January 2026 NM History & Culture Opportunities

The Albuquerque Historical Society & the Historical Society of NM

Encourage your participation in the following history & cultural events:

THE ALBUQUERQUE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Roger Zimmerman kicks off the New Year with a program about Gallup’s Rt. 66 and the interface with the railroad.  January 18, 2026, 2pm. Free parking & free admission to the ABQ Museum in Old Town. albuqhistsoc.org.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NEW MEXICO. New Mexico became the 47th state on January 6, 1912. Read about it, https://newmexicohistory.org/nm-journey-to-become-a-state/. Visit – NewMexicoHistory.org to view thousands of entries: photos, videos, podcasts, Timelines for the five periods of NM History & More! The New Mexico State Historian Rob Martinez can be reached at 505-476-7911.

JANUARY 24 SATURDAY ROUTE 66 CENTENNIAL SPEAKER SERIES-FREE AT 12 LOCATIONS WITH 12 DIFFERENT SPEAKERS: International District Library, Abraham Santillanes presents “Why turn left at ABQ ? Rt. 66 and the many roads that came before; South Valley Library, Gary Herron speaks on Motels on Rt. 66 in ABQ; Special Collections Library, Joe Sabatini speaks on North Fourth St.-ABQ’s original Rt. 66;  Central & Unser Library: Jacqueline Loring presents “The KiMo Theatre: Fact & Folklore; East Mountain Library, Roger Zimmerman presents Rerouting Route 66 through NM; Gutierrez  Hubbell House, Richard Ruddy presents An Iconic View: Rt. 66 in Downtown ABQ;   Raymond Sanchez Community Center, Lynne Peckinpaugh presents The Italian’s Pathway to Prosperity of ABQ’s Rt. 66; A Photographic tour of former and current tourist attractions: Route 66 by Sondra Diepen, Loma Colorado Library in Rio Rancho;  Isleta Cultural Center, Chinese Merchants of ABQ’s Route 66 by Aimee Tang; Martha Liebert Library in Bernalillo, Jennifer Bohnhoff presents The Civil War on Route 66;  Roland Pentilla speaks on Little Beaver Town at Los Lunas Multi Generational Center. Hazel Lathrop speaks on Tojeras Camupm-Five Miles of Road and Hundreds of Stories at the Wheels Museum.

Dozens of JANUARY special events, speakers, music performers, craft programs, children’s events and more at your 19 public library branches. Pick up Event guide at any branch or go to abqLibrary.org for daily schedules.

JANUARY 24, 11 am, free. ROUTE 66 SPEAKER SERIES kicks off at 12 locations with different speakers.

Petroglyph National Monument, 899-0205; Valles Caldera National Preserve, 670-1612; and Salinas Pueblos National Monument, 847-2585. Call and check their websites for details.

INDIAN PUEBLO CULTURAL CENTER — Cultural dances every Saturday and Sunday at 12 noon. More info and ticket prices at indianPueblo.org.

ALL OF JANUARY, Historic Fairview Cemetery, 700 Yale SE. Come clean a plot to commemorate the past. The cemetery is open dawn to dusk and accessible through the gates of Fairview Memorial Park. www.HistoricFairviewCemeteryABQ.org or Facebook.com/The communityofHistoricFairviewCemetery. “Where the Past meets the Present”.

JANUARY 6, 4-5:30 pm, free. Celebrate New Mexico statehood day with NM Music.”Asi es Nuevo Mexico” program in Spanish. Erna Fergusson Library, 3700 San Mateo NE, 505-888-8100.

JANUARY 6, HOLIDAY BREAK CONCLUDES, Students return to APS 

JANUARY 6 New Mexico Statehood Day, 1912 President Taft signs the statehood proclamation making New Mexico state # 47.

JANUARY 8 & every Thursday (15, 22, 29) in January. Free. Guided 1.5 mile hikes at Piedras Marcadas Canyon. Meet at 9421 Jill Patricia St. NW (near Paradise & Unser NW) More info at Petroglyph Nation Monument. Call 899-0205 for more information.

