El Rancho de las Golondrinas Living History Museum
Left: A young visitor learns about gold prospecting at Summer Festival, Frontier Days and Horses of the West in August.; Top right: Demonstrators tan a hide; Lower right: Peruvian Paso horses demonstrate their unique gait.
Summary Information
Self-guided Tours: Jun-Sep., Wed.-Sun., 10 am-4 pm;
Docent Tours: by app't. Apr.-Oct.
Location: Follow signs from 599 and I25 Frontage Road south of Santa Fe
Phone: 505-471-2261
Take a journey to the past at the Southwest's premier outdoor living history museum! This historic Spanish colonial ranch served as a stopping place or paraje upon what was the longest, most important trade route in North America—El Camino Real—the Royal Road. Caravans of soldiers, traders and travelers of the past found warmth, welcome and rest among its adobe buildings with plentiful water and grass for their animals. Today Las Golondrinas beckons visitors to explore ranch life as lived on the colonial frontier.
Upon its moving waters and quiet ponds are set the mills. Up the hill stands the chapel. The bleat of the goats and sheep, the bray of the burro beckon the farmer. Prominent in the silhouette of the Placita is the defensive tower or torreón. Within the courtyards, ovens, or hornos, bring forth the memorable aroma of homemade bread. The clack of the looms dominates just as it once did hundreds of years ago in many New Mexican villages.
All of these aspects of life on the frontier are explored through the many activities set among the significant structures of this living history museum dedicated to recapturing a past life of beauty and hard work.
El Rancho de las Golondrinas will present 12 festivals and special weekend programs during the summer of 2008, with themes ranging from the food, art and adobe architecture of New Mexico, to the traditional uses of lavender and other herbs, to horses, mules and other animals of the Southwest, to winemaking in New Mexico and much more. Costumed docents, lectures and hands-on act ivies make history come alive for the whole family. A calendar of the season’s events can be found on the museum's website.
The 2008 season will culminate with our Harvest Festival on October 4-5, when visitors can string chile ristras, crush grapes for wine by foot, participate in a Mass given by the Archbishop of Santa Fe and enjoy traditional music and dancing.
The museum is situated on 200 acres, with more than 30 buildings. Visitors should allow at least two hours for their visit.
