ABOUT THE TOUR
The Historic Santa Fe Foundation (HSFF) is sponsoring a unique two-day tour to the Mesilla Valley in southern New Mexico that will take place May 24 and 25, 2024. The tour will begin Friday afternoon, May 24, at the New Mexico State University Art Museum in Las Cruces with an exclusive look at the largest collection of Mexican 19th century retablos in the United States. After the retablo exhibit tour, the group will caravan a mile and a half to Mesilla for a private tour of the 1850s. Guadalupe House behind San Albino Basilica, one block north of the plaza. The home was recently restored by Patrick and Wendy Taylor (Guadalupe House – A historic home in the town of Old Mesilla in New Mexico). Pat is a leading adobe preservation specialist in the United States and has worked on many historic homes in Mesilla’s historic district, as well as throughout the U.S. and South America. A reception will be held at the Guadalupe House patio following the tour. The following morning, the group will meet on the Mesilla Plaza for an overview of the town’s fascinating Borderlands history presented by Alexandra McKinney, Instructional Coordinator and Historian with New Mexico Historic Sites. Ms. McKinney will then provide a behind-the-scenes tour of the Historic Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site that fronts the west side of the plaza. The historic site consisting of historic commercial buildings with a rambling adobe home was donated to the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs and will be open to the general public at the end of next year. The tour is being coordinated by Michael Romero Taylor, one of seven children who grew up in the Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site (J. Paul and Mary Daniels Taylor Home), in conjunction with HSFF. Brothers Michael and Pat will share their in-depth understanding of the history and culture of Mesilla and the Borderlands, as well as their knowledge of historic preservation in the Mesilla Valley.

ABOUT THE GUIDE
Michael Romero Taylor has been working for the last forty years in historic preservation. His experience includes historic site management, architectural conservation, management of cultural routes, museum/visitor center management and archaeological site preservation. He retired in 2019 from National Park Service working as a cultural resource specialist for nine congressionally designated historic trails in the United States.

TRANSPORTATION & HOTELS
Participants will arrange for their own lodging and transportation from Santa Fe to Las Cruces and back. The drive takes about 4½ hours.

CANCELLATION POLICY
A full refund for the tour only will be given if canceled on or before May 6, 2024. After that date, no refund will be given for reservations for the tour. If there is a cancellation after May 6, the participant(s) will be issued a tax-donation for the amount retained at the foundation.

SCHEDULE

Friday, May 24

2:15-4 pm | Participants will gather at the NMSU Art Museum in Las Cruces at 2:15 pm for a private tour of the retablo exhibit given by NMSU’s Collections Curator Courtney Uldrich and Education and Outreach Coordinator Eva Gabriella Flynn.

6-8 pm | Tour and reception at the Guadalupe House in Mesilla.

Saturday, May 25

9-9:30 am | Meet on the Mesilla Plaza for an overview of Mesilla History. Meet on west side of the plaza in front of Heart of the Desert.

9:30-11:30 am | Tour the Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site

11:30 am-12:50 pm | Break for lunch (participants are responsible for their own lunch).

1-2 pm | Walking tour of Mesilla with Mike and Pat Taylor, and Alexandra McKinney. Meet at Heart of the Desert again.

Questions on this tour, contact Hanna Churchwell at hanna@historicsantafe.org or 505.983.2567.

WANT TO BECOME A MEMBER?
Annual membership - Individuals $45, Household $80
Visit the Join & Give page, add to cart with the above links, email Giulia Caporuscio at giulia@historicsantafe.org, or call 505-983-2567.
Checks for Membership can be mailed to Historic Santa Fe Foundation, 545 Canyon Rd, Ste 2, Santa Fe NM, 87501