Explore Museums of New Mexico
The more you know of history the greater
appreciation you have of the present. It really wasn’t very long ago
that horseback was the only way to travel in the West besides on
foot. Fort Stanton just northeast of Ruidoso’s present airport was
established in 1855 – that is over 50 years before New Mexico became
the 47th state in 1912. Lincoln County is rich in history
highlighted by the Lincoln County War of the 1870s that made Billy
the Kid a famous outlaw. Explore the past with visits to area
museums. They will enlighten you with information and provoke
further interest as to how we got to where we are today.
DOWLIN’S HISTORIC OLD MILL 641 Sudderth Dr. (505) 257-2811
Only one building in Ruidoso can be the oldest and this is it. It is
fabled to be a hang out spot for Billy the Kid and features a
working water wheel that still grinds flour these days.
www.historicoldmill.com
HUBBARD MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN WEST 841 W Hwy. 70 (505)
378-4142 Known as The Museum of the Horse when it first opened, this
large facility offers so much more that the named evolved to the
Hubbard Museum of the West. It is situated just on the east side of
the race track on Hwy. 70 and open daily from 9am to 5pm. The
permanent collection of carriages, wagons, saddles and western
artifacts is supplemented with a changing schedule of shows and
events. Be sure to walk through the Free Spirits at Noisy Water
display of bronze horses outside the museum. Admission is $6/adults,
$5/seniors and $2/kids 6 to 16. Children under 6 are free.
www.hubbardmuseum.org
FORT STANTON MUSEUM & VISITOR CENTER Fort Stanton, NM (505)
630-0044 This historic fort was originally built in 1855 to protect
early settlers along the Rio Bonito from Apache raiding parties.
Since the early days it has served as a home to hundreds of Buffalo
Soldiers, Kit Carson, John “Black Jack” Pershing and Billy the Kid.
The Fort was decommissioned in 1896, but has served as an interment
camp for Germans and Japanese, a tuberculosis hospital and a
rehabilitation institution for the mentally handicapped and drug
abusers. The future use of Fort Stanton is not clear. Several
different proposals are being discussed for possible funding.
http://www.fortstanton.com/
HISTORIC LINCOLN 15 minute drive east of Capitan, NM (505)
653-4372 The entire village of Lincoln is like a living museum.
There are actually 11 state monuments within the town limits and
four of those are different museums. Memories of the old west come
alive here with particular focus on the Lincoln County War and Billy
the Kid.
http://www.nmculture.org/cgi-bin/instview.cgi?recordnum=LINC
MESCALERO APACHE CULTURAL CENTER Mescalero, NM (505) 464-9254
Drive west on Hwy. 70 about 25 minutes to the administrative center
of the Mescalero Apache Reservation in Mescalero. You will find the
Cultural Center near the large community center on the south side of
the highway. It displays Apache clothing and basketry of the
Chiricahua, White Mountain and Mescalero Apache tribes with photo
exhibits and artifacts.
SMOKEY BEAR MUSEUM 102 Smokey Bear Blvd. Capitan, NM (505)
354-2298 Everyone has heard of Smokey Bear, the popular face to wild
fire prevention. Did you know that the real Smokey came from the
Capitan Mountains just north of Capitan? The Smokey Bear Museum
commemorates his many contributions to making fire danger awareness
a very public issue. You will find displays and exhibits of
firefighting in general and Smokey Bear’s connection to the cause in
particular. Admission is just $1/adults and $.50/children.
http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/2062/places/3084/
WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER MUSEUM Smokey Bear Blvd., Capitan, NM
(505)354-9808 Firefighters unique work and their tools are
documented for display in this free museum in the center of Capitan.
See interesting photos of firefighting in action and an evolution of
technique. This is the only museum of its kind in the country.
http://www.wildlandfirefighter.net/
WHITE OAKS SCHOOL MUSEUM 45 minute drive NW of Ruidoso White
Oaks, NM White Oaks is a ghost town northeast of Carrizozo that once
supported over 5,000 residents in its mining days at the turn of the
20th century. The old four room schoolhouse has been restored as a
museum to provoke memories of days gone by. It is open May through
October on the weekends from 10am to 4pm.
http://www.whiteoaksnewmexico.com/
|
|
