The Folsom Museum

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Located in Downtown Folsom, NM
~ at the junction of ~
Highways 325 & 456

Folsom Museum
PO Box 454
Folsom, NM 88419
575.278.2122

Abbie Reaves
President

Seasonal Hours

Memorial Weekend to Labor Day Weekend
7 Days a Week: 10:00 am-5:00 pm

Weekends in May & September
Remainder of Year by Appointment

Admission Schedule

Adults: $1.50
Children 6-12: $ .50
Children under 6:Free

Events


Upcoming Events

Branding Party / Chili Cook-Off  ~ July 10th, 2010 ~ 4-8pm ~ Eat and brand our fence!
Western entertainer Steven Cormier will also be featured! Click here for full details>>

Capulin Volcano Run & Folsom Fun Run ~ September 26th, 2010 ~ 6:00 am ~ Up the Volcano! Click here for full details>>

Other Upcoming 2010 Events Made Possible by Aid from the New Mexico Humanities Council

The museum board would like to express its gratitude to the New Mexico Humanities Council for its generosity and support of the Folsom Museum.  The following 2010 events have been made possible by grants from the NMHC.

SATURDAY, July 10th, 2010 Steven Cormier, western entertainer, complementing our Western Party and Feed, at the Folsom Museum, 5pm to ?

SATURDAY, August 7th, 2010 Jeanie McLerie and Ken Keppeler of Bayo Seco, helping to open the NMHC/Smithsonian exhibit. They will play and educate throughout the day at the Museum as we will hold an open house. Perhaps an hour + scheduled performance at the Museum. To be decided!

SATURDAY, August 21st, 2010 Dr. Roberto Garcia, Latin and Penitente singer and historian, Folsom School Gymnasium from 3-5 pm.

SUNDAY, August 22nd, 2010 Dr. Roberto Garcia, Latin and Penitente singer and historian, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. His family has ties to Folsom; his parents were married in St. Joseph’s church. (Not sure of the time this would take place – probably regular church service)

FRIDAY, September 10th, 2010 Gil Sperry will perform and educate Mariachi 101 for the public and Des Moines School kids from 1 to 3 pm in the Des Moines school auditorium.

SATURDAY, September 11th, 2010 Gil Sperry, Mariachi 101, will perform and educate at the Folsom School Gymnasium from 7 pm to 9 pm.

FRIDAY, September 16th, 2010 Kathy Flynn, will give an informative talk about the dust bowl with pictures featuring other local persons that lived through this trying time. It will be open to the public and to the Des Moines School children. Time will be from 1 pm to 3 pm.

SUNDAY, September 26th, 2010 Sharon Neiderman, will present an informative talk about “from Klezmer to Swing” explaining the Jewish influence in our area, associating it with the New Harmonies exhibit. This will be held at the Folsom School Gymnasium. NOTE: this will be the afternoon of the “Run the Rim” half marathon.

FRIDAY, October 8th, 2010 Jeanie and Ken will return to our area for another program aimed more for the K to 5th grades. This will be held at the Des Moines School Auditorium from 1 pm to 3 pm, with the public invited.

Recent Events

Dry Cimarron River History Tour ~ May 15th, 2010 ~ A wonderful road trip down the historic valley.

Folsom Man Site Tour ~ May 22nd, 2010 ~ Tour of the famous archeological site with experts on the subject!

Capulin Volcano Run & Folsom Fun Run ~ September 27th, 2009 ~ 6:00 am ~ Up the Volcano! Click here for full details>>

Star Party ~ October 10, 2009 ~ Folsom, NM ~ Telescopes & folks who know what's up!

Chautauqua (story telling) honoring Virginia Dale Morrow - August 8, 2009 at 4 p.m. at the Folsom School House in Folsom, NM.  Featuring Dorothy Thompson Smoker.

Branding Party ~ July 11, 2009 ~ 5-8pm ~ BBQ Meal and you get to brand our fence!  Click here for full details>>

Dry Cimarron River History Tour ~ May 23, 2009 ~ A wonderful road trip down the historic valley.

Folsom Man Site Tour ~ May 16, 2009 ~ Tour of the famous archeological site!

Capulin Mountain Run & Folsom Fun Run ~ October 26th, 2008 ~ 6:00 am ~ Up the Volcano! Click here for full details>>

Branding Party ~ July 12th, 2008 ~ 4-8pm ~ BBQ Meal and you get to brand our fence!  Click here for full details>>
 

Mission Statement


The mission of the Folsom Museum is to instill pride in our remote and rural community by educating visitors about the history of the Northeast New Mexico area and its connection to our present and future. The Museum collections include important artifacts of historical and cultural value that date from the time of prehistoric Folsom Man through the period of American westward expansion when the town of Folsom was established and beyond.
 

Your help is needed!!


We are currently planning to renovate the museum in order to preserve our heritage for future generations. The building is in dire need of repair. All donations are appreciated. Also please look at our wish list page for additional ways to help. This building is on the New Mexico State registry as a historical site. However it currently does not receive state funding. We operate solely on visitor admission and the generosity of private benefactors. We will need additional funding to make necessary repairs.
 

Membership Information


General

Individual ~ general membership for one year : $10.00
Family ~ general membership for one year for immediate family: $10.00
Individual Lifetime Membership ~ that's a long time! : $200.00

Sustaining Benefactors

Homestead level: $250.00
Storekeeper level: $500.00
Banker level: $1000.00
 

Board Members & Officers


Coming soon...
 