JANUARY 9, 11 am-12:20 pm, free. Hike featuring predators of the Past, the History of Wolves & Grizzley Bears. Valle Grande National Monument. Call 670-1612 for more information.

JANUARY 9 5-8:30 pm, free. Art Crawl at various galleries across ABQ. Come meet the artists.

JANUARY 10, 10-11am, free. Historian Kathleen Dull Presents “Detourists Delight: Roughing it Deluxe”.  Wheels Museum, 1100 2nd SW. More details  WheelsMuseum.org, 505-243-6269.

JANUARY 10, 10am-12 noon, free. Rinconada Canyon Trailhead Family friendly hike with story telling and hands on learning. Continues every Saturday in January. Contact Open Space.

JANUARY 10, 2pm, free. Nanibah Chacon, current visiting artist at ABQ Museum speaks about the ideas and inspirations behind her work including Erase the Horse currently on view in the lobby. Albuquerque Museum.

JANUARY 10, 12 noon, free. Paranormal researchers Ed & Sarah Sather describe “Things that go bump in the Night”. Wheels Museum, 1100 2nd SW. More details  WheelsMuseum.org, 505-243-6269.

ANUARY 10, 10:30 am, free. State Historian Emeritus Robert Torrez speaks on the Agriculture and Commerce in the Spanish and Mexican Era New Mexico. Sponsored by the Hispanic Genealogical Resource Center, National Hispanic Cultural Center. 1701 4th SW.

JANUARY 10, 10 am-4pm, $2. Monthly sale featuring .25 cent books for “self help, New Years resolutions” sponsored by the Friends of the ABQ BernCo Public Library. Main branch, 5th & Copper NW. Will carry purchase to your vehicle. Two-hour free parking across the street at the City garage. Bring your ticket in to be stamped. All proceeds benefit the Library. FriendsofthePublicLibrary.org.

JANUARY 11, 2 pm, free. Learn about New Mexico folk dances from Lucy Salazar,  Bailes de Salon. Limited seating-come early to get a seat. Old Church in Corrales. 966 Old Church Rd. CorralesHistory.org.

JANUARY 11, 2 pm, free. Steps of our Ancestors: Preserving family history and stories by Yvette Cohn Stoor.  Sandoval County Historical Society.  SandovalHistory.org. Off 550 in Bernalillo just west of the River.

JANUARY 12, 11:45-1pm, free. Come learn about water issues in New Mexico from expert Norm Gaum. Membership not required to attend. Food purchase on your own. Weck’s Restaurant, 7301 Paseo del Norte NE.

JANUARY 15, $12. doors open 5:30, program 6-7:30. Spies of the Manhattan Project. Science on Tap. Museum of Nuclear Science, 601 Eubank SE. NuclearMuseum.org.

JANUARY 15, 5-8pm, free. 3rd Thursday at ABQ Museum. Start the new year with a fresh take on creativity and sustainability. Don’t throw away those items: learn how to reduce, reuse, repurpose and repair ! ABQ Museum in Old Town.

JANUARY  15, 7pm, free. The NM Interfaith Dialogue presents “I am a Hindu and Here’s what I want people to know about my Faith”, speaker is Prabhat Singh. Hindu Temple Society of NM, 8418 Zuni SE.

JANUARY 15-17, entry fee. Spyglass Festival at the Nuclear Science Museum. Nuclearmuseum.org for more information.

JANUARY 16, 6pm, free. Prayer vigil for Martin Luther King holiday at African American Performing Arts Center. 310 San Pedro NE.

JANUARY 17, 7-10 pm, free. Stargazing in the Caldera. Includes a talk and astrophotography workshop. Telescope and binoculars provided. Must register. Valles Caldera National Monument in Jemez Springs. Call 670-1612.

