered, but based on data from related species, scientists estimate this bipedal theropod would have been approximately 8 to 10 feet in body length and weighed between 150 to 300 pounds, making it one of the larger troodontids known.

The bone that inspired the study was originally unearthed in the summer of 2005, when Sullivan came across part of the skull of a small theropod dinosaur in the De-na-zin Member of the Kirtland Formation while collecting Cretaceous fossils in the San Juan Basin in northwestern New Mexico. First thought to be a dromaeosaur, a dinosaur closely related to Velociraptor, it was later determined to be from a similar group of dinosaurs known as troodontids. Recently, work on several other troodontid dinosaurs, including Albertavenator from the Late Cretaceous of Alberta and Xenovenator from the Late Cretaceous of northern Mexico, led to the new study on the De-na-zin troodontid. The bone is currently at the State Museum of Pennsylvania but plans are being made to transfer this specimen to NMMNHS.

This discovery not only adds to the tally of dinosaur species discovered in New Mexico, but it also helps researchers better understand the biodiversity within the troodontid family. While Dinevenator robustus is only known from a single frontal bone on the top of the skull, it is unique among these dinosaurs. This bone is thicker than in many other similar dinosaurs and has other features that show it was distinct.

For more information about the museum’s paleontology research, visit nmnaturalhistory.org. The full study is available here.. . .

New National Hispanic Cultural Center art exhibition highlighting memory to open September 18

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0600

The Governor, New Mexico Arts, and the New Mexico Arts Commission are proud to recognize these awardees who represent artistic achievement and dedication.

Adrián Aguirre, Visual Artist, Las Cruces

Delbert Anderson (Diné), Musician, Kirtland

Bill Barrett, Sculptor, Santa Fe

Andrew Connors, Albuquerque Museum Director, Albuquerque

Anne Hillerman, Author, Los Cerrillos

Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), Santa Fe

Eli Levin (a.k.a. Jo Basiste), Painter, Dixon

Sam Scott, Painter, Santa Fe

About the Governor\'s Awards for Excellence in the Arts

About New Mexico Arts

Albuquerque, NM – Paleontologists from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science have identified a new genus of two-legged dinosaur that lived in New Mexico more than 70 million years ago.

For more information about the museum’s paleontology research, visit nmnaturalhistory.org. The full study is available here.

Albuquerque, NM – The National Hispanic Cultural Center is thrilled to welcome a new Community Gallery exhibition that explores the role of memory and ancestral knowledge through the work of nine artists. The new exhibition, i thought i saw you yesterday, opens at Center on September 18.

“This exhibition reflects on the role grief, intimacy, celebration, land, food, and familial relationships play in forming and maintaining ancestral knowledge and memory,” said National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) Curator hazel batrezchavez. “I’m grateful to each of the artists we’ve worked with to help us tell these stories through a vibrant mix of artworks.”

i thought i saw you yesterday offers a platform for nine artists to interweave their memories and ancestral knowledge to create a dialogue between life cycles, food, land, place and the body. The exhibition features the work of nine artists with personal or familial ties to New Mexico: Amanda Dannáe Romero, ashleigh steele chavez, Caroline Liu, claudia hermano, Esteban Ismael Durán, Jesus Miguel Avena, Joe Ramiro Garcia, Margarita Paz-Pedro, and Stephanie J. Wood. These artists work in mediums ranging from oil painting, to photography, to tinsmithing, and each takes a vibrant and poignant look at the role that memory can play through their art.

This exhibition is the first curated by batrezchavez since they joined the Center’s staff in 2025. Through the process of conceptualizing the exhibition, batrezchavez was inspired by the work of Dr. Karina Alma, who refers to memory as an imperative practice, a shared labor, and a call to action to fight for our memory as a fight for our lives in her book Central American Counterpoetics: Diaspora and Rememory.

i thought i saw you yesterday opens Friday, September 18, alongside the newest iteration of Aquí Estamos, which will reopen the same day with a refreshed selection of artworks exploring catharsis through artworks in the permanent collection. As part of the grand reopening, NHCC is reorienting its Visual Art Museum to be more inviting to visitors and show off the contributions of New Mexico artists through its updated Community Gallery. Visitors can enjoy a free opening reception on September 18 beginning at 5:00 p.m., featuring music by DJ Estalactita.

More information about both exhibitions is available at nhccnm.org/museum/exhibitions. . . .

