NMPedia

AKA: Mr. Chile. (1924-1988) Horticulturist, teacher, and researcher at New Mexico State University. Recognized as the leading expert in hybridization of chile peppers, he was personally responsible for the development of dozens of strains. The majority of the chile varieties grown commercially in New Mexico were originally bred by Nakayama. Developed the Nakayama Scale, a 1-to-10 point index for the "heat" of chile peppers.
State Historian webpage on Roy Nakayama

AKA: Nakayama Index. Relative "heat" measurement for the pungency of chile peppers, developed by Dr. Roy Nakayama of New Mexico State University. Intended to be more accessible than the Scoville Scale, the 10-point index ranges from the mildest of 1 (exemplified by the New Mexico No. 6, formerly known as the Anaheim variety) to the hottest of 10, the realm of the habanero. Based more upon perceived heat than chemical analysis, the Nakayama Scale is often used by New Mexico cooks and chile growers.

See Fort Bayard National Cemetery, Santa Fe National Cemetery

AKA: Hispanic Culture Center. In Albuquerque's South Valley, Barelas Neighborhood, "dedicated to the study, advancement, and presentation of Hispanic culture, arts, and humanities". Opened in 2000. Features art collections and hosts cultural events and exhibits. Home to the Roy E. Disney Theater. Seasonal events include Dia de los Muertos, Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Carnaval/Black History Month, and Cinco de Mayo.

Event held periodically, usually annually, in the western United States from 1891 until 1916 (by which time it was called the International Irrigation Congress); with the opening of the West to agriculture, a politically and commercially important event. The 16th Congress was held in Albuquerque in 1908 with the Interstate Industrial Exposition and as part of the New Mexico Territorial Fair. The event drew national attention to Albuquerque as the host city, and drew attention to the potential for New Mexico being made a state; President Roosevelt sent a message to the Irrigation Congress stating that he hoped he would soon be signing statehood legislation papers for New Mexico.

Part of the Philmont Scout Ranch in Colfax County; "...shares the rich history of the Boy Scouts of America with visitors, including the tens of thousands of campers, volunteers, and alumni that visit Philmont each year". Hosts the Seton Memorial Library. Open to the public.
National Scouting Museum website

See Code Talkers

(1828-1891) Founder in the 1880s of the Shalam Colony, a utopian community near Las Cruces. The community was populated by members of the Church of Tae, based on the teachings of "OAHSPE: A New Bible" which Dr. Newbrough wrote. Followers of the OAHSPE Bible called themselves Faithists.

See Territorial Fair

AKA: NMBHI. Formerly, New Mexico State Hospital. Las Vegas; "The only state owned and operated psychiatric hospital in New Mexico." Under the management of the New Mexico Department of Health.
New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute website

See Sibley's New Mexico Campaign

Established by the Territorial Legislature in 1893 as the New Mexico Normal School (later the New Mexico Normal University); changed to present name in 1941. Today, Highlands is "known for its multi-ethnic student body, small classes, research activities, student and faculty achievements, and opportunities for students to combine study with real-world experience. Through distance education, Internet courses, and on-site faculty, Highlands also offers degree-completion and graduate programs in Rio Rancho, Santa Fe, Espanola, Farmington, Raton and Roswell."
New Mexico Highlands University website

Published since 1926 by the University of New Mexico, featuring "original articles dealing with southwestern history and culture from the earliest prehistory to the present. Each issue also contains historical news, book reviews, occasional review essays on books, and book notes."
New Mexico Historical Review website

On Santa Fe Plaza. Controlled by the Museum of New Mexico as a part of the Department of Cultural Affairs. "Presents exhibitions and public programs that interpret historical events and reflect on the wide range of New Mexico historical experiences. The museum actively acquires and holds in perpetuity collections relating to the heritage of New Mexico and the Southwest. It serves as a history center for research, education, and lifelong learning, delivering quality programs that encourage knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of New Mexico's diverse cultures."
New Mexico History Museum website