JANUARY 17, annual MLK Holiday Memorial March from UNM  corner of Martin Luther King and University Blvd to Civic Plaza with program at Civic Plaza.

JANUARY 17, 12 noon, free. One with the Land: Voices of the Atrisco Land Grant, a film. Wheels Museum, 1100 2nd SW. More details  WheelsMuseum.org, 505-243-6269.

JANUARY 17, Author A.A. Milne and Winnie the Pooh day.

JANUARY 17, NM PBS KNME, 4pm, Ch. 5.1. On COLORES!, Saving the NM Dahl Sheep. Repeats January 23, 8pm, Ch. 5.4.

JANUARY 18, 1-3 pm, free. Reception for artist Judith Roderick. Placitas Library, 453 Highway 165 in Placitas, 505-867-3355.

JANUARY 18, 2 pm, free. Roger Zimmerman speaks about Route 66 in Gallup and the interface with the railroad. Albuquerque Historical Society, Albuquerque Museum. Free parking south of the Museum and free admission.

JANUARY 19 Federal Holiday Observance of Martin Luther King Jr. birthday. (APS closed).

JANUARY 19, MLK “DAY OF SERVICE”. Meet at the African American Performing Arts Center. 310 San Pedro NE

JANUARY 20, the New Mexico Legislature convenes in a 30 day session until Feb. 18. More info and schedule of all committee meetings and access to live stream, nmlegis.gov.

JANUARY 23 San Ildefonso Pueblo Feast Day

JANUARY 24, 11 am, free. ROUTE 66 SPEAKER SERIES kicks off at 12 locations with different speakers. Go to Facebook/Route 66 Centennial Speaker series for which speakers are at which locations and addresses.

JANUARY 24, 2-4 pm, free. Reception at Open Space Visitors Center: East Gallery-Open Spaces with Richard Davidson; West Gallery-Upwardly Mobile-Our New Mexico Skies with Janet Bothne. Open Space Visitor Center, 6500 Coors NW.

JANUARY 25, 2pm, free. “Spain’s MesoAmerican Allies: The Hidden story of the Tlaxcalans. Presented by Oliver Horn, PhD, manager of the Lincoln and Ft. Stanton Historic sites. Martha Liebert Library,  Bernalillo, 145 Calle Malinche, 505-867-1440.

JANUARY  27, INTERNATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR THE HOLOCAUST. Visit the New Mexico Holocaust Museum, 616 Central SW, 247-0606. Nmholocaustmuseum.org.

JANUARY 29, 6 pm, free book talk. New Mexico Wild, Wild Waters: Passport to NM Rivers with Bjorn Fredrickson. Bookworks, 4022 Rio Grande NW.

JANUARY 29,  NM PBS KNME Ch. 5.1, 7pm. No Greater Act: Pueblo Resistance. Learn about the conflict and survival of the Pueblo people from the 1540s to 1696. Repeats Jan. 30, 9 pm.

JANUARY 30-FEB. 2, 10AM-5PM, Sunday, 12 noon – 5 pm, free. New Mexico Magazine 2025 Photo Awards opening weekend. Tularosa Basin Photo Gallery in Carrizozo, NM, 401 12th St.

JANUARY 31, ROBERT BURNS day, remember the famous Scottish poet and author of Auld Lang Syne

JANUARY 31, 9:30-11:30 am, free. Coffee and Cruise — History of Valle de Oro. A ranger talk and refuge tour. Contact dakota_dominguez@fws.gov. 7851 2nd St. SW, 248-6667.

JANUARY 31, 10 am, free. Dr. Robert Kolarik discusses the steel industry-quality and processes in “Bearings”. Wheels Museum, 1100 2nd SW. More details WheelsMuseum.org, 505-243-6269.

Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge.7851 2nd St. SW, 505-248-6667.

Valles Caldera National Monument on NM 4 north of Jemez Springs. Go to nps.gov/vall for information.  39201 NM 4. Jemez Springs, NM. Call 505-670-1612 for more info. https://www.fws.gov/refuge/valle-de-oro.

