Valencia County Historical Society
Valencia County Historical Society
Events
Events
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
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, 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.