Sixteen General Electric employees pose on a warhead V-2 Rocket with one man standing at the tail end at White Sands Missile Range. GE had the contract to work on the V-2 at the Proving Ground. Courtesy/WSMR

New Mexico History Museum News:

A new exhibit opens at New Mexico History Museum (NMHM) that tells the story of the dramatic transformation of life in the Tularosa Basin of Southern New Mexico in the 1940s and beyond. 

Home on the Range: From Ranches to Rockets opens June 7, 2024, and is traveling from New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces to the

The New Mexico History Museum, a Division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, at 113 Lincoln Ave. in Santa Fe.

The exhibit chronicles ranch life in the Tularosa Basin from the late 1800s when Texas ranchers settled in the basin after finding plentiful grass during a particularly wet climactic period. The story continues into the early 20th century, when the drier climate challenged these ranchers who tried raising cattle, as well as families, in the region.

The story soon changed when events taking place halfway around the world brought about permanent changes for many ranchers. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor thrust the US into World War II, an executive order established a military training range in the region, White Sands Missile Range, drawing some of the world’s greatest minds in science and engineering.

The ranchers were told they needed to immediately move their families and livestock and that they would not be allowed back until the end of the war. The families performed their patriotic duties and complied with the orders, but many never returned, changing the ranching community of the region forever.

The basin was used to test rockets, missiles, and bombs, including the atomic bomb in 1945. It was also used to launch America’s space program and other scientific and civilian programs. Home on the Range: From Ranches to Rockets features everything from replica structures that include a ranch house, tool shed, and military block house, to items as big as a V-2 rocket engine and a Loki Dart rocket.

New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum collaborated with White Sands Missile Range and the New Mexico Museum of Space History on this exhibit, and the New Mexico History Museum said it is excited to present this important story of New Mexico’s farm and science history in Santa Fe. The exhibit will be on display through Feb. 3, 2025.

About New Mexico History Museum

The New Mexico History Museum is a statewide educational resource, nationally significant local landmark, and destination for anyone who wants to understand the diverse experiences of the people of New Mexico, the dynamics that have shaped our state, and the relationships that connect our region with the rest of the world. Located on the north side of the historic Santa Fe Plaza, the New Mexico History Museum campus includes the Palace of the Governors, the Pete V. Domenici Building, the Fray Angélico Chávez History Library, and the Palace of the Governors Photo Archives. Visit https://nmhistorymuseum.org/ for more information.

About New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum

The New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum is 47 acres packed with real stories about real people. The interactive museum, which has welcomed visitors from all over the world, brings to life the 3,000-year history of farming and ranching in New Mexico. The enormous main building contains more than 24,000 square feet of exhibit space, along with a gift shop, theater, and event space. Learn more at https://www.nmfarmandranchmuseum.org/.