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument near Mountainair.  Contact Natalia Sanchez Hernandez for more info. Call 505-847-2585, nps.gov/sapu/planyourvisit or call 505-847-2585 X 221.

Randall Davey Audubon Center and sanctuary, 1800 Upper Canyon Rd. in Santa Fe. Tour the gardens and historic Randall Davey house. Fridays @ 2 pm are docent led house tours, $5. Saturdays @8:30 am are guided bird walk. More info at RandallDavey.audubon.org. Monday – Saturday, 8am-4pm.

INDIAN EDUCATION AT UNM, iaie.unm.edu. Watch several previously recorded programs about Native American education, the Dine language and more.

HISTORIC SANTA FE FOUNDATION (historicSantaFe.org) offers many free programs to watch: Ron Duncan Hart speaking on the Early Jews in NM; Rob Martinez – The Enduring Hispanic Music of NM.<

The Wheels Museum, 1100 2nd St. SW. Monday -Thursday, 9 am-12 noon, Sat. 12 noon-2pm. Call first to confirm, 505-243-6269 or info@wheelsmuseum.org

MURALS OF ALBUQUERQUE (www.murosabq.com) This shows over 130 murals in the ABQ metro area. You click on each picture and it shows the mural, gives its title and address, describes the image, and the artists.

Cibola County History Museum, 525 West High St., Grants NM. Go to the museum’s Facebook page for more information.

NUCLEAR MUSEUM – The Museum has a huge collection of oral history interviews (also transcribed) called Voices of the Manhattan Project. There are some 600 interviews of individuals who were either at the Manhattan Project or a family member who worked there. The  interviews are organized into 39 categories such as: Internment of Japanese Americans, Life in the Secret cities,  Hispanic employees, Native American. https://www.nuclearmuseum.org/educate/atomic-heritage-foundation  https://www.manhattanprojectvoices.org/

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Historic Fairview Cemetery, 700 Yale SE. invites anyone to come and hoe tumbleweeds and goat heads. The cemetery is open dawn to dusk and accessible through the gates of Fairview Memorial Park. Wear hard soled shoes & bring your own tools. www.HistoricFairviewCemeteryABQ.org or Facebook.com/HistoricFairviewCemetery. “Where the Past meets the Present.

AMAZING HISTORY / CULTURE OPPORTUNITIES ONLINE

Many of the museums and cultural centers in the ABQ metro area have put programming on their websites, Facebook pages or YouTube links. This includes everything from:

  • concerts, history lectures, video tours of various museum collections,
  • photograph pod casts, curriculum and study guides for children, audio interviews,

All of this is free and even “low tech” individuals can navigate these websites. There are YouTube channels available at no cost to watch to all. You are urged to explore many websites but especially these:

  •  NEW MEXICO HISTORY IN TEN MINUTES (newmexicohistory.org) On the home page, go to the bottom and click on Video of the Month. The entire list of episodes will appear by clicking on the corner of the video. NM State Historian Rob Martinez is most engaging and informative and there are more than 40 Episodes. The episodes may be heard in chronological order or by topic which is introduced in the first minute or so of the episode.
  • CIVIC AUDITORIUM HISTORY VIDEO (1957-1986) www.modernabq.org. Go to the Resources Tab, then the drop down to the three Civic Auditorium videos. They tell the story of the structure: why it was built, how it was used and why it was ultimately demolished.
  • HOLOCAUST MUSEUM and GELLERT EDUCATION CENTER NM, 616 Central SW. Go to the website nmholocaustmuseum.org. Questions call 247-0606.

ALBUQUERQUE HISTORICAL SOCIETY ARCHIVED VIDEO PROGRAMS

The Albuquerque Historical Society provides videos of scheduled program presentations. The videos are linked from the appropriate AHS Program pages. Presentations captured on videos to date include: