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Three pre-conference tours will be made available on Saturday, April 28, 2012 from 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM. (Please note the Pre-Conference Hands-On Labs/Workshops and the tours are scheduled for the same time on Saturday; you have the option of attending only one of these events.
Meet Albuquerque
Start the day with a quick driving tour of Route 66 and see some of the tourist courts still in operation today, including the Aztec Motel (1931) and the El Vado Court (1937), both of which are on the National Register of Historic Places.
The first stop is the Turquoise Museum, perhaps the largest private collection in the world. This small museum focuses on the beauty, mythology, and physical properties of turquoise, a semiprecious but widely adored gemstone that many people understandably associate with the color of New Mexico’s skies. See one-of-a-kind showpieces and examples from more than 60 mines on four continents and enjoy an informative and entertaining presentation that will show you the difference between the Real McCoy and plastic.
After this stop you will continue to Old Town. Your guide will take you on a brief walking tour of the historic Plaza area. Old Town, the original center of Albuquerque, was founded in the early part of the 18th century and includes San Felipe de Neri church and many historic buildings that form an architectural record of this city’s unique past. Guests will enjoy lunch at the Casa de Ruiz Church Street Café, located in the heart of Old Town Albuquerque. After lunch, there will be time to explore hidden courtyards and stroll under covered portals, and shop on your own at the many fine specialty stores and galleries around the Plaza.
Member Price $49, Non-Member Price $75
Click here to order tickets online
Click here to download mail-in PDF
Acoma “Sky City” Pueblo
This unique tour is a must-see! Acoma Pueblo, known as “Sky City,” is located in the spectacular West-Central Plateau of New Mexico. Acoma Pueblo, situated 350 feet above an outstretched valley atop a massive sandstone mesa at 7,000 feet above sea level, is the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the United States. Archeologists put the initial occupation of the Pueblo around 1150 AD. The first Europeans, led by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, visited Acoma in 1540.
A Pueblo member will take you on a ¾-mile leisurely guided tour of the village, explaining the culture and history of the tribe. Points of interest include San Estevan del Rey Mission, built in 1629, the largest and most remarkable of all the Spanish Colonial mission churches in New Mexico. All building materials for the church and other structures in the village were carried or hauled great distances by hand up the steep slope of the mesa. The 360-degree views from Acoma are breathtaking and offer many photo opportunities. A box lunch will be provided on the tour. This is an outdoor event; wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for hot and cool temperatures. The mesa top is uneven, however, the walk is rated easy.
Member Price $49, Non-Member Price $75
Click here to order tickets online
Click here to download mail-in PDF
Member Price $49, Non-Member Price $75
Click here to order tickets online
Click here to download mail-in PDF