Felting Workshop

Nov. 2, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Participants are invited to create their own piece of felted artwork out of wool. The felting process includes matting, condensing and pressing fibers together by using soap, warm water, and agitation. All materials will be provided and artwork can be made into a wall hanging or table placemat. Class fee is $10 and space is limited. To register, or for more information, please contact LuAnn Kilday at 575-522-4100 or luannr.kilday@state.nm.us.

Weaving Class

Overshot is over the moon!  

Nov. 6-7, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A round robin class where students receiving warping instructions ahead of time and learn the fundamentals of overshot patterns and the use of 2 shuttles. The class will be a traditional overshot where the warp is cotton or a cotton blend and the pattern is wool. The tabby thread would also be a cotton or cotton blend. There is so much to this class! There are hundreds of "easy patterns" for beginners and intermediate weavers! A limited amount of floor looms will be available to use by request or you may bring your own. Class fee is $100 and space is limited. To register, or for more information, please contact LuAnn Kilday at 575-522-4100 or luannr.kilday@state.nm.us.

Exhibit Reception:

Home on the Range: From Ranches to Rockets

Nov. 7, 5-7 p.m.

An exciting new exhibit at the Museum explores the dramatic transformation of life in the Tularosa Basin in the 1940s and beyond. “Home on the Range: From Ranches to Rockets” is the result of months of research, planning and building by the Museum’s curatorial and exhibits staff.

The exhibit stretches through two galleries and will be on display through January 15, 2021. The free opening reception is from 5-7 p.m. on Nov. 7. The evening, which will include hors d'oeuvres, also features a talk by Jim Eckles, retired director of the Public Affairs Office at White Sands Missile Range. He is the author of the book, "Pocketful of Rockets."

Visitors will enjoy learning about ranch life in the Tularosa Basin and the surrounding mountains, and how events taking place halfway around the world brought about changes that for many ranchers were permanent. The exhibit also covers the scientific work – military and in the private sector – that took place.

Weaving Class

Tapestry- Slowing down to Create! 

Nov. 8- 9, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Creating a variety of geometric shapes using a pre-planned design infused with color and texture. Students will create horizontal and vertical lines, pick and pick (railroad) motifs, clasped and unclasped wefts, design features using color to provide shading and color blending. Students will learn the fundamentals of setting up a tapestry loom (demonstration) and apply each of the techniques to floor looms (or frame looms.) Class fee is $100 and space is limited. To register, or for more information, please contact LuAnn Kilday at 575-522-4100 or luannr.kilday@state.nm.us.

Sunday Story Time

Nov. 10, 2 p.m.

Join us for Story Time in the Museum lobby. Children of all ages are welcome to listen and learn. This activity is free with regular admission ($5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, $3 for children 4-17). Children 3 and under are admitted free.

Culture Series:

Tracking Telescopes & the Forgotten Legacy of Clyde Tombaugh at White Sands Missile Range

Nov. 14, 7 p.m.

Bill Godby, an archaeologist at White Sands Missile Range, discusses the history and significance of astronomer Dr. Clyde Tombaugh's efforts at WSMR from 1946-1955, during the very beginnings of America's missile and space exploration activities. This free presentation includes many rare photographs, illustrating various evolutions of the tracking telescopes developed during Tombaugh's tenure. Godby's talk will also include a discussion of cultural resource management at WSMR and the role an archaeologist plays in managing historic resources. He is one of three archaeologists at WSMR, managing more than 8,000 historic sites.

The development of missile tracking telescopes begins with Dr. James B. Edson, former astronomer and staff member at Lowell Observatory in the late 1930s. Edson, also brother-in-law of Tombaugh, developed the prototype for the first missile tracking telescope, known as Little Bright Eyes, at the Ballistic Research Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in 1946. The telescope used two refractors mounted on a 45mm machine gun mount to provide 360 degree rotation and included a mounted 35mm Eyemo movie camera. Edson, brought the telescope to WSMR and handed it over to Tombaugh, who subsequently obtained the first-ever large-scale photography of missiles in flight. Tombaugh resolved many problems with atmospheric turbulence, magnification/angular field of view and film/filter problems by applying his skills as an astronomer. His work in the development of tracking telescopes was groundbreaking and led to a new paradigm of data collection still utilized today.

Godby completed a Master's Degree at the University of Hawaii in 1996. In 2000, he began working for the U.S. Army with efforts focused on documenting Native Hawaiian uses of the extensive lava tube systems found at the 109,000 acre Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island. In 2009, upon moving to New Mexico, Godby shifted his attention above ground to the tremendous Cold War Era resources found at WSMR. He has since been compiling historic documentation to complete National Register evaluations of launch complexes, instrumentation sites and other test areas developed in the 1950s and 60s.

HomeGrown: A New Mexico Food Show & Gift Market

Nov. 23, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nov. 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Museum’s signature fall event returns for the sixth year with more demonstrations, more samples, food trucks, and many new vendors. Admission is $5 per vehicle, and the first 100 vehicles each day receive a free burlap shopping bag. 

With the holiday season right around the corner, HomeGrown is a great opportunity to sample and shop for New Mexico award-winning food products. The New Mexico Department of Agriculture again will be partnering with the Museum to co-host the show.

Attendees can expect more than 60 vendors, the majority representing a variety of food and beverage companies from around the state, many of which are New Mexico —Taste the Tradition® and Grown with Tradition® members. Each booth will offer locally produced products, such as award-winning salsas and wine, for attendees to sample and purchase. The show also features crafts made from agriculture resources and hand-made art.

The event will feature the NMDA’s Chef Ambassadors John Hartley and Rocky Durham, who will be demonstrating various recipes using products that will be available for sale by vendors. Both chefs are New Mexico natives who have professional experience in creating dishes from locally made food products.

New demonstrations and samples this year include red chile making by La Reina Hatch Chile Products, Indian fry bread and blue corn tortilla making from Jemez Historic Site and Pueblo of Jemez, and fajitas or green chile sliders by Phil’s Gourmet Sauces of Albuquerque. The demonstrations begin at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. each day.

Food trucks are another new addition to HomeGrown, and they be serving breakfast and lunch each day, as well as competing in the Red Hot Chile Contest, creating a signature dish using red chile from the food show vendors. The winner will be announced at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24.

On Saturday, Nov. 23, there will be a holiday craft activity for children from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and pony rides for children from 10:30 to 12. Pony rides are $5.