Moments in Time

The New Mexico History Museum in collaboration with New Mexico PBS presents short history videos about New Mexico's unique and diverse history.  Moments in Time offers audiences a glimpse into some of the fascinating people, events, and artifacts of New Mexico's history. And, audiences have the opportunity to see and learn about the museum's collection without leaving home.  Visit the Moments in Time website.

When the Eastern ladies arrived in New Mexico via the great iron horse at the end of the 19th Century, they arrived with the latest fashions. Underneath it all what did they wear and how does it compare to the dress of New Mexicans? Drawing from the History Museum's exhibit "Fashioning New Mexico," Victorian clothing historian and performer Sharon Guli reveals "Victorian Secrets" in a special fashion show. Featured is Victorian music performed by Spare Parts.

Seeking a pardon, W.H. Bonney a.k.a Billy the Kid wrote several letters to New Mexico's Territorial Governor Lew Wallace. The letters open a window to one of the most interesting aspects of New Mexico's history and the Kid's life. Historian Paul Hutton tells us about how the letters provide a unique view into the Lincoln County War and the fascinating relationship between the Kid and Wallace. Collector Robert G. McCubbin provides rare historical materials of the Kid's time. Bob Boze Bell provides his artwork illustrating Billy the Kid's life. And, Frank McCulloch and Luis Campos provide wonderful music.

This video discusses the two Segesser hide paintings in the collection of the New Mexico History Museum that provide an intriguing snapshot of colonial life in the American southwest. Painted in the early 1700's, they tell a story of a battle where the Spanish, French, Apache, Oto, Pawnee, and Pueblo Indians fought over resources and territories. Former director of the New Mexico History Museum Tom Chavez shares his unique insights. Featured is traditional music La Jeyana, by Rosanna Otero, an Indita courtesy of Enrique Lamadrid's archives.

At the turn of the 20th Century, still a territory, New Mexicans wanted to prove their loyalty to the United States. They found their opportunity by joining Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders to fight in the Spanish American War. Roosevelt recruited the tough westerners like New Mexican Maximiliano Luna to be part of his Rough Riders. After the war Rough Rider reunions were held for decades at the historic Hotel Castañeda in Las Vegas. Shot on location at the Hotel Castañeda, Noted Western historian Dr. Paul Hutton shares his great knowledge of this important step in New Mexico achieving statehood.

Built in 1610, New Mexico's Palace of the Governors is one our nation's most important landmarks. For centuries it has been the heartbeat of New Mexico and has rich stories to tell about our past and the history of the United States. New Mexico History Museum Director Frances Levine shares insights into the unique history of the Palace. Archaeologist Stephen Post takes us on a journey into the Palace's past through the massive archeological excavations that took place prior to the construction of the New Mexico History Museum.

Buried in the New Mexico History Museum's photographic archives is a unique and fascinating visual record of Santa Fe. What do these iconic images tell us about ourselves and how our cities evolve? Noted author and art critic Lucy Lippard discusses how these images offer insights into how Santa Fe has transformed into a cultural icon.

In this video, learn about the Santa Fe Internment Camp, which held 4,555 men of Japanese ancestry from March 1942 to April 1946. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the US Government arrested and imprisoned thousands of Japanese-American men branding them "dangerous enemy aliens." Incarcerated without trial, they were forced to leave behind their families along with everything they knew and loved. Professor of Literature Gail Okawa, renowned photographer Patrick Nagatani, and southwestern artist Jerry West share their family's stories about the Santa Fe camp. Highlighted are original family photographs along with rare photographs of the camp loaned by Brian Minami of manymountains.org. Featured is Japanese flute music performed by Andrea McQuate.

The heart of a small town in central New Mexico still beats through a turn of century Chandler and Price platen press. This press that once chronicled the life of Estancia New Mexico still functions today at the New Mexico History Museum. We go back in time to learn how the Estancia Press contributed to the life of this small town and recorded it! And, we learn about how the press printed Jack Thorp's seminal 1908 book Songs of the Cowboys. Palace Press Curator Tom Leech, former Palace Press Curator Pam Smith and Estancia historian Morrow Hall share insights. Featured is music from Songs of the Cowboys performed by Mark L. Gardner and Rex Rideout.

At the end of an arduous 6 month, 1600 mile trek northward to Spain's new colonial capital of Santa Fe, Spanish colonists faced one last hurdle, the La Bajada Mesa. Noted archeologist Michael Marshall walks us through the trail as it travels up the mesa. Historian Dr. Estevan Rael-Gálvez shares his thoughts on the significance of the Camino Real.

In this video, members of the Buffalo Soldiers Society of New Mexico share insights into the history of the Buffalo soldiers and how they contributed to New Mexico achieving statehood in 1912. They tell us of the challenges these soldier's faced, their hard work, and particularly of their bravery during the battle with Apache Chief Victorio at the isolated Massacre Canyon in the Black Range Mountains of southern New Mexico. The Buffalo Soldiers primary duties during the post civil war were to protect isolated settlements and to establish towns throughout the southwest. The soldiers established mail and stage routes across the west and maintained law and order throughout the southwest region. They guarded important mountain passes, water holes, isolated settlements and many other tasks. The Buffalo Soldiers got their name from the plains Indians not only because of their wooly-like hair but also because of their unmatched courage and their superior fighting skills.

Some of the great cultural treasures of America reside in the ancient churches of New Mexico and in the collection of the New Mexico History Museum. Created by santeros, the classical santero tradition of carving and painting religious artworks was rooted in New Mexico for most of the 1800s when Roman Catholics commissioned these devoted carvers to sculpt a santo or saint. Santos were found in churches, private chapels, and taken out for processions during holy days. While the tradition died out when religious images became commercially manufactured, the santero tradition saw a revival during the latter half of the 20th century. New Mexico History Museum's Curator, Josef Diaz, shares insights into the history of these treasures of devotion. Renowned contemporary santero, Ramón José López, takes us on a special visit to his family's beautiful capilla and shares his thoughts about what keeps the santero tradition alive. Also featured are prayers recorded in northern New Mexico churches and sacred Spanish-language musical hymns Alabados de Abiquiu courtesy of Jack Loeffler's oral history archives.

Learn the fascinating story of Doña Teresa Aguilera y Roche, the wife of Santa Fe's colonial governor Don Bernardo López de Mendizábal and the only woman in New Mexico arrested by the Inquisition on the account of secretly being Jewish. While imprisoned in Mexico City she asks for a pen and paper and writes her defense laying bare what life was like in the Palace of the Governors at that time. What lead to her arrest? What happened to her? Her story is one that provides a rare view into the intrigue and social history of early Spanish colonial society in New Mexico. New Mexico History Museum Director Dr. Frances Levine and Colonial historian Gerald Gonzales share insights into this dramatic story. Featured is colonial Hispanic music performed by The Santa Fe Desert Choral and celebrated Flamenco dancer Maria Benitez brings Doña T to life.