Celebrate Native arts and culture during Indian Market weekend at New Mexico History Museum

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0600

The Governor, New Mexico Arts, and the New Mexico Arts Commission are proud to recognize these awardees who represent artistic achievement and dedication.

Adrián Aguirre, Visual Artist, Las Cruces

Delbert Anderson (Diné), Musician, Kirtland

Bill Barrett, Sculptor, Santa Fe

Andrew Connors, Albuquerque Museum Director, Albuquerque

Anne Hillerman, Author, Los Cerrillos

Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), Santa Fe

Eli Levin (a.k.a. Jo Basiste), Painter, Dixon

Sam Scott, Painter, Santa Fe

About the Governor\'s Awards for Excellence in the Arts

About New Mexico Arts

Albuquerque, NM – Paleontologists from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science have identified a new genus of two-legged dinosaur that lived in New Mexico more than 70 million years ago.

For more information about the museum’s paleontology research, visit nmnaturalhistory.org. The full study is available here.

More information about both exhibitions is available at nhccnm.org/museum/exhibitions.

Take a break from the bustle of the annual Indian Market shopping in downtown Santa Fe and come inside New Mexico History Museum to celebrate Native literature, film, dance, and artists on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 15 and 16, 2026.

\"The museum is pleased to provide free admission and a variety of programs during Santa Fe Indian Market that highlight Indigenous arts and culture as living expressions of community, history, and innovation,\" said Maria Sanchez-Tucker, Interim Director at the History Museum.

The Native American Portal Artisans Program will relocate from the Palace of the Governors portal to the museum’s courtyard both days from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Visitors can purchase art, jewelry, pottery, and more directly from Native artisans from 23 federally recognized tribes, pueblos, and nations in New Mexico while enjoying Native dancers in the museum courtyard.

On Saturday, two separate presentations will be offered. From 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. authors Dorothy Denetclaw (Diné) and Matt Fitzsimons introduce their new book, The Sons of Gunshooter: A Navajo Resistance Story, which is part history, part true crime. The book reexamines the 1919 killing of the brother of one of the West’s most famous Indian traders and the murder trial of the two men accused of his killing.

Later in the afternoon, from 1 – 2 p.m., visitors can listen to a panel discussion with scholar Jennifer Nez Denetdale (Diné), author and filmmaker Ramona Emerson (Diné), and moderated by Lillia McEnaney. They will discuss how Indigenous scholars, writers and filmmakers are re-shaping the genres of horror and speculative fiction to broaden Indigenous theory and practice.

Admission to the History Museum and programming is free all weekend. The Museum is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. For details about these programs visit https://www.eventbrite.com/o/121404499025. Seating is limited so arrive 15 minutes early to find a seat.

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.. . .

Honor the legacy of the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 at Jemez Historic Site

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0600

The Governor, New Mexico Arts, and the New Mexico Arts Commission are proud to recognize these awardees who represent artistic achievement and dedication.

Adrián Aguirre, Visual Artist, Las Cruces

Delbert Anderson (Diné), Musician, Kirtland

Bill Barrett, Sculptor, Santa Fe

Andrew Connors, Albuquerque Museum Director, Albuquerque

Anne Hillerman, Author, Los Cerrillos

Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), Santa Fe

Eli Levin (a.k.a. Jo Basiste), Painter, Dixon

Sam Scott, Painter, Santa Fe

About the Governor\'s Awards for Excellence in the Arts

About New Mexico Arts

Albuquerque, NM – Paleontologists from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science have identified a new genus of two-legged dinosaur that lived in New Mexico more than 70 million years ago.

For more information about the museum’s paleontology research, visit nmnaturalhistory.org. The full study is available here.

More information about both exhibitions is available at nhccnm.org/museum/exhibitions.

About New Mexico History Museum

Jemez Historic Site remembers the resilience and strength of Pueblo people at the annual Pueblo Independence Day on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. The day begins at 7 a.m. with a 13-mile run from the plaza in Jemez Pueblo up Highway 4 to the Historic Site. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors cand experience traditional Pueblo-style dances, shop for Native arts and crafts, support food vendors, and tour Gisewa Pueblo, the ancestral site of the present-day Jemez Pueblo.