See New Mexico State Hospital

See New Mexico Tech

AKA: NMMI, "West Point of the West". Located in Roswell; "the nation's only state-supported, co-educational college preparatory 4-year military high school and junior college". Founded in 1891 as the Goss Military Academy, renamed in 1893, in 1895 received a gift of land from J.J. Hagerman. Famous NMMI alumni include Sam Donaldson, Conrad Hilton, Paul Horgan, Peter Hurd, Roger Staubach, and actor Owen Wilson.
New Mexico Military Institute website

Santa Fe, in the Old Armory building. Opened as the Bataan Memorial Military Museum and Library by members of the New Mexico National Guard to honor the memory of the 200th Coast Artillery Regiment, who fought in the Philippines, were captured and spent many years in captivity. Since expanded to encompass New Mexico military affairs from the Civil War on. Under the Department of Military Affairs which is an agency of the State of New Mexico.
New Mexico Military Museum website

AKA: New Mexico Territorial Mounted Police, Fullerton's Rangers, New Mexico Mounties, NMMP. In response to both cattle rustling and "bounty hunters" financed by well-heeled landowners to act as strong men in land disputes, the New Mexico Mounted Police was created in 1905 under the Mounted Police Act. Socorro County rancher John F. Fullerton was selected to be the first captain of the force, leading to the Police becoming nicknamed Fullerton's Rangers. The Rangers had powers throughout the Territory, which lead to some friction with county sheriffs, and with New Mexico's statehood in 1912 became the first statewide police force. The NMMP operated until 1921, in their history moving from horseback operations to motorcycles and automobiles, and from dealing with cattle rustling to auto theft.
State Historian webpage on the New Mexico Mounted Police

See New Mexico Mounted Police

Formerly, New Mexico Museum of Fine Arts. Santa Fe. One of the four museums of the Museum of New Mexico. Collects and presents historic and contemporary art from New Mexico and the Southwest. Building designed by Isaac Rapp, 1917.
Museum of Art website

See New Mexico Museum of Art

AKA: Space Museum. Formerly, International Space Hall of Fame. Alamogordo, under the auspices of the New Mexico Dept. of Cultural Affairs. Encompasses the Museum of Space History, the International Space Hall of Fame, the John P. Stapp Air & Space Park, the Clyde W. Tombaugh IMAX Theater and Planetarium, the Hubbard Space Science Research Building, and an astronaut memorial garden. A Smithsonian affiliate museum.
New Mexico Museum of Space History website

See Los Lunas Mystery Stone

AKA: New Mexico Normal at Las Vegas, New Mexico Normal University. Established by the Territorial Legislature in 1893 near Las Vegas, New Mexico. Operated under the guidance of Dr. Edgar Lee Hewett. In 1899 the name changed to New Mexico Normal University, and in 1917 the school became a four-year training college. In 1941 renamed New Mexico Highlands University.

Train offering passenger service along the Rio Grande Valley between Belen and Santa Fe.
New Mexico Rail Runner Express website

See New Mexico Tech

Nickname of the unincorporated town of Rodeo New Mexico, due to its location just one mile from the Arizona state border.

See Spaceport America

AKA: New Mexico Space Authority. Non-governmental, private sector panel appointed by the Governor to oversee the development of Spaceport America in southern New Mexico. The bulk of the funding for the development of the Spaceport has come from State money and county bonds, with Virgin Galactic the anchor company for the privatized development.

Developed by the New Mexico Museum of Space History, the New Mexico Space Trail identifies 52 sites, both ancient and modern, across the State directly related to astronomy and space exploration. Created after the 2010 introduction of a memorial bill designating the trail, by New Mexico representative Dennis Kintigh.

Created in 1889 by the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of New Mexico as the New Mexico Insane Asylum. Now the New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute.

