Heritage Preservation Month

2011 poster

Night view of Conchas Dam.

Poster

Each spring, the Historic Preservation Division mounts a statewide outreach campaign to highlight community preservation achievements during May, which is Heritage  Preservation Month. It is celebrated nationwide. Images interpreting a theme are sought from the public, archives and elsewhere. Staff selects several and generally one is used for the poster HPD has published for 24 years. It is distributed statewide, nationally and internationally to more than 3,000 people and organizations to announce Heritage Preservation Month.

The 1939 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo of Conchas Dam illustrated the 2008 "New Deal" poster.

Theme

In 2012, HPD invites the public to honor New Mexico's statehood Centennial. The theme commemorates New Mexico's often rocky, 62-year road to statehood. 1912 brought a state unique for its diverse cultural heritage into a union that for decades was skeptical it truly belonged as part of the United States.  Its wild west reputation was backed by a colorful and sometimes violent history that has fascinated people for generations and lured them to visit our state.vents

Parks, cities, towns, organizations, monuments and individuals organize events statewide and HPD publishes them in an annual Calendar of Events.  Between 55 and 75 events are held, ranging from hikes to restricted archaeological sites, historic district tours, ceremonies, demonstrations of traditional practices, film screenings, trail clean-ups and hands-on restorations. Lectures, oral histories, ranch tours and re-enactments make up the balance of events, which are educational and fun.

The Calendar is published in April, one month before Preservation Month, to allow adequate planning and publicity for events. People submitting events for the Calendar should seriously consider sending a jpeg photo with their event form.

Awards

Since 1970, the Cultural Properties Review Committee has presented Heritage Preservation Awards for outstanding achievements in the field of preservation. Individuals, organizations, authors, local heroes, businesses and agencies have received awards for making significant contributions to preserving architecture, archaeological sites, language, cultural landscapes and often lesser known elements of New Mexico’s history. 

2011 Award Recipients

Lifetime Achievement

  • WILLIAM “WID” SLICK — For 30 years dedicated to preserving, investing and believing in some of the City of Las Vegas’s most significant historic architecture.

Architectural Heritage

  • HOTEL ANDALUZ — For Goodman Realty Group’s rehabilitation of Albuquerque’s historic Hilton Hotel and re-opening it as the Hotel Andaluz. Accepted by Darin Sand.
  • HOTEL PARQ CENTRAL — For the adaptive re-use of the Santa Fe Hospital for AT&SF Railway Workers in Albuquerque by David Oberstein, Marc Bertram, Marquita Russel and Elizabeth Cavasos.
  • MIMBRES VALLEY BREWING COMPANY — For Bryan Reedy’s adaptive re-use of historic 200 South Gold Avenue in Deming into a microbrewery and restaurant.

Heritage Organization

  • HISTORIC SANTA FE FOUNDATION — For 50 years of preservation advocacy and innovation and the recent Gustave Bauman House restoration. Accepted by Elaine Bergman.
  • NEW MEXICO MAINSTREET — For 26 years of community work to preserve New Mexico’s historic downtowns and providing a framework for economic revitalization through preservation. Accepted by Rich Williams.

Heritage Publication

  • CHRONICLES OF THE TRAIL — For Jean Fulton and Catherine Kurland who publish the journal of  El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro Trail Association, a chronicle of the Royal Road.
  • NEW MEXICO MEDICAL SOCIETY — For enriching New Mexico’s bookshelf by chronicling the sometimes overlooked history of modern medicine in the state since World War II. Award accepted by Michael DuPont, Paul Akmajian & Dr. Daniel Derksen.

Tribal Heritage

  • THERESA PASQUAL — For the preservation of language and the cultural heritage of Acoma Pueblo.

Citizen Advocacy “Rita Hill ”

  • DIANE PRATHER & GARY COZZENS — For preserving on site the last surviving Civilian Conservation Corps structure in the Smokey Bear Ranger District.

Community Preservation  Planning

  • OLD CANYON ROAD POWER PLANT — For the success of the Canyon Neighborhood Association, Victor Johnson Architects, and City of Santa Fe in preserving Santa Fe’s first hydroelectric plant. Accepted by Mayor David Coss, Alan "Mac" Watson and Michael Last.
  • MAINSTREET DE LAS VEGAS — For uniting citizens, students, businesses and others into a successful Façade Squad that preserves historic architecture. Accepted by Cindy Collins.