\"The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 was a very important event in Jemez and New Mexico history,\" said Marlon Magdalena (Jemez), Instructional Coordinator Supervisor at Jemez Historic Site. \"Join us as we honor Jemez resilience and perseverance through song, dance, and art.\"

Pueblo Independence Day commemorates the anniversary of the Pueblo Revolt on August 10, 1680, when Pueblo people united in rebelling against Spanish colonizers. The revolt was organized and led by Po’Pay, a leader from Ohkay Owingeh. Runners were sent to each pueblo with a knotted cord, with each knot representing one day. When the final knot was unraveled, it was time for the uprising to begin. The annual morning run symbolizes those efforts made by Indigenous runners more than three centuries ago.

The event celebrates the living cultures of Pueblo people, recognizing their cultural traditions, lands, languages, religions, and sovereignty. Join New Mexico Historic Sites in honoring this important day in history.

Pueblo Independence Day is $7 for adults and free to children 16 and younger, Tribal members, NM disabled veterans, NM foster families, and members of Museum of New Mexico Foundation and Friends of Coronado and Jemez Historic Sites. Pre-purchase admission online at https://my.nmculture.org/56501/57093.

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.. . .

Giddy on over to Old Lincoln Days and celebrate the legendary history of Billy the Kid

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0600

The Governor, New Mexico Arts, and the New Mexico Arts Commission are proud to recognize these awardees who represent artistic achievement and dedication.

Adrián Aguirre, Visual Artist, Las Cruces

Delbert Anderson (Diné), Musician, Kirtland

Bill Barrett, Sculptor, Santa Fe

Andrew Connors, Albuquerque Museum Director, Albuquerque

Anne Hillerman, Author, Los Cerrillos

Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), Santa Fe

Eli Levin (a.k.a. Jo Basiste), Painter, Dixon

Sam Scott, Painter, Santa Fe

About the Governor\'s Awards for Excellence in the Arts

About New Mexico Arts

Albuquerque, NM – Paleontologists from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science have identified a new genus of two-legged dinosaur that lived in New Mexico more than 70 million years ago.

For more information about the museum’s paleontology research, visit nmnaturalhistory.org. The full study is available here.

More information about both exhibitions is available at nhccnm.org/museum/exhibitions.

About New Mexico History Museum

About Jemez Historic Site

Visitors of all ages are invited to step back in time to learn history, and have fun, during Old Lincoln Days, co-presented by Lincoln Historic Site, the Friends of Historic Lincoln, the Billy the Kid Pageant committee, and members of the Lincoln community. The annual event runs Friday, Aug. 7 through Sunday, Aug. 9 and includes historic lectures about Billy the Kid, children\'s activities, a parade, live music, food, vendors, and the \"Last Escape of Billy the Kid\" pageant.

\"I\'m looking forward to this year\'s celebration of Old Lincoln Days, which will include showing the movie \'Young Guns\' in the Courthouse and showcasing the newly restored historic Torreón watchtower,\" said Oliver Horn, regional site manager at Lincoln Historic Site.

The site will host lectures in the billiard hall of the historic courthouse as part of the monthly Lincoln Lecture Series including:

• Writer Lori Goodloe talking about the last escape of Billy the Kid on Friday, Aug. 7, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Author John LeMay discussing the rivalry between John Chisum and Billy the Kid on Friday, Aug. 7, 2 – 3 p.m.

• Brandon Dickson presenting the \"Most Dangerous Street in America\" on Saturday, Aug. 8, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Johnny Boswell revealing the \"true age of Billy the Kid,\" on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2 – 3 p.m.

On Friday and Saturday at 5:15 p.m., the movie \"Young Guns,\" about Billy the Kid\'s gang, will be screening in the historic courthouse Billy escaped from. Children\'s activities will be offered by site staff outside of the old convent on main street. The Wonders on Wheels Mobile Museum will be open to explore the exhibition, \"The Arts of Democracy in New Mexico.\" Additionally, community partners will offer hands-on activities and educational information.

Admission to Lincoln Historic Site buildings and activities is $7 per adult and free to children 16 years and younger, NM disabled veterans, NM foster families, Friends of Lincoln members, and MNMF members. Site admission can be purchased at the Courthouse, Anderson Freeman Visitor Center, or online using a QR code posted around the site. Visitors will receive a wristband to show when entering historic site buildings and participating in site events. Visitors who show their Billy the Kid Pageant ticket at the Lincoln Historic Site Visitor Center can purchase a $5 discounted ticket. Admission for the Billy the Kid pageant is separate and is $10 for adults, $6 for children ages 6-12, and free to children five and younger. Tickets are only available at the gate beginning at 10 a.m. and cash is recommended.

