Hubbard Museum - New Mexico
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For many people, the town of Ruidoso, NM is unknown. For me, it is a town that I have had a love affair with since my first visit in 1994. Located in the rugged Sierra Blanca mountain range of south central New Mexico, where it merges with the Sacramento Mountains to the south, Ruidoso is a town unlike what most believe the west would look like. At an elevation of 6,800 feet the views and vistas of mountains, pines and aspens along with many cultural and western events makes it a fun and beautiful place to visit as well as live.
On a recent trip we visited the Hubbard Museum of the American West. The Hubbard Museum is owned and operated by the city of Ruidoso Downs. This museum was a great surprise to us. It’s size and collection of western memorabilia and collections is quite impressive. Whether you grew up watching old western movies or not, this museum is chocked full of information and items that can take you back in time to see how people lived in the cowboy era.
A collection of western artifacts and memorabilia related to horses and the west makes up a great portion of the museum. In 1989 Anne Straddling donated her collection of more than 10,000 pieces to the museum. Buggies, wagons and stagecoaches as well as family heirlooms and Native American arts and crafts fill this two-story museum. The museum has something for the whole family. An interactive learning area for kids lets the little ones get a sense of what it was like to be a cowboy. On the day of our visit the museum had a wonderful exhibit of Frederic Remington sculptures. That was a great treat because both my husband and I enjoy the works of this artist.
So, the next time you’re planning a trip to New Mexico plan to explore the town of Ruidoso. Take a few hours to go back in time and live like the cowboys did. Or at least try to imagine . . . . .
Open daily 9-5
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and July fundraiser
Adults-$6.00; Seniors and military $5.00; ages 6-16 $2.00; Children under 6; free.
