New Mexico Heritage Preservation Month, 2017 Calendar of Events

From introduction: "The National Park Service is emphasizing cultural diversity with initiatives such as “Find Your Park,” a social media campaign to attract a broader population to national parks and draw attention to lesser known parks. In 2014, NPS began awarding grants to support survey, inventory and designation of properties associated with communities that are underrepresented in the National Register of Historic Places. Register nominations and landmark designations have followed nationwide that are associated with Native Americans, Asians, Hispanics, women, and the LGBTQ community. At home, the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division received a 2014 NPS diversity grant that funded a tribal preservation symposium and the development of a digital app for surveying historic sites on tribal lands. Earlier this year, the Dunbar Elementary School in the tiny border town of Vado was listed in the State and National Registers in recognition of the school’s 100-year history in the only community settled by African Americans in New Mexico that still exists today. The nomination includes a fascinating history of African Americans in our state, and helped inspire the Cultural Diversity theme for this year’s Heritage Preservation Month poster. This May during Heritage Preservation Month cities, towns, neighborhoods, tribes, pueblos, parks, museums, schools, and organizations were encouraged to host events that celebrate cultural diversity. You will find several of them in this year’s Calendar, along with the events that have become community traditions and Preservation Month staples over the years. When attending events, please keep in mind New Mexico’s unpredictable spring weather. It can be perfect in the morning, hot and windy and hot later in the day, and cold and wet later on. Archaeological hikes, tours, and other events require sturdy shoes or hiking boots. Dress in layers and don’t forget to bring some sunscreen! This year’s calendar also features longstanding New Mexico traditions such as grape cultivation and wineries, a staple along the Camino Real. You’ll also find details on the Santa Fe Century, the 100-mile bicycle tailored to northern New Mexico’s varied terrain and climate. The arts have long been celebrated in New Mexico. Works have been created for centuries by culturally diverse groups that include Native American, Hispanics, Anglos, Asians, Africans, Europeans and people how have made alternative cultural and lifestyle choices that are represented in their art and influenced by the Land of Enchantment, whether it be their temporary or permanent spiritual and creative home. Whether you interests lie in music and the arts, out-door adventures, history, geology, or hands-on activities for the whole family, you’ll find something to do this Heritage Preservation Month that will remind you of just how diverse our local cultures truly are." Funding was provided in part by a 2016 Historic Preservation Fund grant administered by the New Mexico State Historic Preservation Office (project number NM-16-010, grant number P16AF00047) and the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

New Mexico Heritage Preservation Month, 2017 Calendar of Events

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