About Lincoln Historic Site

Lincoln Historic Site is one of the most widely visited state historic sites in New Mexico and is the most intact nineteenth century town in New Mexico. Through a gift from the Hubbard Family Trust, the historic site includes 17 structures and outbuildings, ten of which are open to the public. Most of the buildings in the community are representative of the Territorial Style of adobe architecture in the American Southwest. Learn more about Lincoln at nmhistoricsites.org/lincoln.. . .

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

The Governor, New Mexico Arts, and the New Mexico Arts Commission are proud to recognize these awardees who represent artistic achievement and dedication.

Adrián Aguirre, Visual Artist, Las Cruces

Delbert Anderson (Diné), Musician, Kirtland

Bill Barrett, Sculptor, Santa Fe

Andrew Connors, Albuquerque Museum Director, Albuquerque

Anne Hillerman, Author, Los Cerrillos

Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), Santa Fe

Eli Levin (a.k.a. Jo Basiste), Painter, Dixon

Sam Scott, Painter, Santa Fe

About the Governor\'s Awards for Excellence in the Arts

About New Mexico Arts

Albuquerque, NM – Paleontologists from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science have identified a new genus of two-legged dinosaur that lived in New Mexico more than 70 million years ago.

For more information about the museum’s paleontology research, visit nmnaturalhistory.org. The full study is available here.

More information about both exhibitions is available at nhccnm.org/museum/exhibitions.

About New Mexico History Museum

About Jemez Historic Site

The site will host lectures in the billiard hall of the historic courthouse as part of the monthly Lincoln Lecture Series including:

• Writer Lori Goodloe talking about the last escape of Billy the Kid on Friday, Aug. 7, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Author John LeMay discussing the rivalry between John Chisum and Billy the Kid on Friday, Aug. 7, 2 – 3 p.m.

• Brandon Dickson presenting the \"Most Dangerous Street in America\" on Saturday, Aug. 8, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Johnny Boswell revealing the \"true age of Billy the Kid,\" on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2 – 3 p.m.

About Lincoln Historic Site

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

The Governor, New Mexico Arts, and the New Mexico Arts Commission are proud to recognize these awardees who represent artistic achievement and dedication.

Adrián Aguirre, Visual Artist, Las Cruces

Delbert Anderson (Diné), Musician, Kirtland

Bill Barrett, Sculptor, Santa Fe

Andrew Connors, Albuquerque Museum Director, Albuquerque

Anne Hillerman, Author, Los Cerrillos

Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), Santa Fe

Eli Levin (a.k.a. Jo Basiste), Painter, Dixon

Sam Scott, Painter, Santa Fe

About the Governor\'s Awards for Excellence in the Arts

About New Mexico Arts

Albuquerque, NM – Paleontologists from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science have identified a new genus of two-legged dinosaur that lived in New Mexico more than 70 million years ago.

For more information about the museum’s paleontology research, visit nmnaturalhistory.org. The full study is available here.

More information about both exhibitions is available at nhccnm.org/museum/exhibitions.

About New Mexico History Museum

About Jemez Historic Site

The site will host lectures in the billiard hall of the historic courthouse as part of the monthly Lincoln Lecture Series including:

• Writer Lori Goodloe talking about the last escape of Billy the Kid on Friday, Aug. 7, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Author John LeMay discussing the rivalry between John Chisum and Billy the Kid on Friday, Aug. 7, 2 – 3 p.m.

• Brandon Dickson presenting the \"Most Dangerous Street in America\" on Saturday, Aug. 8, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Johnny Boswell revealing the \"true age of Billy the Kid,\" on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2 – 3 p.m.

About Lincoln Historic Site

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

The Governor, New Mexico Arts, and the New Mexico Arts Commission are proud to recognize these awardees who represent artistic achievement and dedication.

Adrián Aguirre, Visual Artist, Las Cruces

Delbert Anderson (Diné), Musician, Kirtland

Bill Barrett, Sculptor, Santa Fe

Andrew Connors, Albuquerque Museum Director, Albuquerque

Anne Hillerman, Author, Los Cerrillos

Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), Santa Fe

Eli Levin (a.k.a. Jo Basiste), Painter, Dixon

Sam Scott, Painter, Santa Fe

About the Governor\'s Awards for Excellence in the Arts

About New Mexico Arts

Albuquerque, NM – Paleontologists from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science have identified a new genus of two-legged dinosaur that lived in New Mexico more than 70 million years ago.

