A year of celebrating history

The Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site on the historic plaza in Mesilla is celebrating its first anniversary in November at the Taylor home, the Reynolds Store Visitor Center and The Barela Store, which are all part of the historic site.

A reception to celebrate the occasion will be held 4-7 p.m., with a short program at 5:30 p.m., on Friday, Nov. 6 at the Reynolds Store Visitors’ Center, 2350 Calle Principal in Mesilla.  Bob Wofford, president of the nonprofit Friends of the Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site, said TMHS staff and Friends members will highlight events from the first year of the operation and plans for the future at the reception.

“We hope everyone can join us at the first-year anniversary reception,” Wofford said. “The Taylor Family gift to the people of New Mexico is a lasting monument to the culture and character of southern New Mexico.”

The reception will coincide with the opening of a critically acclaimed traveling exhibition, Alebrijes: A Linares Family Tradition, in the visitor center.

TMHS is the southernmost of eight historic sites in the state managed by New Mexico Historic Sites, a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. The site preserves the historic home of J. Paul Taylor (1920-2023), his wife, Mary Daniels Taylor (1922-2007), their seven children and the family’s extensive collection of New Mexican, Spanish Colonial and Mexican artwork; furniture, silver and tin, pottery and much more. The Taylors bought the home in 1953 and donated the site to NMDCA in 2003.

"As we approach our one-year anniversary of operating the Taylor-Mesilla historic site, we want to thank everyone who got us to this point,” NMHS Executive Director Anne McCudden said. “After years of planning, preservation work and multi-agency collaboration, this site came to life and has been a most impressive addition to the historic Mesilla plaza. We encourage visitors to stop in and visit the site to share the history of the southern borderlands and the Taylor Family."

The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and its buildings feature traditional adobe construction. The Barela Store gift shop next door to the visitor center is operated by volunteers from the Friends of TMHS.

“I would like to thank the Friends for a wonderful first year since the historic site has opened,” said Heather Pollard, Friends immediate past president, and one of the community and state leaders helping to create the historic site. “The gift from Paul and Mary Taylor has given us a crown jewel on Mesilla Plaza, and speaking of which, the adjoining Barela Store has been receiving raves throughout this community and has been nominated as one of the best gift stores in the Borderland by Bulletin readers.”

NMHS was selected earlier this year as a 2026 Award of Excellence winner by the American Association for State and Local History and was chosen for the award in recognition of the official opening of the Taylor-Mesilla site last November.

J. Paul Taylor, an educator and historian, was also a long-time member of the New Mexico House of Representatives, where he was known as the conscience of the Legislature. Mary Daniels Taylor was an award-winning author and photographer.

TMHS is open 8:30 a.m-4 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday. Guided tours are available at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. For admission and tour prices and more information, visit nmhistoricsites.org/taylor-mesilla.

The Barela Store, 2340 Calle Principal, is open 10 a.m.-5 pm. Wednesday-Sunday and for special events. Call 575-449-4193 and email thebarelastore@gmail.com. Visit The Barela Store on Facebook.

For more information on the Friends nonprofit, visit taylormesillafriends.com.