El Rancho de las Golondrinas

New Mexico's Living History Museum

A while back, an acquaintance asked me if I had been to El Rancho de las Golondrinas yet.  Yet?  I hadn't even heard of it!  The Madigans' recent visit afforded us the opportunity to finally see this beautiful museum, situated on 200 acres near Santa Fe.  The day we went happened to be during the Santa Fe Wine Festival, but we were mostly there to enjoy the museum, although Doug and Katie tasted a couple of wines and we all enjoyed the salsa band playing under a tent in the courtyard.

 The docents are all dressed in period costume.  There are bakers, spinners, weavers, a blacksmith, millers, etc.  Some of the buildings are from the original farm and some were saved and moved to the site from other locations.

 It is a bit of a hike to see everything, up and down hills and stairs, and not wheelchair accessible.  You do need to duck through low doorways and step over high thresholds and watch your head inside some of the buildings.