Learning
Curator’s Corner: George McJunkin, Unsung Archaeology Hero
by Amanda Mather, Curator of Collections George McJunkin was born a slave in Midway, Texas. When he was about 10, the Civil War ended and he and his family were freed. He was born into a ranch and cowboy life and spent most of his life in the saddle. Mr....
History Herald: Smokey Bear, a New Mexico Hero!
by Laura Gonzales, Education & Volunteer Manager Hello from your History Herald! Did you know that in 1950, in the Capitan Mountains of New Mexico, crews discovered a major wildfire driven by strong wind? As the crew battled to contain the blaze they received a report of a lone bear...
Books About New Mexico Heroes
The Life and Legend of George McJunkin, Black Cowboy by Franklin Folsom This book is a great introduction to the history of black cowboys in New Mexico. McJunkin was a former slave who went on to make an instrumental archaelogical find in northern New Mexico — read more about this...
Las Golondrinas Heroes: Louann Jordan and Pat Kuhlhoff
Every once in a while, someone comes along that makes a big impression. Here at Las Golondrinas, we have been blessed with so many wonderful volunteers, staff members and members that we have decided to feature them from time to time via our Las Golondrinas Heroes column. Two of our...
Adopt an Animal!
Did you know that it costs approximately $300 a year to feed, house and care for just one of our churro sheep, burros or goats? If you want to have a direct impact on our most popular ranch residents, we hope you will ADOPT an ANIMAL today — our latest...
Curator’s Corner: Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert – NM Foodways Pioneer
by Amanda Mather, Curator of Collections Today for my book “report”” as it may be I would like to do something a bit unusual, emphasize just one author. Her name was Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert, she lived almost 100 years and was one of the great advocates for New...
Curator’s Corner: Chile
by Amanda Mather, Curator of Collections There are certain cuisines and specific foods that are almost impossible to imagine without chile. Thai and Chinese cuisine, pasta arrabiata, I mean what did they even do in Szechuan before they had chiles? Before contact, there wasn’t any chile to be had outside...
VOLUNTEER VOICE: Keith Austin
by Laura Gonzales, Education and Volunteer Manager If you have enjoyed the homemade muffins, turnovers and other baked treats that appear on the kitchen table in the Volunteer Casita when Keith Austin is at the Ranch, you may thank a decision he made many years ago. Born in Mount Ayr,...
Piñon
Nuts About Piñon? The seeds of New Mexico’s official state tree, the Piñon Pine (adopted in 1949) have long sustained Native peoples and Hispanic settlers; a cultural and economic tradition going back generations. Learn more about this tasty and nutritious little nut, and try out these local recipes! Go Nuts...
Buffalo Gourd
This indigenous species from the squash family grows throughout Northern Mexico, Western and Southwestern United States. If you are lucky enough to live in the West then you have surely seen this plant. It grows on the side of the road all summer, sending out long green tendrils dotted with big...
El Bacin: The Chamber Pot
Chamber pots and privies! Were they used by the early Spaniards in the Southwest? To what degree did the colonial settlers imitate the Pueblo Indians in their careful removal of waste? Learn more about this "Unmentionable Subject"
Rollin’ Bones: The History of Dice
by Laura Gonzales, Education & Volunteer Manager Hello from your History Herald! "Play is the highest form of research." - Albert Einstein. When you were a kid did you ever play "bones"? Ever wonder why dice (and often dominoes, which are also called "tiles") are called "bones"? You guessed it!...
Yucca Root Soap
Yucca has certainly earned its place among state symbols as it has many prominent uses. The Pueblos used the Yucca plant to make things like mats, shoes, rope, needle and thread, and as it turns out, soap! Yucca Soap 2018 Golondrinas Fiesta de los Ninos
Arbuckle’s Coffee
A display of Arbuckle’s can be found at our General Store, or "Tiendita,"" here at El Rancho de las Golondrinas. Arbuckle’s coffee would have been found in many a general store all over the country, but particularly in the West. Learn more about this "Cowboy Coffee" here! You can also...
The Sunflower
The Helianthus annuus, or Annual Sunflower, loves to grow in disturbed soil, so you often see it in newly dug up land or on the side of the road. If you drive around New Mexico in August or September you are bound to see many of these wild sunflowers. Learn...