Las Cruces:
Crossroads of History
Las Cruces: Crossroads of History is a permanent exhibit at
the Branigan Cultural Center. It is a comprehensive look at
the history of Las Cruces and the Mesilla Valley spanning the
past 400 years. Through the use of photographs, documents,
artifacts and narrative, the story of the Las Cruces crossroads
from dusty collection of adobe settlements to the vibrant city
of today is unveiled.
Clues to Discovery
K-3rd Grades
---- ---This booklet was developed for use during the 2008 Family Week
at the Branigan Cultural Center, March 24th—28th. Special thanks
to Jan Snyder for developing the clues and to all the Crossroads of
History Docents who have contributed their time.
This book belongs to:
501 N. Main Street
At North end of Downtown Mall
Las Cruces, NM 88001
575 541-2154
Objective: Students will go through the exhibit and discover
people, places and things that are part of the history of Las
Cruces and the Mesilla Valley.
http://museums.las-cruces.org
Museum Hours:
Monday-Friday 10 am—4 pm
Saturday 9 am—1 pm
Instructions: Walk through the history gallery. It tells the
story of our past. Ask as many questions as you want. To
help you explore the past, read the clues in this book and see
if you can answer the questions.
1
Answers:
Who am I?
I hunted for deer and antelope
to feed my family.
I lived by a river that you call the Rio Grande.
When the marshes dried up I became a
farmer.
I built a place to live in that is called a “pit
house.”
Answer: ______________________
2
1. Manso Indians. Native Americans were here for hundreds
of years before the first Spanish came.
2. Oñate. Juan de Oñate arrived in 1698 establishing the
Camino Real and the first Spanish colonies.
3. Buffalo Soldier. All Black units of the US Army were
formed during and after the Civil War. They were posted
to many frontier forts, including Ft. Selden.
4. Sibley Stove. Confederate General H. H. Sibley designed
both the stove and tent. A picture of the stove being used
in a tent is part of the exhibit.
5. Report card. A different grading system was used in the
past. E was Excellent, A was Above Average, M was
Medium or Average, B was Below Average, a F was still
Failure!
6. Railroad. The Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad found
solid support for a depot in Las Cruces.
Who am I?
I was a conquistador.
I brought many Spanish settlers with me.
I traveled on the Camino Real.
Las Cruces has a high school named for me.
Answer: ______________________
7. Mortar and Pestle. Doctors and pharmacists mixed their
own medicines. Las Cruces became an important health
center for those who had Tuberculosis.
8. Shirt Collar. Stiff celluloid (cardboard) collars were
buttoned on a man’s shirt, and were sold in different sizes.
9. New Mexico. Statehood for the territory of New Mexico
took over sixty years to achieve. The Zia is out state
symbol and appears on the state flag.
10. Frances Smithson Smuster, also acceptable is WAC. In the
past women did not join the army. They were in a separate
organization from the men, called the Women’s Army
Corps.
9
3
What am I?
I became a state on
January 6th, 1912.
My first governor was William C. McDonald.
Arizona became a state at the same time.
Some people confuse me with a country.
Answer: ______________________
Who am I?
I was with the first soldiers at
Fort Selden.
Indians compared me to a bison because I
did not give up in battle and because I had
curly black hair.
I protected settlers in the valley from Indian
raids.
Answer: ______________________
10
4
Who am I?
I worn a uniform in 1945.
What am I?
Soldiers used me to stay warm.
I was one of 150,000 women.
I am cone shaped and was used in a tent.
I was a sergeant in the women’s U. S. Army.
I was invented by a famous Civil War General.
I served during World War II.
Answer: ______________________
Answer: ______________________
5
What am I?
I can be good or bad..
What am I?
I was used to mix medicines.
Teachers use me to tell parents how I am doing.
I am often made of stone.
Parents want their children to get “good” ones.
I am sometimes used in cooking.
The letters used in the past are different than the
ones that are used today.
I have two parts.
Answer: ______________________
6
What am I?
I went to Las Cruces instead of
Mesilla.
7
Answer: ______________________
8
What am I?
I was part of men’s clothing.
I brought building supplies and goods to people
who lived in this area.
I am made of a kind of cardboard that is very
stiff.
My first arrival in Las Cruces was on April 26,
1881.
I was changed when I got dirty.
It looks like I would be very uncomfortable.
There was a big celebration when I came.
Answer: ______________________
Answer: ______________________