This day could be described as the perfect cross country road trip day. We did a little National Park stuff, a lot of beautiful driving, and two quirky gems.
I’ve learned so much about the Ancestrial Puebloans and the Spanish missionaries in the 1600s in New Mexico. This was a topic in history I knew absolutely nothing about, but I’m hooked now. I want to learn so much more. I want to keep discovering. I want to go back in time and help the Natives. Short story is that the Ancestrial Puebloans lived in this area of New Mexico in pueblos for centuries. For the most part, they were thriving. They had learned from past generations how to live off the land, raise their families, and conquer the elements of the desert. Then these Spanish priests came with the intention of converting them to Catholism. There were three missions, all within 30 miles of one another in the 1600s. Each mission built huge churches on the same land of the pueblos. In some cases, the Ancestrial Puebloans were forced to allow the church to use same structures. They brought priests, friers, diseases, and completely unfair expectations of the Natives. One story that stuck with me is at one church, during a mass, two Spaniards got into a huge fight over whether the Ancestrial Puebloans should worship the Spanish king or God. In my mind I was screaming, “No! No! They should be allowed to worship the gods they have believed in for centuries and the land that has provided them with this beautiful life and culture.” It was really hard for me to appreciate the beauty of the church ruins when the lives of the Ancestrial Puebloans was actually ruined due to these three missions.
I’ll end this part of the day with a conversation we had with a ranger at the first mission ruin:
Ellie: When was the church built?
Ranger (completely serious): To spread to the love of Jesus and open the doors to heaven, of course.
Zak: Like they really needed it.
After the final mission stop we hit the road for a longer drive farther south into New Mexico. It was such a lovely drive. We were the only car for miles upon miles around us. The desert reached as far as our eyes could see. The blooming yuccas and cactuses lined the road. Cattle munched the few living plants near our path. We went through a handful of small towns. Some so small there was only a deserted building or two. Others were a bit more bustling.
One of those towns was Capitan. We saw a few signs for the Smokey the Bear Museum and it was time to switch drivers, so we decided to stop. The original Smokey the Bear was found near this town. The campaign had already begun, but they didn’t have a mascot. Then this half burnt bear was rescued and the country finally had a real life mascot for the forest fire prevention campaign. The museum was filled of memorblia from the 1940s until his retirement from zoo and mascot life. The most emotional part was his grave. Who knew a bear cemetary could be so hard on my heart?
Our final big stop of the day was the Roswell UFO Museum and Research Center. Like so many of the places we visit, but for totally different reasons, I do not have the words to explain this experience. I really don’t know how to go about beginning. There were a ton of fake newspaper clippings pasted onto posterboard. There were models of aliens. There were photos of weather balloons (aka UFOs.) There were some robotic aliens that came to life on the hour with a smoke machine. In a way, it was totally overwhemling. I think the rest of the family regrets the stop, but, although, I wouldn’t go back, I’m glad we had the experience.
We are wrapping the day up at a poorly review brewery, but it is actually perfect for us tonight. Great beer and friendly games of Phase 10 and Uno as were finish writing posts. We’re even Deeganing a beer. Life is good!
Deeganing a beer!! Lol!