Mesilla Valley Tour (Wed., Sept. 26, 2018) – Tin Lizzies of Albuquerque

Tour activities by Paul and Marilyn Duncan; editing and photos by Mark Wing

Tour Day 1: Arrival in Las Cruces, Registration, and Regional History Presentation

The Tin Lizzies of Albuquerque tour to the Mesilla Valley (Southern New Mexico) has been in planning for over a year by Las Cruces residents Tom MacGugan and Kameron Peterson, and Albuquerque area residents Paul and Marilyn Duncan. Thirteen Model T’s and Three Model A’s (from the Borderland Model A Club) participated in this tour. The following is extracted from the “Time Schedule of Tour Activities”.

“We have planned two long days (Thursday/Friday) of driving away from Las Cruces and one day (Saturday) to explore local attractions closer to town. On Thursday (09/27) we head south driving in the fertile Mesilla Valley to Santa Teresa with lunch at the War Eagles Air (and Auto) Museum (80 miles driving RT). On Friday, we head north and east to White Sands Missile Range and White Sands National Monument (136 miles driving RT). A shorter Mini-Tour (58 miles driving) will drive the first 25 miles and then drive in to visit the White Sands Missile Range Museum and then return to Las Cruces. Most of the Tour participants will be staying at the Hilton Garden Inn in Las Cruces except those with RVs and locals.”

This Wednesday (Sept. 26th) was devoted to driving southward to Las Cruces from locations such as Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Tijeras, New Mexico. After arrival, the afternoon was spent unloading the Model T’s, registering for the tour, and relaxing. Paul and Marilyn Duncan were registering tour participants by collecting Model T Ford Club of America (MTFCA) safety inspection forms and tour fees. On display in the registration room were prizes for the tour photo contest to follow. At 7PM we were treated to a presentation by local Dona Ana Community College history instructor Roger Walker.

Unloading

Roger Walker is a friend of Tom MacGugan and a history teacher at Dona Ana Community College. His lecture focused on European settlement in the southwest, early New Mexico history, the importance of trade and transportation routes, and the resulting impacts to the Mesilla Valley and Las Cruces development. The Mesilla Valley is truly an area with a rich and important history!

Link to Mesilla Valley Tour (Thurs., Sept. 27th)

Link to Mesilla Valley Tour (Fri., Sept. 28th)

Link to Mesilla Valley Tour (Sat., Sept. 29th)