Learning
Life is Sweet with Honeybees and Cherry Trees
Hello from your History Herald! As spring gently rouses New Mexico from its winter sleep, the days become warmer and brighter and our gardens welcome back their beautiful blooms. Will all this beauty around, I am inspired to talk about one of Earth’s most impressive and important species who starts...
Weaving and Colcha Embroidery
New Mexican traditional weaving is alive and thriving at El Rancho de las Golondrinas living history museum. Weavers meet at Las Golondrinas almost everyday from 9:30am to 4pm to demonstrate for visitors, enjoy each others’ company, perfect their skills and learn new techniques. Men and women who would like to...
History Herald: Springtime in New Mexico
by Laura Gonzales, Education & Volunteer Manager Wind, allergies, sunshine in some places, snow in others, we all know what that means; it’s officially Spring in New Mexico! It’s the season symbolizing growth, renewal and rebirth. Looking around at the natural beauty of New Mexico we see color springing into...
History Herald: Acequias
by Laura Gonzales, Education & Volunteer Manager Did you know that Acequias are the oldest water management institutions in the United States? They were also the first non-Indigenous form of government in New Mexico, a system still in place in small rural communities. This system of irrigation, brought by the...
Staff Spotlight: Sean Paloheimo
In our never-ending quest to inform and enlighten our Las Golondrinas supporters, we are happy to introduce a new column introducing you to our hard-working staff! One of the people who wears the most hats here at the museum is Assistant Museum Director/Director of Operations Sean Paloheimo. If that last...
Curator’s Corner: Purslane
by Amanda Mather, Curator of Collections As spring springs around here it makes me think of all the green things I have missed over the winter that are now starting to bud and come back to life. Here is to one of my favorites, and some green I can’t wait...
Try a Traditional New Mexican Recipe!
Explore New Mexico from Your Kitchen One of the best ways to experience New Mexico is through our amazing cuisine. With big bold flavors, unique combinations and mouth-watering taste, New Mexican food can satisfy any foodie. Piñon Nuts Sopa (Spanish Bread Pudding) Torta de Huevo Red Chile Flour Tortillas Green...
The Card Game “Memory”
The Card Game "Memory" is also called Concentration. Among other things, being a good historian means being able to remember all kinds of interesting information about the past. This easy card game helps to strengthen your memory and concentration skills and it’s fun to play, either alone or with a...
Historical Charades
The game can be played as individuals or in teams. Everyone involved in the fun should write down a historical person’s name, a historic place, history genre book title, or historical movie on a small piece of paper. As a group you can even decide on a specific era or...
Dice Games for the Whole Family!
Beetle Dice Beetle is a simple but creative dice game of rolling and drawing. Alternate Names: Bug, Cootie Object of the Game: In turn, players roll a die to determine which body part of a beetle (or bug or cootie) they are allowed to draw. The first player to finish...
Rollin’ Bones: The History of Dice
“Play is the highest form of research.” —Albert Einstein. When you were kids did you ever play “bones"? Ever wonder why dice (and often dominoes, which are also called “iles") are called “bones”? You guessed it! Because they were originally made from the ankle bones of animals. Early civilizations used...
Curator’s Corner: Agave
by Amanda Mather, Curator of Collections As we continue on with our gifts of the West series I want to talk about one of those gifts that keeps on giving. It gives us fiber, food, booze, awls, needles. I mean what can’t this baby do? I am talking about our...
History Herald: Apples
by Laura Gonzales, Education & Volunteer Manager photo credit: Vic Macias Hello from the History Herald! Did you know that apples have been an integral part of New Mexico’s history for over 300 years? In the past, New Mexico orchards were ripe with an array of heirloom...
Volunteer Voices: Jerry Kerr
I was born on October 25, 1949. I am entering my seventh season as a volunteer at El Rancho de las Golondrinas, and anxiously awaiting the end of the COVID-19 social distancing measures. I began volunteering at the ranch because of my abiding interest in the preservation and promotion of...