Museum Day 2019

The Western Heritage Museum and Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame on the campus of New Mexico Junior College is participating in Smithsonianmagazine’s Museum Day, this Saturday.  Smithsonian magazine has designated Saturday, September 21, 2019 as the 15^thannual Museum Day, an initiative in which participating museums across the United States open their doors for free to those who download a branded ticket.  The annual event allows museums, zoos and cultural centers from all 50 states to emulate the spirit of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, D.C.-based facilities, which offer free admission every day.  Museum Day represents a national commitment to access, equity and inclusion.

“We have participated in Museum Day for 8 years now,” says Erin Anderson, Interim Executive Director of the Western Heritage Museum and Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame.  “It is important to offer opportunities like this for patrons to experience cultural and historical activities without worrying about cost.”

This year, Museum Day will celebrate the Smithsonian Year of Music, an institution-wide initiative celebrating the Smithsonian’s vast musical collections and resources.  Music is not only a reflection of human creativity and innovation, but also a key method of communication and cross-cultural exchange and understanding.  

“Our most recent event, Staked Plains Roundup on campus, tied into the Smithsonian’s Year of Music,” explains Anderson.  “The Native American dancers performed traditional dances, Maciolek School of Dance dancers taught patrons to line dance, and Gary Nix and West Texas performed a wonderful concert on the patio.  If, by chance, you missed this event, don’t worry, you can see musical instruments from our permanent collection on display, and you can see how music has touched many lives in our traveling exhibits, National Geographic’s Greatest Photographs of the American Westand E Pluribus Unum.”

Museums in all 50 states have signed up to participate in Smithsonianmagazine’s 2019 Museum Day, the largest event of its kind.  More than 1,500 museums are expected to participate this year.  Those wishing to attend any of the participating museums can visit Smithsonian.com/museumday to learn more and download a Museum Day ticket.  Each ticket grants the holder and one guest free access to any participating museum on September 21, 2019.  One ticket is permitted per email address.  A list of participating museums can be found on the website as well.