Last updated: 5/1/2008
Alamogordo, New Mexico
Address
1301 N. White Sands Blvd.
Alamogordo, NM 88310

Hours

Monday - Friday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Sunday 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Admissions

Free

Museum Type(s)

Staff

Dawn T. Santiago
phone: 505-434-4438
Description

The Alamogordo Museum of History preserves and explores the rich history of Alamogordo, Otero County, and the entire Tularosa Basin. Operated by the Tularosa Basin Historical Society, an all volunteer organization, the museum contains exhibits on the native population from pre-history to present, the impact of the military presence in the Tularosa Basin since 1942, the establishment and growth of Alamogordo, the daily life of the residents, the industries of the region (railroad, lumbering, ranching, farming, mining). The museum also has a small reference library in which staff and patrons conduct research. There is also a photograph collection of over 3,000 images that is available for reproduction. The Tularosa Basin Historical Society also produces a monograph twice a year as an outlet to disseminate the history of the region researched by local authors.

History

Tularosa Basin Historical Society was founded in 1964 by leaders of Alamogordo and the surrounding area in an effort to preserve the history of this unique region. The museum opened its doors in 1971. Volunteer continue to operate the museum and actively collect objects, archival material, photographs, and oral histories. The volunteers also underwent training to put the museum on a more professional standing and develop exhibits for the museum patrons. TBHS provides quarterly meetings for its members and the public at which a program on an aspect of local, New Mexico, or Southwest history is presented. In July 2007 the board of directors voted to rename the museum to reflect the growth and expansion of the facility as TBHS prepares to move into a larger facility in 2008.

Artifact Collections

47-star flag (only 1 of a handful known to exist and only one aware of on display); fossils, pre-historic Native American items; Mescalero Apache Indian items and reproductions; business and mercantile items; mining, lumber industry, ranching, and farming tools; a buffalo head that was in the local bar; household items; ca. 3,000 photographs including ones of the first atomic explosion at Trinity Site; La Luz Pottery collection; county government records

Research Collections

Non-circulating library and ephemera files; ca. 230 oral history interviews, 10% of them transcribed.

Educational Programs

Our Education Coordinator provides tours for school-aged children with hands-on activities. TBHS provides programs at its quarterly meetings on various topics pertaining to the local or regional history.

Governance

Board of Directors, private non-profit

Library
Access: General Public
Appointment required: Yes
Publications

TBHS produces a quarterly newsletter for its membership, but it is also distributed throughout the community. Also, TBHS produces a monograph entitled "Pioneer" that is printed twice a year.

The Tularsa Basin Historical Society News--quarterly
Pioneer--monograph published bi-annually
ADA
Wheelchair Accessible
Exhibitions
Museum Events
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February 5 - 7, 2025

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Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

March 15 - 18, 2025

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2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

September 10 - 13, 2025

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