Jemez Historic Site in Jemez Springs, New Mexico, will launch an Elders in Residence program from August 6 to 17, 2025. The initiative aims to connect youth and elders from the Pueblo of Jemez by involving them in interpretive tours, preservation projects, and garden maintenance.
Elders participating in the program will receive training to lead public tours and learn about site interpretation and preservation. They will collaborate with Jemez youth, offering guidance based on their experience.
"Jemez Historic Site is honored to host elders from the Pueblo of Jemez this summer. This gives the public an opportunity to hear about the stories and importance of the site directly from the people to whom it ancestrally belongs," said Wendi Laws, regional site manager.
Youth participants from Walatowa High Charter School in Jemez Pueblo will also undergo training and observe staff-led tours. They will take part in activities related to preservation, restoration, and maintaining interpretive gardens.
Both elders and youth are encouraged to share feedback and ideas for site operations. The program emphasizes strengthening cultural connections between generations while providing professional development opportunities for young participants.
Public tours led by elders or youth will be available Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., included with standard admission. Admission is $7 for adults; entry is free for children under 16, people with Native or Tribal affiliations, New Mexico disabled veterans, foster families, Museum of New Mexico Foundation members, and Friends of Coronado and Jemez Historic Sites members.
Jemez Historic Site features remnants of Gisewa village—a settlement established around 700 years ago by ancestors of today's Jemez Pueblo community—and ruins of San José de los Jémez Church built by Spanish colonists in the early 17th century. The museum offers exhibitions that highlight local history as told by the Jemez people, alongside a trail through outdoor ruins. More information can be found at https://nmhistoricsites.org/jemez.
