VCHS Board Meetings

Presentations & Events

Upcoming Presentations & Events

• May 16, 2026 - July 11, 2026, Los Lunas on Route 66 History Exhibit, Los Lunas Museum of Heritage & Arts. Open 10am to 5pm Tuesday - Saturday. 2026 Commemorates the 100th Anniversary of Route 66. Los Lunas was part of Route 66 from 1926 to 1937. Please join us May 16 to July 11, 2026, for a Route 66 exhibit detailing the story behind the iconic road. The history will include what was happening in the country as well as what was happening in Los Lunas. Stories about stores, gas stations, and people from the area will be included. Additionally, artifacts from the time periods as well as replicas pieces from Route 66 will be shown.

• Sunday, June 7, 2026 @ 2 pm Navajo-Churro Sheep: Saga of Travel, Adaption and Survival in New Mexico by Professor Richard Marlar, Los Lunas Museum of Heritage & Arts. 

• Saturday, June 13, 2026 @ 2 - 4 pm, An Afternoon with Santero Alcario Otero, Los Lunas Museum of Heritage & Arts. Please join us for an afternoon with renowned local Santero Alcario Otero. Mr. Otero will be presenting three works of art he has created that have been generously acquired with funds donated by the Friends of the Los Lunas Public Library & Museum of Heritage & Arts. Mr. Otero will give a presentation on his life, what inspires him, as well as the history of Spanish Colonial Art and his craft.  

• VCHS Banquet with the launch of the Harvey Girls book by Mary Hahn (published by the Valencia County Historical Society) at the Belen Harvey House Museum. September 2026 TBD

• Route 66 in Valencia County by John Taylor Sunday, October 18, 2026 @ 2:00PM at the Los Lunas Museum of Heritage & Arts

• Cowboy Hats by Maggie McDonald Sunday, November 8, 2026 @ 2:00PM at the Belen Harvey House Museum

• Zuni Witch Trials by Cynthia Shetter Sunday, December 6, 2026 @ 2:00PM at the Los Lunas Museum of Heritage & Arts

Spring Events

• Sample of 100 Objects that Tell New Mexico History by Richard Melzer TBD

• History of the Middle Rio Grand Conservancy District (MRGCD) by Eric Zamora TBD

• Growing up in Los Lunas TBD

Past Recorded Presentations

Geologic History of Valencia County by Paul Parmentier Link to a video of the presentation from November 2nd : https://tinyurl.com/56hwsecd 

Los Lunas Mystery Stone by John Taylor  Link to a video of the presentation from November 12th: https://www.facebook.com/pg/vchsnm/events/?ref=page_internal 

Presentations & Events by Other Associations

Route 66 Centennial Speakers Series

Every month in 2026 (except December) at the Fred Luna Multigenerational Center, 315 Don Pasqual Rd. NW, Los Lunas, NM

• Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Donatella Davano: Photo-ethnographic exploration of Route 66. "Route 66 Connected" is an exposition focusing on the tangible and intangible Route 66 heritage. Considering the historic roadside facilities a "living legacy," the presentation explores their tangible, symbolic, and ethnic features to uncover how they preserve or reinterpret the historical narratives of the Route 66 era. 

• Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Lynne Franchini Peckinpaugh: Italian's Pathway to Prosperity on Route 66. Various Italian owned businesses along ALbuquerque's Route 66 began appearing in the early 1900's on Central Avenue and nearby streets. Theaters, shoe and clothing stores, beer gardens, grocery stores, bakeries and auto repair shops provided the Italian's pathway to prosperity. Each of the families and businesses will be introduced providing a glimpse into the Italian's mark on Route 66.

• Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Suzanne Stauffer: Fred Harvey Indian Tours. In 1926 the Fred Harvey Company, in conjunction with the Santa Fe Railroad, began offering 1 -2 and 3 day "Detours" of historic and scenic sites in northern New Mexico, led by young women known as "Couriers." This presentation will provie an overview of the Detours, with a focus on the Couriers. 

Note: ROUTE 66 SPEAKER SERIES is at 12 locations throughout metro area (ABQ, Bernalillo, Rio Rancho, Isleta Pueblo, Los Lunas) with different speakers. Go to www.route66speakers.org for list of speakers, details of talks and locations/ addresses.

More events!!

• Saturday, April 25, 2026 2pm, free. Dr. Andy Russell talks about his book "Like Friends, Like Foes-Japanese Americans and Nevada through WW II" (includes sections about NM). Japanese American Cultural Center, 1501 San Pedro NE.

• Saturday, April 25, 2-4pm, free NM Natural History Museum traveling van exhibt of NM Rocks! Regional geology for kids and adults. Los Griegos Library, 1000 Griegos NW. 

• Saturday, April 25, 2-3 pm, free with admission. Art Activism and Immigrant Rights, a panel discussion of how "art is a tool for political intervention, community engagement and advocacy". ABQ Museum.

• Sunday, April 26, 2 PM, free. State Historian Rob Martinez speaks & sings on Tales and Music of Old NM,  Martha Liebert Library, 124 Calle Malinche in Bernalillo. More info at BernalilloLibrary.org or 505-867-1440.

• Thursday, April 30, PBS/ KNME. Ch. 5.1, 7:30 pm. ABQ's Roots - learn about ABQ History.