See State Songs

AKA: NMSU, State Agricultural College. Established 1889 as the Agricultural College and Agricultural Experiment Station in Las Cruces; the land-grant university for New Mexico. Became known as the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts; name changed to New Mexico State University by constitutional amendment in 1960. Offers bachelors and graduate degrees in a variety of subjects; enrolls more than 16,000 students from nation- and worldwide.
New Mexico State University website

Formal name: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (from 1951), previously New Mexico School of Mines (from 1893). College in Socorro noted for mining, petroleum engineering, mechanical engineering, and computer science. Hosts the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, the Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center (EMRTC) [formerly the Terminal Effects Research and Analysis group, TERA], the Langmuir Laboratory for Atmospheric Research, an office of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, the Petroleum Recovery Research Center (PRRC), the PASSCAL and Earthscope geophysics research centers, the Magdalena Ridge Observatory, the Institute for Complex Additive Systems Analysis (ICASA), and the National Cave and Karst Research Institute. On campus is a full golf course and the Macey Center for the Performing Arts.
New Mexico Tech website

See New Mexico Mounted Police

See Territory of New Mexico

To counter likely Confederate incursions into New Mexico Territory during the American Civil War, regiments of volunteers were formed in summer 1861 by Edward R.S. Canby. The first regiment of the Volunteers was under the command of Kit Carson, the second under Miguel Pino. The volunteers were largely Spanish-speaking, causing communication difficulties with the English-speaking Army - Canby blamed Union losses at the Battle of Valverde on poor performance by the Volunteers, but most of that seems to have been due to the language barrier. Even with this problem and supplied with obsolete equipment, the New Mexico Volunteers served with distinction until 1867 when the force was disbanded.

Walt Disney television miniseries, 1958, inspired by the life of Hispanic folk hero Elfego Baca; Baca was born in Socorro and spent most of his colorful life in the Albuquerque area. Starring Robert Loggia, the series presents a very sympathetic view of Mexican-Americans for the time, with Baca as the constant champion of the downtrodden and an opponent of injustice, willing to support lawful process at risk of his own life. While some of the series was filmed on a Hollywood backlot, most of the filming took place south of Santa Fe and in Cerrillos.

A patent for a non-reversing mirror was awarded to Dave Thomas in 1978; Thomas was a physics instructor at New Mexico Tech in Socorro at the time.

Recording studio in Clovis, famously used by Buddy Holly to record some of his early records. Petty served as producer to Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Roy Orbison, The Fireballs, and many other artists. The studio was in use from the 1950s until Petty's death in 1984, and may be toured.
Norman Petty Studios website

(1905-1949) Milton Ernest Noss, AKA: Milton Starr. Famous for claiming to have found a large treasure in caverns within Victorio Peak in southern New Mexico, on land that is now part of the White Sands Missile Range. Noss said that he visited the hoard many times, removing gold and artifacts which he sometimes buried in new locations. All aspects of Noss' story (including his claimed medical degree which gave him his nickname) remain controversial. After Doc's death (at the hands of a disgruntled investor in his treasure recovery schemes) his wife continued to claim ownership of the treasure.

Wry phrase sometimes seen on t-shirts.

May 22 1957. Accidental release of a 10 megaton hydrogen bomb from a B-36 bomber as it approached for a landing at Kirtland Air Force Base. The 42,000-pound Mark 17 thermonuclear weapon, one of the most powerful ever constructed, fell in an uninhabited area south of the air field; the unarmed weapon did not detonate, but left a 12-foot-deep 25-foot-wide crater in the mesa. The event was revealed to the public in 1986 after the Albuquerque Journal performed a Freedom of Information Act search and published an article with the findings.

AKA: Jesse L. Nusbaum. (1887-1975) Taught at Las Vegas Normal School, photographed in northern New Mexico 1908-10. First employee of School of American Archeology in 1909, serving as photographer. Recorded Pecos Ruins. Oversaw the remodeling of Palace of the Governors into a museum; most of the historical photographs of the Palace were taken by Nusbaum. Independently published postcards of Santa Fe. After photographing Mesa Verde in 1914, appointed Superintendent there in 1921. In 1927 appointed Archeologist to the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior; served as Director of the Laboratory of Anthropology in Santa Fe 1930-35.