Volunteering is Fun!

Rose Mestas Thompson at El Rancho de las Golondrinas

This month’s volunteer profile features Rose Mestas Thompson shown here in the Golondrinas Placita. “A native Coloradoan, I attended Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO, majoring in American History and Anthropology. For the past ten years, I’ve been able to spend much of my time in New Mexico. My husband, John and I were fortunate…

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It’s Not the Same Old Store!

The Swallows Nest at El Rancho de las Golondrinas

Have you been to El Rancho de las Golondrinas’ gift shop, The Swallow’s Nest?  It’s not the same old store anymore!  In fact, that’s the goal of the management and new sales staff — to make the store fresh and new each and every season! Come in and meet our new sales team: Andrea Zamora…

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Opening the 2017 Season!

We kicked off the summer with a reception for all Los Amigos del Museo members on Friday, June 2, from 5:00 to 7:00pm. We gathered in front of the Paloheimo Education Center to honor Robert Himmerich y Valencia as a Golondrinas Ambassador. Following this ceremony, there were light refreshments, wine and beer catered by our…

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New Leadership at Las Golondrinas

As many of you know, two weeks ago, Board Chair Stephen Machen, accepted, with regret, the resignation of our Museum Director, Dawn St. George, who has moved back to Wisconsin and taken a position closer to her home and family.  Dawn  will be the Executive Director of a non-profit organization in Milwaukee which works to…

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Fire & Hops Fundraiser

Fire & Hops

Come out mid-week, have a beer and some tasty food and at the same time lend your support to El Rancho de las Golondrinas! On Wednesday, June 7, from 5:00 to 9:30pm, Fire & Hops Gastropub, 222 North Guadalupe in Santa Fe, will be hosting a fundraising event for us.  Owner and manager, Josh Johns,…

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Volunteering is Fun!

Volunteer Edward Wallace

This month’s “Volunteering is Fun” article comes from Edward Wallace.   “I met Ric Thompson on the set of the movie, ‘Astronaut Farmer.’ I worked in the movie industry for about 5 years. Ric told me that he volunteered at El Rancho de las Golondrinas.  I had never heard of Las Golondrinas, and he explained…

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Volunteering is Fun!

Dee Nelson

This month’s “Volunteering is Fun” article comes from Dee Nelson. “I’m originally from New Jersey and retired to New Mexico about 23 years ago, having worked as a computer trainer for a large corporation. A good friend from New Jersey, and a Las Golondrinas volunteer, Marie Aminski, and I opened a Bed & Breakfast in…

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Light It Up!

Chispa or fire starter

Maybe one of the most important tools on the New Mexican frontier was the strike-a-light, known as an eslabón (link) in Mexico and chispa (spark) in New Mexico.  Dating from the time of the Romans, chispas are a highly effective fire starter when paired with a small piece of hard stone such as flint, chert,…

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Join Us for a Chuckwagon Dinner

Chuckwagon Dinner

Harmon Parkhurst. Campers with chuck wagon, New Mexico, 1925–1945?.  Courtesy of the Palace of the Governors Photo Archives (NMHM/DCA), Negative Number 069707. Friday, August 18th 6:00 pm After a long day on the trail, come to El Rancho de las Golondrinas, gather round the fire and eat your fill of “chuck” from an authentic 1890…

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Local Historian Awarded Medal by Spain

Thomas E. Chávez

Thomas E. Chávez, a former director of the New Mexico State History Museum in Santa Fe and the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, and current Board Member of El Rancho de las Golondrinas has been inducted into the Spanish Order of Isabel the Catholic (Orden de Isabel la Católica) second class (Commander/ Encomienda) with…

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