Museums
Comanchero Canyons Museum
The term Comancheros "refers to the mestizo and Puebloan merchants of the Rio Grande Valley of Northern New Mexico, who once roamed the llano estacado in search of trade with nomadic bands of Indians, most notably Kiowa and Comanche" (from "Traders of the Caprock," by Michael Zimmer). The Comanchero Canyons Museum tells the story of this trade, and other local history. Our displays, using artifacts, replicas, and research, depict the time before human occupation and progresses through the hunter-gatherers, circa 15,000 BP, associated with the mastodons and other prehistoric animals, the various Native American tribes, the early Spanish influence (Coronado, 1541), the Republic of Texas' disastrous Texan-Santa Fe Expedition in 1841, the 4th Cavalry scouts in 1871-1872 culminating in driving the tribes to the reservations during the Red River War in 1874-75, and ultimately the cattle ranches and other occupants that followed in 1876-1899. Open Saturdays, 10 AM- 4 PM.