For more information about the museum’s paleontology research, visit nmnaturalhistory.org. The full study is available here.

More information about both exhibitions is available at nhccnm.org/museum/exhibitions.

About New Mexico History Museum

About Jemez Historic Site

The site will host lectures in the billiard hall of the historic courthouse as part of the monthly Lincoln Lecture Series including:

• Writer Lori Goodloe talking about the last escape of Billy the Kid on Friday, Aug. 7, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Author John LeMay discussing the rivalry between John Chisum and Billy the Kid on Friday, Aug. 7, 2 – 3 p.m.

• Brandon Dickson presenting the \"Most Dangerous Street in America\" on Saturday, Aug. 8, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Johnny Boswell revealing the \"true age of Billy the Kid,\" on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2 – 3 p.m.

About Lincoln Historic Site

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

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

The Governor, New Mexico Arts, and the New Mexico Arts Commission are proud to recognize these awardees who represent artistic achievement and dedication.

Adrián Aguirre, Visual Artist, Las Cruces

Delbert Anderson (Diné), Musician, Kirtland

Bill Barrett, Sculptor, Santa Fe

Andrew Connors, Albuquerque Museum Director, Albuquerque

Anne Hillerman, Author, Los Cerrillos

Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), Santa Fe

Eli Levin (a.k.a. Jo Basiste), Painter, Dixon

Sam Scott, Painter, Santa Fe

About the Governor\'s Awards for Excellence in the Arts

About New Mexico Arts

Albuquerque, NM – Paleontologists from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science have identified a new genus of two-legged dinosaur that lived in New Mexico more than 70 million years ago.

For more information about the museum’s paleontology research, visit nmnaturalhistory.org. The full study is available here.

More information about both exhibitions is available at nhccnm.org/museum/exhibitions.

About New Mexico History Museum

About Jemez Historic Site

The site will host lectures in the billiard hall of the historic courthouse as part of the monthly Lincoln Lecture Series including:

• Writer Lori Goodloe talking about the last escape of Billy the Kid on Friday, Aug. 7, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Author John LeMay discussing the rivalry between John Chisum and Billy the Kid on Friday, Aug. 7, 2 – 3 p.m.

• Brandon Dickson presenting the \"Most Dangerous Street in America\" on Saturday, Aug. 8, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Johnny Boswell revealing the \"true age of Billy the Kid,\" on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2 – 3 p.m.

About Lincoln Historic Site

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

The Governor, New Mexico Arts, and the New Mexico Arts Commission are proud to recognize these awardees who represent artistic achievement and dedication.

Adrián Aguirre, Visual Artist, Las Cruces

Delbert Anderson (Diné), Musician, Kirtland

Bill Barrett, Sculptor, Santa Fe

Andrew Connors, Albuquerque Museum Director, Albuquerque

Anne Hillerman, Author, Los Cerrillos

Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), Santa Fe

Eli Levin (a.k.a. Jo Basiste), Painter, Dixon

Sam Scott, Painter, Santa Fe

About the Governor\'s Awards for Excellence in the Arts

About New Mexico Arts

Albuquerque, NM – Paleontologists from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science have identified a new genus of two-legged dinosaur that lived in New Mexico more than 70 million years ago.

For more information about the museum’s paleontology research, visit nmnaturalhistory.org. The full study is available here.

More information about both exhibitions is available at nhccnm.org/museum/exhibitions.

About New Mexico History Museum

About Jemez Historic Site

The site will host lectures in the billiard hall of the historic courthouse as part of the monthly Lincoln Lecture Series including:

• Writer Lori Goodloe talking about the last escape of Billy the Kid on Friday, Aug. 7, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Author John LeMay discussing the rivalry between John Chisum and Billy the Kid on Friday, Aug. 7, 2 – 3 p.m.

• Brandon Dickson presenting the \"Most Dangerous Street in America\" on Saturday, Aug. 8, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Johnny Boswell revealing the \"true age of Billy the Kid,\" on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2 – 3 p.m.

About Lincoln Historic Site

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

The Governor, New Mexico Arts, and the New Mexico Arts Commission are proud to recognize these awardees who represent artistic achievement and dedication.

