Tours, living history, book signings, lectures and panel discussions highlight the 2013 Arizona/New Mexico Joint History Conference, which will be held in Las Cruces, April 18-20.
Most of the conference activities will be at the Las Cruces Convention Center, but other sites around the Las Cruces area also will take part in the event.
The New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum will host some activities from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. The Juan Bautista de Anza National Trail Association Volunteers will interact with the public with living history activities. The Tucson group is representing members of the 1775-76 Anza Expedition to San Francisco. Also, the museum will offer its Parade of Breeds program, as well as blacksmithing, weaving, dowsing and wool demonstrations. Regular Museum admission applies.
The public also is invited to attend the “Celebrate History” event at the Convention Center from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, April 19. The de Anza Trail Association group will be on hand and Steve Smith and Hard Road will provide the music. The event will feature exhibits, a cash bar and pay-as-you-go food stands, with the proceeds benefitting National History Day student programs. The cash bar opens at 5 p.m. and the Historical Society of New Mexico will have a book auction from 5:30 p.m. to 7. Admission to the Celebrate History event is $15 pre-event and $20 at the door.
During the conference sessions, historians, authors and researchers from throughout the country will be discussing topics such as Arizona and New Mexico outlaws, the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, women in the West, statehood issues, and much more.
For more about the conference, email hsnminfo@gmail.com, or visit info.hsnmconference.org or arizonahistory.org.