Alamogordo Museum of History
Encyclopedia
The Alamogordo Museum of History, formerly the Tularosa Basin Historical Society Museum, is a history museum
holding a collection of historical photographs, documents, and relics from Otero County, New Mexico
. The museum is located in Alamogordo, New Mexico
, and is owned and operated by the Tularosa Basin Historical Society.
New Mexico
was admitted to the union as the 47th state on January 6, 1912, followed by Arizona
as the 48th state on February 14, 1912. The Flag Act of 1818
specifies "That on the admission of every new state into the Union, one star be added to the union of the flag; and that such addition shall take effect of the fourth day of July then next succeeding such admission." On July 4, 1912, the official flag design jumped from 46 to 48 stars, and there never was an official 47-star flag.
The provenance of the museum's 47-star flag is unknown, although it presumably was manufactured to celebrate New Mexico
's entry into the Union. The flag hung for many years in a bar in Blue Lake, California
. The bar owner, Wade Topping, a former resident of Alamogordo
, recognized the significance of the flag and donated it to the museum in 1999.
The 47-star flags are very rare and the number in existence is unknown. One flag is in the collection of the Museum at the Palace of the Governors
in Santa Fe, New Mexico
. The curator at the Palace, Diana De Santis, researched the subject and also found a reported 47-star flag in the collection of the Fort McHenry
National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, Maryland. Bob Adamowski of Bellevue, Washington
donated a 47-star flag to the Smithsonian Institution
in 2005.
Pottery Factory, and artifacts from prehistoric Native American
tribes that were found in caves above Alamogordo. The collection includes over 3,000 historical photographs of the local area and an archive of historical documents.
The museum gift shop sells all TBHS publications and many other local history titles. There is a collection of local history books and documents that visitors can use inside the museum.
but as of July 2008 this plan has stalled due to lack of money to renovate the building.
. The society is funded through donations, fundraisers, and membership dues. As of 2005 it had 220 members. The society publishes The Pioneer , a quarterly series of monographs about local history. It occasionally publishes other titles, such as a two-volume collection of pioneer family histories.
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
holding a collection of historical photographs, documents, and relics from Otero County, New Mexico
Otero County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*72.7% White*3.5% Black*6.7% Native American*1.2% Asian*0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*4.2% Two or more races*11.2% Other races*34.5% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
. The museum is located in Alamogordo, New Mexico
Alamogordo, New Mexico
Alamogordo is the county seat of Otero County and a city in south-central New Mexico, United States. A desert community lying in the Tularosa Basin, it is bordered on the east by the Sacramento Mountains. It is the nearest city to Holloman Air Force Base. The population was 35,582 as of the 2000...
, and is owned and operated by the Tularosa Basin Historical Society.
Collection
47-star flag
The prize item in the collection is a 47-star U. S. flag.New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
was admitted to the union as the 47th state on January 6, 1912, followed by Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
as the 48th state on February 14, 1912. The Flag Act of 1818
Flag Acts (United States)
The Flag Acts are three laws which sought to define the design of the flag of the United States. Each is remarkably short, the shortest being a sentence of 32 words, and the longest being a title and two sentences of 117 words.- Flag Act of 1777 :...
specifies "That on the admission of every new state into the Union, one star be added to the union of the flag; and that such addition shall take effect of the fourth day of July then next succeeding such admission." On July 4, 1912, the official flag design jumped from 46 to 48 stars, and there never was an official 47-star flag.
The provenance of the museum's 47-star flag is unknown, although it presumably was manufactured to celebrate New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
's entry into the Union. The flag hung for many years in a bar in Blue Lake, California
Blue Lake, California
Blue Lake is a city in Humboldt County, California, United States. Blue Lake is located on the Mad River northeast of Eureka, at an elevation of 131 feet...
. The bar owner, Wade Topping, a former resident of Alamogordo
Alamogordo, New Mexico
Alamogordo is the county seat of Otero County and a city in south-central New Mexico, United States. A desert community lying in the Tularosa Basin, it is bordered on the east by the Sacramento Mountains. It is the nearest city to Holloman Air Force Base. The population was 35,582 as of the 2000...
, recognized the significance of the flag and donated it to the museum in 1999.
The 47-star flags are very rare and the number in existence is unknown. One flag is in the collection of the Museum at the Palace of the Governors
Palace of the Governors
The Palace of the Governors is an adobe structure located on Palace Avenue on the Plaza of Santa Fe, New Mexico between Palace Avenue and Washington Street. It is within the Santa Fe Historic District and it served as the seat of government for the State of New Mexico for centuries...
in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
. The curator at the Palace, Diana De Santis, researched the subject and also found a reported 47-star flag in the collection of the Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry, in Baltimore, Maryland, is a star-shaped fort best known for its role in the War of 1812, when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy in Chesapeake Bay...
National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, Maryland. Bob Adamowski of Bellevue, Washington
Bellevue, Washington
Bellevue is a city in the Eastside region of King County, Washington, United States, across Lake Washington from Seattle. Long known as a suburb or satellite city of Seattle, it is now categorized as an edge city or a boomburb. The population was 122,363 at the 2010 census.Downtown Bellevue is...
donated a 47-star flag to the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
in 2005.
Other museum features
The museum collection holds personal accounts, relics and photographs of local history. It holds a bison trophy head, a collection of pottery from the La LuzLa Luz, New Mexico
La Luz is a census-designated place in Otero County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,615 at the 2000 census. It is located immediately north of Alamogordo and lies in the eastern edge of the Tularosa Basin and on the western flank of the Sacramento Mountains. Until 1848, La Luz...
Pottery Factory, and artifacts from prehistoric Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribes that were found in caves above Alamogordo. The collection includes over 3,000 historical photographs of the local area and an archive of historical documents.
The museum gift shop sells all TBHS publications and many other local history titles. There is a collection of local history books and documents that visitors can use inside the museum.
Plans for a new building
The museum currently shares a building with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce at 1301 N. White Sands Blvd. In 2006 the City of Alamogordo received a $300,000 grant from the State Legislature to buy a historic adobe building at the corner of White Sands Blvd. and Tenth Street as a new home for the museum. The Museum had planned to move by the end of 2008,but as of July 2008 this plan has stalled due to lack of money to renovate the building.
Tularosa Basin Historical Society
The museum is operated by Tularosa Basin Historical Society, a volunteer organization created in 1964 to preserve the history of the Tularosa BasinTularosa Basin
The Tularosa Basin is a graben basin in the Basin and Range Province and within the Chihuahuan Desert, east of the Rio Grande in southern New Mexico, in the Southwestern United States.-Geography:...
. The society is funded through donations, fundraisers, and membership dues. As of 2005 it had 220 members. The society publishes The Pioneer , a quarterly series of monographs about local history. It occasionally publishes other titles, such as a two-volume collection of pioneer family histories.