GENERAL INTEREST
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Museum of Natural History and DynaTheater Trip
By Teresa Lange Reinhard
New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
Go to www.nmnaturalhistory.org to see hours of operation, events, and information on the planetarium and DynaTheater presentations.
April 16, 2026. Fifteen residents from Mirehaven had the opportunity to visit the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, along with a movie in the DynaTheater.
The museum recently reopened following a seven-month closure for extensive remodeling and renovation. Enhancements included a larger, redesigned lobby to better accommodate crowds during busy days. Ticket purchasing was streamlined with a consolidated box office, and the NatureWorks Discovery Store was expanded. Newly installed skylights now bring natural light into the atrium. Permanent exhibition halls were modernized, and interactive exhibits received updated software. Additionally, updates to the sewer line were completed to support the museum’s future growth.
Turtle Odyssey
Film poster promoting Turtle Odyssey, the story of Bunji, an Australian Sea Turtle.
The group watched a 45-minute nature documentary titled Turtle Odyssey, released in 2018, on an impressive five-story screen. Narrated by Russell Crowe, the documentary follows the life of Bunji, an Australian green sea turtle. Suitable for ages seven and up, the film captures Bunji's challenging journey from her birth nest to the ocean, and her eventual return 25 years later to the same beach to lay her own eggs. The film’s cinematography was both impressive and beautiful, showcasing aquatic life in vibrant color.
To see the museum schedule, visit https://www.nmnaturalhistory.org for hours and events, including the movie schedule at the DynaTheater.
Behind the Scenes at the Metropolitan Courthouse: A Guided Tour
By Teresa Lange Reinhard
Bernalillo County Metropolitan Courthouse The Scales of Justice is a 36-foot-high water powered kinetic sculpture by Evelyn Rosenberg
April 21, 2026. Fourteen residents from Mirehaven took advantage of a rare opportunity, a guided tour of the Metropolitan Courthouse, at 401 Lomas Blvd NW in Albuquerque. The visit was organized to give participants a deeper look into how the courthouse functions and what happens within its halls.
Camille Cordova, the Public Information Officer, led the group through the courthouse. She shared her expertise and offered explanations about the various operations and procedures. Her guidance helped the visitors understand and appreciate the often-complex activities that take place in the courthouse.
As part of the tour, the group observed ongoing proceedings in three different courtrooms. Judges, defense attorneys, and prosecutors were seen working swiftly through numerous cases. The Metropolitan Courthouse handles misdemeanor matters, such as low-level domestic violence, traffic offenses, civil disputes where the contested amount is less than $10,000, parole violations, and the initial appearances for felony charges.
The Metropolitan Courthouse also operates 12 specialty courts, including the Behavioral Health Court, Community Veterans Court, DWI Recovery Court, and Urban Native American Healing to Wellness Court. These courts are designed to address specific challenges within the community, offering alternatives to incarceration. They provide structure and support through counseling, judicial oversight, and supervision. Completing these programs reduces the likelihood of reoffending, helps participants become productive citizens, and costs only about a quarter of what incarceration would.
Throughout the tour, the writer was struck by the judges’ genuine care and compassion toward defendants, as well as the professionalism shown by both court-appointed defense and prosecution attorneys. Witnessing the judges’ humanity was a refreshing experience in a system that is often seen as bureaucratic.
Petroglyph National Monument and Route 66
by Teresa Lange Reinhard
Route 66 Sunset
April 27, 2026. Rachel Taylor, a Park Ranger with the National Park Service, delivered a presentation to Mirehaven residents in the Manzano Room. As part of the 100th anniversary celebrations for Route 66, her talk highlighted the historical and cultural connections between Petroglyph National Monument and the legendary highway.
Piedras Marcadas Canyon, located at 9421 Jill Patricia Street NW, offers a 1.8-mile loop to view 400 petroglyphs.
Petroglyphs have been revered as sacred for centuries. The Rio Grande Valley attracted people from across the Southwest, who settled in the area thousands of years ago. These ancient images reflect the region’s deep heritage and demonstrate the area’s spiritual significance for generations. Petroglyph National Monument features over 25,000 images and four main areas for park access: Boca Negra Canyon, Piedras Marcadas Canyon, Rinconada Canyon, and the Volcanos Day Use Area. Residents can also access the park directly from the Mirehaven gates, making it a unique “backyard” experience
Interestingly, Route 66 intersects itself at Central and 4th Street due to a major realignment in 1937. This change eliminated the detour through Santa Fe, creating a more direct east-west route through Albuquerque by shaving off 100 miles of the original route.
Two important routes shaped the movement of people and goods in this region. The Santa Fe Trail originating in Franklin, Missouri, ran 900 miles to Santa Fe, New Mexico, served as a vital east-west corridor. El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, known as the Royal Road of the Interior Lands, stretched from Mexico City north to the Spanish frontier in northern New Mexico, covering roughly 1,500 miles. These routes promoted trade and cultural exchange over great distances. Notably, these historic paths closely follow today’s Interstate 40 and Interstate 25.
Albuquerque is rich in history and culture, with evidence of the past visible throughout the city and its continuing influence on the present. For additional information about Route 66 and Petroglyph National Monument, visit https://Route66centennial.org, https://rt66nm.org, or https://nps.gov/petr.
"Olla Bearers and Indian Detours": presentation at the Amenity Center
By Teresa Lange Reinhard
Postcard of olla bearers, circa mid-20th century
Unknown photograher
April 29, 2026. The presentation, delivered by Joe Sabitini, a retired librarian and current volunteer at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, offered valuable perspectives on how Indigenous traditions, art, and culture have served to create tourism opportunities throughout New Mexico. Attendees had the opportunity to hear the impact and importance of Indigenous people’s role in the region's tourism industry, gaining a deeper appreciation for how these communities have contributed to the state's cultural landscape. Sabitini used images of vintage postcards and travel brochures to illustrate his talk.
The Olla Bearers, pictured here in a post card, circa mid-20th century – photographer unknown, were historically Indigenous women who carried water in jars on their heads, to free up their hands to climb ladders to upper-level homes, carry children, or travel long distances from the water source back to their homes.
"The Indian Detours" were developed by the Fred Harvey Company in response to declining rail travel and the rise of automobiles in the early 20th century. The company sought to rejuvenate tourism in the Southwest by offering multi-day excursions that featured the region’s natural beauty and Native American culture to tourists from the east coast. The tours began in 1926, departing from hotels such as La Fonda in Santa Fe and La Casteñeda in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Sabitini noted that frequently the promoters of “Indian Culture” as a topic for tourism were non-indigenous individuals or companies, such as Fred Harvey or the postcard illustrator, J.R. Willis, or Hollywood, that depicted the Native Americans in an overly romanticized or stereotypical fashion to the detriment of the complexity and accurate story of Indigenous People. The misappropriation of Native Peoples’ culture, traditions, art, religion, and heritage was and still is a great disservice to generations of people. For a refreshing counterpoint to that tendency, look up the writings of Charles F. Lummis, who championed Native American rights and cultural preservation during a time when such advocacy was very rare.