Press Releases

Santa Fe, NM – New Mexico Historic Sites aims to foster deep, meaningful relationships with its communities. One of the best ways to maintain these relationships is to bring members of the community onto site staff—and in recent weeks, that is exactly what has happened for Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site (BRM).  

In August, BRM welcomed a pair of new staff members. Gustavo Lopez, a resident of Fort Sumner, was brought on as the site’s Custodian. Lopez will be responsible for the cleanliness and presentation of the site’s public areas, ensuring that they are always comfortable for visitors. He was born and raised in New Mexico, and has lived throughout the state. Now, he’s raising his children in Fort Sumner, where he graduated from high school. In this way, his new role is not simply a job. He hopes to leverage his role to teach his children about history.  

“Growing up here, I was never taught about the significance of the Bosque Redondo and the hardships that had taken place here,” Lopez said. “Teaching my children of what I was not taught as a child will be a goal of mine. Once again, I want to thank you all for giving me the opportunity to be a part of New Mexico Historic Sites and the Department of Culture Affairs. I look forward to learning more of our historic sites through my employment.” 

The site was also lucky enough to welcome back Rebekha C. Crockett as Instructional Coordinator. Though she was not born in New Mexico, Crockett is no stranger to New Mexico Historic Sites—she previously worked at Bosque Redondo Memorial as an Interpretive Ranger from 2019 to 2021. During her first year, she graduated with a Master of Arts in Anthropology, and her thesis, “Bosque Redondo as a Pharmakon: A Contextualized Understanding of Health and Medical Care,” focused on medical care and illness on the Bosque Redondo Indian Reservation.  

Though Crockett left in 2021 to conduct archaeological field work, she has returned to help support BRM’s educational initiatives. “I am honored to be back to doing work at such an important and meaningful place,” she said, “and I am looking forward to creating interpretation, educational materials, and other programming with the amazing colleagues and volunteers, both old and new, at the site and across the state.” 

“I am so excited to have a full staff of individuals ready to tackle new projects that beautify our site and expand our connections to local and regional communities,” said Aaron Roth, BRM manager. 

Now that BRM is fully staffed, the site’s hours are expanding, as well. The site will be open from Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., starting Wednesday, September 13.  

About New Mexico Historic Sites  
New Mexico Historic Sites is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Regents for the Museum of New Mexico. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and its donors. The New Mexico Historic Sites system was established in 1931 by an Act for the Preservation of the Scientific Resources of New Mexico. The eight Historic Sites include Coronado, Fort Selden, Fort Stanton, Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site, Jemez, Lincoln, and Los Luceros.