What do you call a gathering of 200+ community members, architects, archaeologists, city planners, and historic preservationists? You call it the New Mexico Historic Preservation Conference - Viva Vegas ‘25! After more than ten years, we gathered together at New Mexico Highlands University to share best practices, case studies, questions, stories, problems, and hopes. The result?
“Arguably the best planned and executed conference I’ve ever attended.”
— Oliver Horn
“This was a truly necessary conference that deserves an annual revisit.”
— Susan Wilhite
“Terrific conference topics and networking opportunities." — José Rivera
“It inspired us to realize we are not alone—there is an entire preservation community ready to support our efforts.”
— Kathleen Ortiz
“I particularly enjoyed how many different preservation practitioners were able to connect and learn from each other.”
— Conference Participant
“The sessions on SHPO compliance and how DCA gets involved were incredibly valuable — I now understand the process much better.”
— Megan Veach
Cornerstones Community Partnerships, in collaboration with the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division, successfully hosted Viva Vegas ’25: New Mexico Historic Preservation Conference at the Student Union Building of New Mexico Highlands University from October 3–5, 2025.
The conference and Las Vegas Mayor David Romero welcomed approximately 200 participants from New Mexico, Missouri, Texas, Colorado, and California, marking a vibrant return of this statewide gathering. 22 of the participants attended through sponsored scholarships.
Tours, Workshops, and Cultural Experiences
Participants explored the region’s rich architectural and cultural heritage through a variety of guided tours and hands-on workshops, including:
Historic Walking Tour led by the Las Vegas Citizens Committee for Historic Preservation.
Historic Trolley Tour by No. 11 Trolley Tours LLC.
Castaneda Hotel History Tour.
Mora Mills Tour, including La Cueva Mills, Cleveland Roller Mills, and St. Vrain Mill.
Adobe Plastering Workshop at Luna Community College.
On-site Historic Site Assessment at the Methodist Church.
Workshops by the Commission Assistance and Mentoring Program and the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions.
A special highlight were film screenings at the Las Vegas, Bridge Street historic Indigo Theater of However Wide the Sky: Places of Power, a Silver Bullet Productions documentary exploring Native American sacred sites and Acequias: The Legacy Lives On, a documentary by Arcie Chapa.
Speakers and Panels
The conference featured plenary talks by nationally and regionally recognized leaders in preservation:
Elmo Baca, Las Vegas Community Foundation
Theodore Jojola, University of New Mexico School of Architecture
Lawrence Quintana, Las Vegas Citizens Committee for Historic Preservation
Beverley Spears, Spears/Horn Architects
Chris Wilson, University of New Mexico School of Architecture
Panel presentations showcased diverse expertise, with contributions from organizations including Carson House and Museum, Cornerstones Community Partnerships, Hartman + Majeski Design Group, Historic Santa Fe Foundation, Homewise, Inc., Mesilla Historic Home, Mora Valley Mills, Committee, New Mexico Department of Justice, New Mexico Historic Preservation Division, New Mexico Historic Sites, New Mexico Humanities Council, New Mexico MainStreet, Office of Archaeological Studies, Pat Taylor, Inc., St. Vrain Mill Foundation, Townsend Archaeological Consultants.
The closing panel sparked important dialogue on affordable housing in rural and Pueblo communities, emphasizing how historic preservation can be a tool for resilience and equity.
Viva Vegas ’25 was not just a successful event — it reactivated New Mexico’s statewide preservation ecosystem. 84% rated overall experience “Excellent” and 94% would attend again — exceptionally high retention potential. Networking was the top strength (84% Excellent) — positioning the conference as New Mexico’s primary gathering space for preservation practitioners. Participants left informed, connected, and hungry for more. The strongest opportunity now is to build a recurring, well-funded preservation platform focused on practical skills, inclusive storytelling, and real-world problem solving. Stay tuned for the 2027 New Mexico Historic Preservation Conference.
Annual Photo Contest!
It's that time of year again! Please submit your photos HERE.
The first place winner will receive a one night stay and dinner at La Fonda Santa Fe!
Annual Plastering at the
San Miguel Chapel
In addition to his expertise, Don graciously donated the clay used in the mud plasters using material from his land in the Santa Fe area. This material is composed of Santa Fe River valley deposits, and has the ideal amount of clay needed for a strong mud plaster that will sustain weather events throughout the year.
On behalf of Cornerstones, thank you to Don and to all who volunteered!
Throughout the month of September, volunteers and community members joined Cornerstones Staff for the annual plastering at the San Miguel Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Plastering in select locations typically happens twice a year at the Chapel, once in the spring and again in the fall. During these periods, the Chapel parapets (tops of the external walls) and buttresses are replastered. This routine maintenance addresses damage that may have occurred to the mud plasters due to weathering throughout the seasons.
Under the guidance of lead plasterer, Don Sena, volunteers learned how to mix mud plasters, about parapet repair, and how to apply both base coats and finishing coats of plaster along the Chapel’s facade. Don has been dedicated to preserving the Chapel as a friend and advisor to both Cornerstones and San Miguel for the past 14 years, and continues the work his ancestors have done for centuries. Along with the mission, Don’s family connection to the Barrio de Analco (the area where the Chapel is located) also includes the historic Boyle House and many buildings around Sena Plaza.
Elephant Butte Historic Preservation Training with Rocky Mountain Youth Corps
At the end of October we wrapped up our historic preservation workshops with the Taos-based Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. The hands-on trainings took place at Elephant Butte Dam Site, where participants worked to preserve a number of lake-front stone casitas built by members of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1940’s. Youth Corps members were taught to prepare lime-amended mortar using NHL and materials harvested on-site. They learned to use the mortar to repoint deteriorated joints on the lodges and practiced other hands-on stone-masonry preservation techniques. Work that was completed on the Casitas is part of a broader rehabilitation effort taking place at the Elephant Butte Dam Site Historic District. The three workshops were a great success and Cornerstones looks forward to future collaborations with the Bureau of Reclamation and the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps!
Adobe Model Home Celebration
Government Shutdown and what it means for Cornerstones
As many of you know, federal government shutdowns have the potential to create immediate and significant challenges for non-profit organizations nationwide. Many of our projects throughout the year are often federally funded supporting training workshops focused on cultural resource management and preservation. Along with countless others, Cornerstones has been affected by this shutdown and delay in our workshops in National Parks. To help us through this time, we humbly ask you to please consider making a donation today. Whether or not you are able, we want to thank you for your gracious support - Thank you!