Missile launch at White Sands Missile Range, 1959. Photo courtesy of
Culture Department News Release
A new exhibit will open at the New Mexico History Museum (NMHM) that tells the story of the dramatic changes in life that have occurred in southern New Mexico’s Tularosa Basin since the 1940s. “Home on the Range: From Ranches to Rockets” will open June 7, 2024, and travel from the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces.
This exhibit chronicles ranching life in the Tularosa Basin, where Texas ranchers settled in the basin in the late 1800s after finding abundant grass during particularly wet weather. The story continues into the early 20th century, when drier weather posed challenges for ranchers looking to raise their cattle and families in the region.
That story soon changed, as events on the other side of the world brought about permanent changes for many ranchers. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor entered the United States into World War II, a presidential order established the White Sands Missile Range in the area, attracting some of the world’s greatest minds in science and engineering.
Ranchers were told they had to move their families and livestock immediately and would not be allowed to return until the war was over. Families did their patriotic duty and obeyed orders, but many never returned, and the ranching communities in the region were forever changed.
The basin was used to test rockets, missiles and bombs, including the atomic bomb in 1945, as well as launches for the U.S. space program and other scientific and civilian programs. “Home on the Range: From Ranches to Rockets” features everything from replica structures like a ranch, tool shed and military blockhouse to larger items like a V-2 rocket engine and a Loki Dart rocket.
The New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum collaborated with White Sands Missile Range and the New Mexico Museum of Space History to present this exhibit. The New Mexico History Museum is pleased to present this important story of New Mexico farm and science history in Santa Fe. The exhibit will run through February 3, 2025.
About New Mexico History Museum
The New Mexico History Museum is a statewide educational resource, a local landmark of national significance, and a destination for those who want to understand the diverse experiences of New Mexicans, the dynamics that have shaped our state, and the connections that connect this region to the rest of the world. Located on the north side of historic Santa Fe Plaza, the New Mexico History Museum campus includes the Governors’ Palace, the Pete V. Domenici Building, the Fray Angelico Chavez Historical Library, and the Governors’ Palace Photo Archives. For more information, visit https://nmhistorymuseum.org/.
About the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum
The New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum is spread across 47 acres and is filled with real stories from real people. Attracting visitors from around the world, this interactive museum brings to life 3,000 years of New Mexico farming and ranching history. The massive main building features over 24,000 square feet of exhibit space, as well as a gift shop, theater, and event space. For more information, visit https://www.nmfarmandranchmuseum.org/.
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