Adrián Aguirre, Visual Artist, Las Cruces

Delbert Anderson (Diné), Musician, Kirtland

Bill Barrett, Sculptor, Santa Fe

Andrew Connors, Albuquerque Museum Director, Albuquerque

Anne Hillerman, Author, Los Cerrillos

Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), Santa Fe

Eli Levin (a.k.a. Jo Basiste), Painter, Dixon

Sam Scott, Painter, Santa Fe

About the Governor\'s Awards for Excellence in the Arts

About New Mexico Arts

Albuquerque, NM – Paleontologists from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science have identified a new genus of two-legged dinosaur that lived in New Mexico more than 70 million years ago.

For more information about the museum’s paleontology research, visit nmnaturalhistory.org. The full study is available here.

More information about both exhibitions is available at nhccnm.org/museum/exhibitions.

About New Mexico History Museum

About Jemez Historic Site

The site will host lectures in the billiard hall of the historic courthouse as part of the monthly Lincoln Lecture Series including:

• Writer Lori Goodloe talking about the last escape of Billy the Kid on Friday, Aug. 7, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Author John LeMay discussing the rivalry between John Chisum and Billy the Kid on Friday, Aug. 7, 2 – 3 p.m.

• Brandon Dickson presenting the \"Most Dangerous Street in America\" on Saturday, Aug. 8, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Johnny Boswell revealing the \"true age of Billy the Kid,\" on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2 – 3 p.m.

About Lincoln Historic Site

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

The Governor, New Mexico Arts, and the New Mexico Arts Commission are proud to recognize these awardees who represent artistic achievement and dedication.

Adrián Aguirre, Visual Artist, Las Cruces

Delbert Anderson (Diné), Musician, Kirtland

Bill Barrett, Sculptor, Santa Fe

Andrew Connors, Albuquerque Museum Director, Albuquerque

Anne Hillerman, Author, Los Cerrillos

Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), Santa Fe

Eli Levin (a.k.a. Jo Basiste), Painter, Dixon

Sam Scott, Painter, Santa Fe

About the Governor\'s Awards for Excellence in the Arts

About New Mexico Arts

Albuquerque, NM – Paleontologists from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science have identified a new genus of two-legged dinosaur that lived in New Mexico more than 70 million years ago.

For more information about the museum’s paleontology research, visit nmnaturalhistory.org. The full study is available here.

More information about both exhibitions is available at nhccnm.org/museum/exhibitions.

About New Mexico History Museum

About Jemez Historic Site

The site will host lectures in the billiard hall of the historic courthouse as part of the monthly Lincoln Lecture Series including:

• Writer Lori Goodloe talking about the last escape of Billy the Kid on Friday, Aug. 7, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Author John LeMay discussing the rivalry between John Chisum and Billy the Kid on Friday, Aug. 7, 2 – 3 p.m.

• Brandon Dickson presenting the \"Most Dangerous Street in America\" on Saturday, Aug. 8, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Johnny Boswell revealing the \"true age of Billy the Kid,\" on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2 – 3 p.m.

About Lincoln Historic Site

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

The Governor, New Mexico Arts, and the New Mexico Arts Commission are proud to recognize these awardees who represent artistic achievement and dedication.

Adrián Aguirre, Visual Artist, Las Cruces

Delbert Anderson (Diné), Musician, Kirtland

Bill Barrett, Sculptor, Santa Fe

Andrew Connors, Albuquerque Museum Director, Albuquerque

Anne Hillerman, Author, Los Cerrillos

Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), Santa Fe

Eli Levin (a.k.a. Jo Basiste), Painter, Dixon

Sam Scott, Painter, Santa Fe

About the Governor\'s Awards for Excellence in the Arts

About New Mexico Arts

Albuquerque, NM – Paleontologists from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science have identified a new genus of two-legged dinosaur that lived in New Mexico more than 70 million years ago.

For more information about the museum’s paleontology research, visit nmnaturalhistory.org. The full study is available here.

More information about both exhibitions is available at nhccnm.org/museum/exhibitions.

About New Mexico History Museum

About Jemez Historic Site

The site will host lectures in the billiard hall of the historic courthouse as part of the monthly Lincoln Lecture Series including:

• Writer Lori Goodloe talking about the last escape of Billy the Kid on Friday, Aug. 7, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Author John LeMay discussing the rivalry between John Chisum and Billy the Kid on Friday, Aug. 7, 2 – 3 p.m.

• Brandon Dickson presenting the \"Most Dangerous Street in America\" on Saturday, Aug. 8, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Johnny Boswell revealing the \"true age of Billy the Kid,\" on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2 – 3 p.m.

About Lincoln Historic Site

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.. . .