The New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum is a interactive museum in
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces (; "the crosses") is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New Mexico and the seat of Doña Ana County. As of the 2020 census the population was 111,385. Las Cruces is the largest city in both Doña Ana County and southern New ...
, that chronicles the state’s 3,000-year history of farming and ranching. The museum is part of the
New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs
The New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs is a state agency of the New Mexico government. Created as the Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) in 1980, the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs was elevated to a state Cabinet-level agency in 200 ...
.
History
The idea for the museum was conceived in the 1970s and the grassroots effort to create the facility was led by William P. Stephens, the former secretary of the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, and Gerald Thomas, the former president of
New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University (NMSU or NM State) is a public land-grant research university based primarily in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest public institution of higher education in New Mexico and one of the state's tw ...
. The passage of the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum Act in 1991 by the
New Mexico Legislature
The New Mexico Legislature ( es, Legislatura de Nuevo México) is the legislative branch of the state government of New Mexico. It is a bicameral body made up of the New Mexico House of Representatives and the New Mexico Senate.
History
The Ne ...
established the museum and its policy-making board. Ground was broken in 1995 and the museum opened to the public in 1998.
Facility
The museum is located at 4100 Dripping Springs Road on the southeastern edge of
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces (; "the crosses") is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New Mexico and the seat of Doña Ana County. As of the 2020 census the population was 111,385. Las Cruces is the largest city in both Doña Ana County and southern New ...
. The Bruce King Building features six different galleries and corridors that display permanent and changing exhibits, including historic tools and implements, as well as recreated structures such as a mercantile and pithouse. The museum exhibits a variety of fine art including a
lithograph
Lithography () is a planographic method of printing originally based on the immiscibility of oil and water. The printing is from a stone (lithographic limestone) or a metal plate with a smooth surface. It was invented in 1796 by the German a ...
collection from contemporary artist
Robert "Shoofly" Shufelt
Robert "Shoofly" Shufelt (born February 16, 1935) is an American artist who is primarily known for his depiction of the modern-day cowboy and Ranch lifestyle in the Southwest. Originally from Illinois, he attended art school and worked in illustr ...
, who was the first artist ever displayed.
The main building includes the Eagle Ranch Museum Mercantile and Snack Bar, as well as a theater and catering operation.
The museum property includes the historic
Green Bridge, which is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
. The bridge spans the dry Tortugas Arroyo, and was obtained and moved by the museum to this location in 2007.
[ With ]
The museum also features the Skaggs Dairy Barn, Blacksmith Shop, Horse & Cattle Barn, the Sheep & Goat Barn, the Greenhouse, and livestock, including cattle, horses, sheep, and goats.
Programs
The museum’s education department offers a variety of classes and workshops for all ages and oversees the outreach activities, including the chuck wagon program. There also are monthly lectures and special presentations in the theater. Among the annual events are Cowboy Days on the first weekend of March, Ice Cream Sunday on the third Sunday in July, and HomeGrown: A New Mexico Food Show & Gift Market on the weekend before Thanksgiving.
See also
*
Open-air museum
An open-air museum (or open air museum) is a museum that exhibits collections of buildings and artifacts out-of-doors. It is also frequently known as a museum of buildings or a folk museum.
Definition
Open air is “the unconfined atmosphere†...
References
External links
Official New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum website
{{Coord, 32, 17, 50, N, 106, 43, 09, W, display=title
Agriculture museums in the United States
Buildings and structures in Las Cruces, New Mexico
Museums in Doña Ana County, New Mexico
Farm museums in the United States
History museums in New Mexico
Museums established in 1998
1998 establishments in New Mexico