Bill Dunmire will present "Our Gifts from Spain: How Mediterranean Plants and Foods Came to New Mexico" at the Silver City Museum Annex on Thursday, May 7th, 2015 from 12 noon to 1 pm. The Museum Annex is located at 302 West Broadway in downtown Silver City. This presentation is part of the Chautauqua Series and is sponsored by the New Mexico Humanities Council, the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Silver City Museum Society.

This slide-illustrated talk relates the story of how Old World cultivated plants and foods made their way from pre-Colombian Spain to the colonial frontier of New Mexico and the greater Southwest. It focuses on the positive contributions of the Spanish colonizers and missionaries and tells of how Puebloans and other native peoples in New Mexico integrated some of the crops and foods into their own cultures.

With degrees in wildlife management and zoology from the University of California, Berkeley, Bill Dunmire enjoyed a 28-year career with the National Park Service. He was Chief of Interpretation for the entire service in the mid-1970s. He also served as Superintendent of Carlsbad Caverns, NM, and Guadalupe Mountains, Texas, National Parks in 1985, and then spent seven years as a field biologist in New Mexico for the Nature Conservancy. Now, he is a writer/lecturer and photographer, traveling widely to research his material.

From archeology to cultural differences, from regional and individual histories to land use issues, NMHC Chautauqua speakers facilitate lively discussions of the subject at hand. The NMHC Chautauqua features a rich roster of specialists who speak with understanding and passion on topics which interest New Mexicans year after year. As New Mexicans, our cultural traditions are deeply rooted yet constantly evolving. NMHC speakers help us appreciate the diversity and scope of our heritage with informative and stimulating programs.

The Silver City Museum creates opportunities for residents and visitors to explore, understand, and celebrate the rich and diverse cultural heritage of southwestern New Mexico by collecting, preserving, researching, and interpreting the region's unique history. For more information, please contact the museum at (575) 538-5921, info@silvercitymuseum.org, or go to the museum's website www.silvercitymuseum.org.