The story of Las Vegas spans centuries and cultures, and lovingly honors them all.
Our focus for Heritage Week 2017 is Las Vegas, NM: Crossroads of Diversity.
“Mil Gracias” (a thousand thanks) to the Las Vegas Citizens Committee for Historic Preservation, aka LVCCHP, for initiating the dream and encouraging the plans.
So, what’s the story???
Native Americans valued the nearby healing hot springs. Spanish settlers received a land grant, farmed, ranched, built homes, and before long Las Vegas became a major stop on the Santa Fe Trail. As a railroad town, we’ve hosted a vast array of historical characters including Billy the Kid, Doc Holliday, and Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders. Jewish immigrants settled and built businesses, homes, and the first temple in the southwest.
Now Vegas features a restored Amtrak station and over 900 homes and buildings on the Register of Historical Places. The diverse architecture and beautiful settings have made Las Vegas a mecca for the film and television industry for the last 100 years, and credits include many Tom Mix films, Red Dawn, Easy Rider, All the Pretty Horses, Paul, Longmire and Academy Award-winning No Country for Old Men. And visitors from all over the world still fall in love with our geography, our climate, our history, our cuisine and our diversity…and continue to help us preserve the best of the old and the new.
We are the Las Vegas Arts Council and this is our contribution to Heritage Week 2017.
The Las Vegas Jewish Community, THEN AND NOW!
The Las Vegas Jewish Community is preparing a month-long exhibit celebrating both their historical and contemporary influences on northern New Mexico, opening Friday, August 4, at 6:15 pm. The exhibit will include Judaica, historical photographs, art, story-telling, videos, and presentations.
Click HERE for details and our schedule for the week.
Read on for the entire community’s schedule!
Click here for a downloadable pdf version.
ONGOING
- Ray Drew Gallery. Art Exhibit, Donnelly Library, NMHU Campus, 802 National Avenue, 505-454-3401. Free
- Quilt Display Threadbear, 1813 Plaza 505-425-6263. Free
- Kennedy Hall Gallery. Art Exhibit, NMHU Campus, University Avenue. Free
- Farmers’ Market 6th & University 8am till sell out. Both Saturdays and on Wednesday.
- Indian Tour Display. 10am-3pm.
Las Vegas Citizens’ Committee for Historic Preservation. 116 Bridge Street. 505-425-8803
FRIDAY, AUGUST 4
- 2Ten A Galeria of Arts and Treasures, Las Vegas|Another View, artist Fred Vallier Opening Reception 4-6, 210 Plaza, 505-652-0113 Continues through September.
- Las Vegas Jewish Community: Then and Now exhibit will explore the influence of and contributions from the conversos and crypto-Jewish immigration on El Camino Real, the Jewish pioneer merchants on the Santa Fe Trail, and the continuing contemporary presence. Opening Program and Reception: Friday, August 4, begins at 6:15
Continues through August at Las Vegas Arts Council Gallery 140, 140 Bridge Street, Sat., 1-4 pm. - Free Art Show corresponding with Heritage Week. Opening reception at NMHU Kennedy Hall, 4-7pm. Free
- Park Side Patio JC’s New York Pizza Dept., 209 Plaza. 4-6pm. Enjoy music from the park on our wonderful outdoor patio. Specials for Heritage Week participants.
- Heritage Happy Hour. B-3 BBQ, Burgers & Beer, 131 Bridge St. 4-6pm. Enjoy specials for Heritage Week participants.
- Fridays al Fresco. Music at Old Town Plaza Gazebo. 5:30-7:30 pm. Sponsored by Las Vegas First Independent Business Alliance. Free
SATURDAY, AUGUST 5
- Places with a Past. A self-guided tour of historic homes and buildings throughout Las Vegas with ghost stories. 9am-3pm. Tickets at LVCCHP Office, 116 Bridge Street. Admission $25.00. 505-425-8803.
- Local Herbs. Presentation by Semilla Natural Foods. Locally grown herbs, what they look and smell like; and the correct to way prepare them. Come enjoy iced tea and check out our herb room with over 150 herbs, spices and teas. 510 University. 11am-12pm, Free
- Chaperito by Henrietta Christmas. History/genealogy of Chaperito Parish, Land Grant & Ghost Town, time period of 1846-1957. Tome on the Range. 247 Plaza. 1pm. Free
Genealogy by Henrietta Christmas & Paul Rhetts – LPD Press. Discussion of Basic Genealogy Checklist. 101 Tips and Tactics to find your family history. Tips and web links will be provided for beginners and experienced researchers alike. Tome on the Range. 247 Plaza. 3pm. Free - Leslie Poling-Kempes, author presentation. Sponsored by Friends of Museum/City Museum. Ilfeld Auditorium, NMHU Campus. 4-6pm. Admission $5, Friends Members $3
- Heritage Happy Hour. B-3 BBQ, Burgers & Beer, 131 Bridge St., 4-6pm. Enjoy specials for Heritage Week participants.
- New Mexico Heroes. Poetry, music, monologues. Performance of original works by/or about NM Veterans. Nat Gold Players. Charlie’s Event Center (tentative) m. Admission: general $15; students/seniors $12
SUNDAY, AUGUST 6
- History of New Mexico by Thomas Chavez – UNM Press Illustrated history of NM combined with more than 200 photographs. Tome on the Range, 247 Plaza. 2pm. Free
FRIDAY, AUGUST 11
- Las Vegas History. An informal conversation with Andy Kingsbury about Joseph A. Lordi’s new and informative book entitled Las Vegas, New Mexico. Plaza Antiques, 1805 Plaza, 4-6pm. Free
- Park Side Patio JC’s New York Pizza Dept., 209 Plaza. 4-6pm. Enjoy music from the park on our wonderful outdoor patio. Specials for Heritage Week participants.
- Heritage Happy Hour. B-3 BBQ, Burgers & Beer, 131 Bridge St. 4-6pm. Enjoy specials for Heritage Week participants.
- Pioneer Dinner. IC Catholic Center, 500 National Avenue. 4:30–7:30pm. Admission $10.00
- Fridays al Fresco. Music at Old Town Plaza Gazebo. 5:30-7:30 pm. Sponsored by Las Vegas First Independent Business Alliance. Free
SATURDAY, AUGUST 12
- Family Fun Day. Carnival games, craft activities hosted by Las Vegas Elks Club, with participation of Fort Union National Monument. Sponsored by Southwest Capital Bank. Lincoln Park (7th & 8th Streets between Lincoln & Jackson). Free
- Heritage Antique/Junktique Market. Jackson side of Lincoln Park. 8am-4pm. Vendor booths $20, to benefit Our Lady of Sorrows Church Organ Restoration. To reserve space call 505-426-4547. Free to public
- Old Time Las Vegas Art Show. View beautiful art, meet artists, live music & refreshments. El Zocolo Art Gallery. 1809 Plaza. 2-4pm. Free
- Heritage Happy Hour. B-3 BBQ, Burgers & Beer, 131 Bridge St. 4-6pm. Enjoy specials for Heritage Week participants
- Las Vegas History. An informal conversation with Andy Kingsbury about Joseph A. Lordi’s new and informative book entitled Las Vegas, New Mexico. Plaza Antiques,1805 Plaza, 4-6pm. Free
- Fort Union Candlelight Tours. History of Ft. Fort Union National Monument. Buffalo Soldier story in the American West. 6:30-10:00 pm. Call for reservations. 505-425-8025. Free