Campus museums offer area's history

Compiled by Mike Jimenez: PNT Intern

If you’re tired of driving, try visiting one or all of these Portales museums.

There are several museums on the grounds of the Eastern New Mexico University campus, including the Roosevelt County Museum, Miles Mineral Museum and the Natural History Museum.

The Roosevelt County Museum has its own building, whereas the Miles Mineral Museum and Natural History Museum are located within Roosevelt Hall on the ENMU campus. The museums offer a variety of exhibits that include collections of antique furniture and live animals, and different types of rocks and minerals.

What it is

The Roosevelt County Museum was founded in 1940 and has a variety of artifacts, such as one of the older, 47-star flags, a cupboard from John Tunstall, one of the merchants involved in the Lincoln County wars, and many other items of the past. There is an Edison phonograph, a printing press and a collection of medical instruments. These items have been donated by residents of Roosevelt County.

The Miles Mineral Museum was opened on Feb. 23, 1969. The original collection was of the quartz crystals called Pecos Valley Diamonds from Fred and Gladys Miles, who lived in Roswell. They collected for 40 years and in 1966, ENMU entered into an agreement to purchase the collection, which included 2,500 geological, archaeological, and anthropological specimens.

Admission to the Miles Mineral Museum is by appointment only.

The Natural History Museum contains vertebrate and invertebrate displays are located on the first floor plus there is a snake carousel, various fishes, a snapping turtle and gars, as well as a new display of Caymans that is not open at this time, but should be open soon.

Where is it

The location of the Roosevelt County museum is on South Second Street as you enter Portales directly in front of and to the west of the Administration building. Roosevelt Hall is located on South Avenue K on the right as you are driving south. The Miles Mineral Museum and the Natural History Museum are located on the first floor of Roosevelt Hall.

Hours

The hours of operation for the Roosevelt County Museum are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. The Natural History Museum exhibit is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and The Miles Mineral Museum is by appointment only.

Contact

Miles Mineral/Natural History museums at 562-2174 or Roosevelt County Museum at 562-2592.

— Compiled by Mike Jimenez