"Crossroads in History"

Bridging Ages Conference in Historic Environment Education and Living History, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA, April 15 -19, 2013.

You are invited to the 9th annual Bridging Ages Conference that will be held in Las Cruces, New Mexico. This is the first time we will meet in the USA. There will be presentations from Europe, Africa, Asia and the USA on a variety of topics from living history and Time Travels to oral history and engaging people n museums with local historical resources. At the crossroad in Las Cruces, people from several countries will come together to explore local history in a global context. Hosts are the New Mexico State University in Las Cruces and the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum. 

About Las Cruces, New Mexico

Las Cruces, New Mexico is located in the desert of the Southwest part of the United States. It is a mixture of American and Mexican cultures, languages, and traditions that offers a rich history and a lively landscape of stark mountains towering over arid plains and lush river alleys. Native Americans have lived in this region for thousands of years, Europeans have passed through here since the 16th century,and it is one of the youngest states in the United States. In fact, duringour Time Travel at the conference, we will be celebrating the 100thanniversary of New Mexico joining the U.S. as a state. Las Cruces has served as a crossroads for people for centuries, and it is fitting that it will again serve as a crossroads for the people of the Bridging Ages organization.  

Time Travel to 1912

The year when New Mexico became a state of the U.S. The Time Travel will be a chance for conference delegates, as well as persons from New Mexico and Arizona Historical Societies, to experience a crossroad in history, when New Mexico became a state and when the society was changing fast. Graduate students from the university class in Las Cruces have developed many of the characters and have also written a manual for teachers to prepare for Time Travels to 1912 with learners.  

Tentative Conference Schedule

Monday, April 15: Opening reception 6 pm at Zuhl Museum with a blues band entertaining.

Tuesday, April 16: Papers, panels and workshops during the day. Dinner at the Magoffin House in El Paso, Texas.

Wednesday, April 17: Papers, panels and workshops during the day. In the afternoon, we will tour historic Mesilla Plaza, the Taylor State Monument and have some time for shopping. Dinner with Mexican touch and entertainment at La Posta.

Thursday, April 18: Papers, panels and workshops in the morning. In the afternoon, conference participants will Time Travel to 1912 at Fort Selden State Monument. Also persons from New Mexico Historical Society and the Arizona Historical Society will join in the Time Travel. Western dinner at Fort Selden State Monument with entertainment.

Friday, April 19: Excursion to White Sands National Monument, Mescalero Indian Reservation, and Lincoln where Billy the Kind escaped from jail.  

Follow us on Facebook ”Bridging Ages 2013 in Las Cruces, NM” and www.bridgingages.com for registration and the latest updates on the conference. Registration opens in the beginning of January.

Registration fee: $150 US. ($100 US for students). The conference hotel is $85 US per night. The History Department at New Mexico State University and the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum are jointly sponsoring the conference.

For more direct information, contact Dr. Jon Hunner, Chair, History Department at New Mexico State University at jhunner@nmsu.edu or in the U.S. at 575/646-2490.  

Welcome!

Last updated: 2013-04-04 11:03:18