State agencies are offering plenty of distractions for New Mexicans stuck at home for another weekend amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Crafts, concerts and kitchen chemistry are just a few of the activities the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs and the Tourism Department have prepared. Here’s a list of some of the things you can do this weekend – without leaving home:
Go shopping – online – using the Tourism Department’s new buy-local online gift guide.
Enjoy the New Mexico Museum of Art’s annual Spring Community Fun Day virtually. Visit the website for seasonal crafts as well as a scavenger hunt in our online collection.
The second concert in the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs’ weekly Friday night virtual concert series, “Our Fair New Mexico,” will feature Otilio Ruiz at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, at 7 p.m. Friday, April 17.
The New Mexico History Museum invites all New Mexicans to help make history by sharing stories, diaries, or memories of these days of social-distancing by emailing them to historylibary@state.nm.us.
The New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Virtual Rocketeer Academy launches this weekend. The academy offers 15-minute programs on a variety of DIY educational activities from kitchen chemistry to homemade rocketry. This week, learn how to make stomp rockets with materials you have at home.
The State Library has introduced free unlimited TumbleBooks access for all New Mexicans—no library card, download, or apps required. The collection includes K-6 children’s books, young adults (grades 7-12), and audiobooks.
Need to find free, public Wifi in your community? The New Mexico State Library has an interactive map of libraries across the state providing Wifi in their parking lots so students can access online resources, local residents can fill out their online Census survey, and local businesses can access CARES Act support. Many are keeping their Wifi on 24/7, and several have boosted the signal so that it can reach farther.
The Museum of International Folk Art invites you to explore nine of its most popular exhibits, online. New exhibits are being added, so visit often.
New Mexico Historic Sites has launched a “Virtual Classroom” for each of its eight historic sites. The online resource includes videos, full lesson plans (tied to curriculum standards), and activities by grade level.
The History and Literary Arts Program of the National Hispanic Cultural Center has launched the podcast“La Hilacha, Words and Memories,” celebrating Latinx history and literature.
A virtual tour of “Monumental Territory,” an exhibit of work by Las Cruces artist Kayla Blundell at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, is available on Facebook.
The Tourism Department hosts a Youtube playlist of 360 videos that let users soar in a hot air balloon, wander the corridors of Meow Wolf, and cruise through some of New Mexico’s great neighborhoods. Users can experience New Mexico TRUE in 360 with a virtual reality headset or on a traditional viewing screen.
Virtual Tours
Google Arts & Culture: Carlsbad Caverns
Google Arts & Culture: Bandelier National Monument
Google Arts & Culture: Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Santa Fe Google Treks
Visit Albuquerque’s Homeside Exploration & Activities
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Virtual Tour
Explore Albuquerque Virtual Tour
Albuquerque Museum Virtual Tour
The Very Large Array Explorer
Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art Virtual Tour
Prescott Gallery & Sculpture Garden Virtual Tour
Petroglyph National Monument Virtual Visit
Online Exhibits
Google Arts & Culture: National Hispanic Cultural Center Online
Google Arts & Culture: Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
Department of Cultural Affairs - Collection of Exhibitions and Digital Resources
Museum of International Folk Art Online Exhibits
IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts Virtual Reality Exhibition
New Mexico Museum of National History & Science Online Exhibits
Museum of Indian Arts & Culture Online Exhibitions
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum Collections Online
New Mexico Museum of Art Online Exhibitions
Museum of Spanish Colonial Art Online Collections
Blackwater Draw National Historic Landmark & Museum Online Exhibits
Chaco Culture Museum Collection Web Exhibit
Virtual Classrooms
New Mexico Historic Sites Virtual Classroom Program
Los Luceros Historic Site Virtual Programs & Activities
IPCC’s Virtual Culture Guide
Los Alamos History Museum History at Home Activities
Livestreams and Other Engaging Media
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum: Abiquiu Garden Webcam
Very Large Array Webcam
Aztec Ruins National Monument Night Sky Videos
White Sands National Monument YouTube Channel