Ghosts and haunted houses

Every city has a haunted house that “caters” to ghosts and spirts. This is indeed the month of ghosts and other apparitions lurking around with Halloween just around the corner. Las Cruces and nearby Mesilla feature several famous haunted...

From a Las Cruces pool hall to the royal courts of Spain

Ever played pool at Munson Senior Center in Las Cruces? You might be surprised to know that Jose “Pablo” Jaramillo, holding the pool stick beside you, is descended from royalty. Born in Chimayo, New Mexico, Pablo has an ancestry richly woven into...

Ancient history comes into focus

Across southern New Mexico, pieces of pottery or chipped stone scattered across the desert can hint at something much larger hidden beneath the surface. “Buried there, there may be an adobe pueblo,” said William Walker, a professor of...

More than a missile range

Measuring the impact White Sands Missile Range has had on Las Cruces is difficult at best. Prior to 1980, White Sands would occasionally publish statistics. For instance, in 1951, there were 1,862 people working there. By 1957, the...

A grand old dame turns 100

What can you do for a grand old dame turning 100 years old? Put a birthday shout-out in the local newspaper? This particular centenarian frequently has her name in the local papers; I am referring to the Rio Grande Theatre, a focal point of...

From Hot Springs to Truth or Consequences

In 1950, Ralph Edwards, a nationally syndicated radio host, issued a challenge for a town to rename itself after his show, “Truth or Consequences.” New Mexico’s Hot Springs took the challenge. For 50 years after the town earned its new name,...

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Volunteer Jim Hoerst in the tricorn hat invites a young patriot to read the Declaration of Independence.

Doña Ana County throws a great independence celebration

“Doña Ana County sure knows how to put on a party,” Anita said as we watched people stream by our booth at the fairgrounds during the county’s Independence Day celebrations. On July 1 and 2, members of the Doña Ana County Historical Society...

First official flag raising at the new White Sands Proving Ground on Sept. 29, 1945. The public was invited to attend on what turned out to be a chilly, blustery morning. Note all the coats and jackets for late Sept. The ceremony started at high noon with the Ft. Bliss band playing music beforehand

White Sands Missile Range birthday – July 9

What is now White Sands Missile Range was officially established on July 9, 1945. Because of the Pentagon paperwork, many people think the first flag raising ceremony was conducted on post that day. In line with that, photos of the first ceremony,...

Rio Grande Theater Premiere of Billy the Kid 1930.

Inaugural historic nominations foster civic pride

History is about to be made by Las Cruces city officials. Thanks to the Cultural Properties Subcommittee and the tireless work of the Historic Preservation Specialist, five historic properties have been nominated for the City of Las Cruces...

A royal road passed by here

Four hundred and twenty-eight years ago, Don Juan de Oñate famously carved into the cliff at El Morro “Pasó por aquí” as he established the first permanent Spanish colony near Santa Fe. On their way north, the caravan “passed by here,” past the...

Entertaining Las Crucens since 1941

Entertainment is essential for human well-being. It serves as a necessary release for mental and emotional stress while fostering social connection, creativity, and cognitive stimulation. It acts as a vital reset button so you can return to your...

From May Street to the Memorial Wall

The story Dolores Archuleta tells about herself begins, as many of hers do, with a problem. She was in the second grade, walking home from Holy Cross School to the adobe house her father built on East May Street. In the yard, a group of...

Fortune found in Las Cruces

As an amateur history researcher, I have identified many veterans of America’s wars who ultimately came to reside in Doña Ana County. Among them is a particularly remarkable man who came from France, fought valiantly in the Civil War, and made Las...

Partners in peering into the past

The Bulletin has new partners to make the past come alive. This issue launches a new partnership to highlight local history about the Mesilla Valley. Members of the Doña Ana County Historical Society will share stories about the rich heritage of...

The Cabagata Binaciónal Villista

While our national leaders –Donald Trump and Claudia Sheinbaum – are struggling with each other, a coalition of horsemen and horsewomen are gathering near Palomas, Mexico and Columbus, the United States in a show of dignity and respect for each...

Lee Byrd browses through Bobby and Lee Byrd collection at the New Mexico State University Rio Grande Archive housed at Branson Library.

NMSU acquires literary papers of poet, publisher Bobby Byrd

New Mexico State University has acquired the literary archives of poet and publisher Bobby Byrd, co-founder of the El Paso-based independent publishing house Cinco Puntos Press. The acquisition brings together Byrd’s personal papers with...

E-Editions

Ghosts and haunted houses

From a Las Cruces pool hall to the royal courts of Spain

Ancient history comes into focus

More than a missile range

A grand old dame turns 100

From Hot Springs to Truth or Consequences

NOVEMBER 6, 2026

11/06/2026 DESERT OASIS ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE

2025-26 Life is Good in Las Cruces

2026-27 Life is Good in Silver City

Faces & Places of Doña Ana County 2026

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