Las Vegas is a perennial frontier town forged and challenged by the confluence of diverse landscapes, cultures, and economies. Its story is a tale of travel routes, the natural environment, and the community’s dueling traits of adaptation and resistance. Exhibits at the museum illustrate this cultural heritage through the museum’s collection.

With the assistance of community members and consultants, museum staff have developed an Interpretive Master Plan [pdf]. The plan identifies heritage topics and concepts important to the community and is the basis of interpretation and programming.

Events provide dynamic outlets for topics of historical significance and include lectures, exhibit openings, movie screenings, and musical concerts on the Museum’s historic square grand piano. Consult the Calendar for changing exhibit and event listings.

Our dedication to public education is served through curricula and activities for school children. Consult our Education page for lesson plans and special activities.

Podcasts
The Museum currently offers podcasts, available at the Museum or through this website. The podcasts accompany a visit through the galleries with additional information, or may be viewed as stand-alone presentations.

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Continuing Exhibits

La Casita Material culture is a good indicator of the larger environment. This typical northern New Mexico home shows the continuity and adaptation of traditional materials and acceptance of new technologies and ideas in its rooms that date from 1865, 1880 and 1935. La Casita (podcast)

The Duncan Opera House For decades, Las Vegas was one of the major commercial and cultural stops along the Santa Fe Trail and then the Atcheson, Topeka and Santa Fe railway. At one point, Las Vegas could boast four opera houses. The Duncan was the most famous and longest lived.

Rolling along the Santa Fe Trail Long after the Trail ceased to be a major travel route, it remained a romantic image in the minds of Americans. The Trail, or its memory, found its way into movies, songs, books, tours and trade goods. Many portrayals were less than accurate, but the public loved them anyway.

Theodore Roosevelt, the Rough Riders, and New Mexico In 1898, Theodore Roosevelt was granted his wish of raising a volunteer regiment from the nation’s frontier of Indian and Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico Territories. The enlistees followed Roosevelt into the battles of Cuba during the Spanish-American War. Although the regiment was commissioned for only 150 days, the personal ties remained for decades, renewed at reunions of the regiment, many held in Las Vegas. Theodore Roosevelt, the Rough Riders and New Mexico (podcast)