Roosevelt's New Deal 75th Anniversary Exhibit Comes to New Mexico

SANTA FE, NM – New Mexico Economic Development Department Cabinet Secretary Designate Fred Mondragón today announced that the Department’s MainStreet Program has borrowed from the National New Deal Association its traveling exhibit of New Mexico’s photo-documented New Deal Treasures. The exhibit will be shown in five New Mexico MainStreet communities during the next 11 months.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal initiatives transformed the economic landscape of New Mexico. Its legacy of employing upwards of 40 percent of New Mexico’s population during the Great Depression of the 1930s can be seen in public works, art, artisan and craft work in every region of the state.

“I am pleased that we are carrying this story back into our communities,” said Cabinet Secretary Designate Fred Mondragon. “We continue to tap the spirit and drive of President Roosevelt in new economic initiatives to build on and enhance the ability of our New Mexico communities to maintain good jobs, healthy businesses and a dynamic arts market tied to our unique culture and history. I encourage every New Mexican to expose themselves and their families and friends to this wonderful exhibit.”

The premiere will take place December 7 at the Silver City Museum in collaboration with Silver City MainStreet. New Deal artifacts selected by Museum Director Susan Berry will also be on display.

New Deal Treasures exhibition dates and locations are as follows:
• December 7, 2007-March 2, 2008 – Silver City Museum
• March 14-May 11, 2008 – Artesia Chamber of Commerce
• May 22-July 25, 2008 – Raton Museum
• August 1-September 7, 2008 – Tucumcari Art Space
• September 19-November 1, 2008 – Roosevelt County Courthouse, Portales

Under President Roosevelt’s New Deal initiatives, the Public Works Administration (WPA) and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed roads, dams, parks, monuments, libraries, hospitals, post offices, firehouses, schools and municipal buildings across New Mexico.

The Social Security Program, Federal Deposit Insurance Program brought financial stability to the people of the United States. The Youth Conservation Core (YCC) remains active to this day teaching young people a trade and providing them a career pathway.

“You can walk the Big Ditch’s walls to see the incredible engineering work or down Silver City’s downtown streets and see “WPA” stamped into the concrete of our sidewalks,” said Frank Milan, Silver City MainStreet Manager, “it’s an important part of our history that every generation should have a chance to see.”
 

For more information visit www.offtheroadnm.com.