El Rancho De Las Golondrinas Inc

There is really no way to fully describe 2020. Never in any of our lifetimes have we had such a strange, isolated and distant year. El Rancho de las Golondrinas was closed until September, and all our usual festival weekends and other special events were cancelled. The throng of locals and tourists that usually arrive all summer long were unable to visit the museum. No field trips or classrooms visited this year. Our volunteers were sidelined from their passions of teaching and demonstrating the ways of the past.

It almost seemed like an impossible time to keep going.

But you know what? El Rancho de las Golondrinas did keep going. Our volunteers got to work making masks for essential workers. Our staff, Board, volunteers and neighbors came together for a cleanup of Los Pinos Road. We donated almost a ton of clothing and household goods via a community fund drive. We worked together with Youthworks and Santa Fe County to distribute free grab and go meals and kids’ hands-on history kits in our parking lot every week. We grew produce based on the needs of the Food Depot and have donated thousands of pounds of fresh vegetables to them for those in need.

Why so much activity and outreach during a pandemic? Because the people at Las Golondrinas have a passion for this community, this land and New Mexico. We know that you share our passion; that’s why you received this letter. You know that El Rancho de las Golondrinas is a place like no other, a place worth supporting and preserving for future generations of New Mexicans and visitors to enjoy.
Even though we missed most of our season, and a great deal of revenue, we still have the day to day expenses of maintaining over 500 acres of museum campus. Growing and watering crops, caring for livestock, taking care of a dedicated staff, and repairing historic buildings with accuracy and care all require funding. Even though the country shut down, our day-to-day activities never stopped.

We look to you to support all of our efforts, with the hope that we can meet again soon, here at the museum. Will you consider making a gift to help us continue all that we do? Your support is essential so that we can continue to bring history to life, to give guests a unique experience like no other, to preserve the acequia and land; and to create memories that last long after a visit has ended.

During these difficult times our history and culture are what ground us. When everything seems out of control it is the understanding of ourselves and each other that tethers us to a sense of community and normalcy.

You can make a gift at golondrinas.org. Heartfelt thanks to you for supporting Las Golondrinas and all that we do - ¡Un millón de gracias!