Farm & Ranch, other state museums reopen

New Mexico’s eight state museums – including the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces – and seven of its historic sites reopened to the public Sept. 24 at 25 percent of normal capacity, the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) announced in a news release.

The facilities had been closed by public health order since March 16.

Here are the schedules for the museums and historic sites (all sites are open 10 a.m.-4 p.m.):

• Tuesday-Sunday: National Hispanic Cultural Center Art Museum, Albuquerque; New Mexico museums of Art, Indian Arts and Culture and International Folk Art, all in Santa Fe;
• Tuesday-Saturday: New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, Las Cruces;
• Wednesday-Sunday: Coronado Historic Site, Bernalillo; Fort Selden Historic Site, Radium Springs; Fort Sumner Historic Site/Bosque Redondo Memorial, Ft. Sumner; Jemez Historic Site, Jemez; New Mexico History Museum, Santa Fe; New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science, Albuquerque;
• Wednesday-Monday: New Mexico Museum of Space History, Alamogordo;
• Thursday-Monday: Fort Stanton Historic Site, Ft. Stanton; Lincoln Historic Site, Lincoln;
• Thursday through Sunday: Los Luceros Historic Site, Alcade.

The Taylor-Mesilla Historic Property in Mesilla remains closed.

All museums and historic sites will close at 4 p.m. each day to provide additional time for cleaning and sanitizing. Additionally, facilities operating on Wednesdays will reserve 10 a.m.-noon for higher-risk populations. This corresponds with DCA’s weekly free day for state residents 60 and older.

DCA said the public is encouraged to visit each facility’s website or call to confirm days and hours of operation before visiting. Online ticket sales are currently available at New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science and National Hispanic Cultural Center’s Art Museum.

“Home on the Range: From Ranches to Rockets” is the current featured exhibit at Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, which is spread across 47 acres at 4100 Dripping Springs Road. It stretches through two galleries and tells the story of the dramatic transformation of the Tularosa Basin during World War II and beyond. A new feature at Farm & Ranch is the display of the historic horse-drawn hearse that was likely used to carry famed western lawman Pat Garrett to his grave.

Visitors to the museum can also check out other exhibits, including “Agricultural Beginnings,” the “New Mexico Colonial Home,” “Wheels & Gears,” “Home Sweet Home,” “Grist for the Mill,” and “The Cowboy Way: Western Drawings by Robert ’Shoofly’ Shufelt." And a new art exhibit, “Monumental Territory by Kayla Blundell,” will open soon.

DCA is extending the expiration date of its New Mexico CulturePass, which allows one visit to each state museum and historic site while active, by six months. Memberships sold through the private National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation, New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation, International Space Hall of Fame Foundation and Friends of New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum will be valid six months past their original expiration date. The Museum of New Mexico Foundation memberships are valid one month past their original expiration date.

Group visits, public programs, special events, and volunteer/docent activities will continue in virtual formats only. Reduced occupancy might result in a wait to gain entry. While queuing for entry, visitors should observe social distancing. Each visitor will be required to wear a mask or multilayered face covering.

Visit www.newmexicoculture.org for links to all the sites.