Can you guess?

 
Do you know what this is?  Send us an email and see if you are right!

museum@folsomvillage.com

 

News from the Past


Follow these links to news stories from the past that relate to some of our exhibits:


 

History of the Folsom Museum


In 1965, a group of Folsom citizens decided to develop a museum to honor the Folsom Man Discovery, to preserve and display local artifacts, and to record pioneer history. The New Mexico State Museum was contacted and help was promised. The old rock hotel was the first choice for the museum. The Doherty family agreed to deed their old store building for a museum. If the museum ever ceases to be, the building will revert back to the Doherty family. Several volunteers rolled up their sleeves and went to work. By early 1966, the building was ready to open.

On February 3, 1966, a general meeting was held at the Folsom Fire House to elect a board of trustees and set up a constitution and by-laws. Fourteen people were present: Emma Adams, Loren Doherty, Alma McNaughten, Betty Short, Bob Hasty, Oscar Brown, Fran Eiland, Mary Clements, Mrs. Ola 'Grandma' McDonald, Sarah Castillo, Eligio Castillo, Maybell Honey, Fred Honey. The election was by ballot, and the following people were elected for the first board: Betty Short, President, Fred Wilbourn, Vice-President, Emma Adams, Secretary, Bob Hasty, Treasurer, and Loren Doherty, Member.

Honorary memberships would be given to those who gave extraordinary service to the museum. Honorary members were:

  • The Doherty Family: John, Catherine, Louise, Danny, Loren, Hazel, Jimmy, and Sylvia
  • Dick and Elaine Kennedy
  • Paul Kastler, for his work on the constitution and by-laws.

The State Museum lacked the staff to support a walking path to the Folsom Man Monument and were afraid to open it without supervision to keep people from disturbing the area. A promise to help with the museum exhibits was given. When the anticipated aid didn't come, the museum committee proceeded on their own and collected items to be on loan for exhibit.

On July 30, 1967, the Grand Opening, from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m., with a local talent art show, floral displays and refreshments, was a great success with more than 250 persons registered and an estimate of at least 350 people there. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves just looking, visiting and reminiscing.

Originally, the museum was open daily from 2:00 - 5:00, with volunteers taking turns staying at the museum. People came earlier and later, wanting in, so soon, Emma Adams was spending long hours, daily, taking care of the museum. We had 980 registered visitors the first summer, besides the ones on opening day, for a total of over 1200. The museum received many compliments from visitors on the variety of items and interesting things displayed. (In recent years, the museum has had to begin charging for admission to cover operating expenses). During the first years, the museum was hard-pressed for money.

Dinners to raise money for expenses were held. On April 2, 1968, a dinner was held at the Fire House from 11:00 - 2:00. The fried chicken dinner came with vegetables, salad and dessert at $1.00 for adults and 50 cents a plate for children. All the women in the area were frying chickens (38 in all), and making other goodies. At 11:00, people were wanting to eat. A steady stream of people came until after 2:30. Different ones ran home and whipped up another salad, or opened cans of vegetables to have something to feed the people. Most of the food was donated. When the money was counted, $261.24 was earned from the dinner. In 1968, 2,970 visitors, including some from foreign countries, visited the museum.

Each year the number of visitors increased. By 1972, when the museum was open longer hours, 6,600 visitors registered. Currently, between 2,000 and 3,000 people visit the museum each year. Emma Adams, for many years, put in long hours and would open the museum any time someone asked. She really enjoyed visiting with the people. A native, Emma could tell the ranching and cattle history, and personal stories about the exhibits. Everyone loved her and people would come back years later asking about the nice little lady who ran the museum. For years, Emma was secretary-treasurer of the board.

The Folsom Museum is open from Memorial Weekend to Labor Day Weekend. Everyone has a family and can't stay the long hours Emma did. Nor do the volunteers know the history like Emma did. Interest in the area history continues and visitors still compliment us on our nice museum. Each year groups of school children from New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma visit the museum. Some come back year after year, bringing new groups of students. Groups of Boy Scouts, archaeologists, the rich and poor, the young and old, all seem to enjoy the museum. Local people bring friends and relatives that are visiting. The museum has brought many people into Folsom that otherwise wouldn't have come. Advertising has been word of mouth. The State Highway Department 'Folsom Museum' signs on Hwy 87 at Capulin and Des Moines help. Plus, the Capulin Volcano National Monument staff tell visitors about the museum. People were skeptical, at first, and didn't think it would work. But, with a lot of hard work, cooperation, and determination on the part of many people, the Folsom Museum has been a success for 36 years.

Contributed by Betty Short
 

Emma Adams Day in Folsom


Sunday, September 2, 1979, was celebrated as Emma Adams Day in the Folsom Community. Everyone knew about the reception that afternoon in the Folsom School. Everyone, that is, but Emma. The purpose of the surprise reception was to honor Mrs. Adams for her birthday, which was August 31. It was also a good time for the community to show appreciation for all she's done for this area. Emma has been the municipal clerk in Folsom for years, a mainstay in the Folsom Baptist Church, and the Folsom Museum Curator.

In addition to being an active member of the Folsom Garden Club, Mrs. Adams participated in the local extension club and was the Folsom representative to the Sierra Grande Chamber of Commerce board. Emma was also the volunteer gardener for the flowers around the museum and fire house.