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Recently, the New Mexico Museum of Space History welcomed delegates from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) as part of the Next Steps 2025 conference, organized by New Mexico State University and the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium. Dr. Beth O’Leary, College Professor Emerita of Anthropology at NMSU and a leader in space archaeology, led the event.
Delegates from the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Aerospace Heritage (ISCoAH) toured the museum to learn about New Mexico’s role in space exploration. The museum features exhibits on early rocket tests at White Sands, Apollo missions, and commercial space tourism.
Dr. O’Leary began her work in space archaeology in 2000 after being asked how preservation law applied to lunar sites. Her efforts resulted in Apollo 11’s Tranquility Base being listed as an archaeological site in New Mexico’s Archaeological Records Management System and included on the State Register of Cultural Properties.
Prior to their tour, delegates were welcomed by Debra Garcia y Griego, Secretary of Cultural Affairs for New Mexico, and Jon Haas, Chair of the Governor’s Commission for the museum and former NASA Principal Engineer at Johnson Space Center’s White Sands Test Facility. Haas has supported the museum’s stewardship of artifacts from the Space Age.
“This would not have been possible without the assistance of Jon Haas, Chair of the Governor’s Commission, who is an amazing scientific spokesperson and the best booster of the museum. It was wonderful to see the storage facilities of the museum, especially the LEM, which Jon Haas secured,” said Dr. O’Leary.
The visit highlighted international recognition for lunar heritage preservation efforts. ISCoAH nominated the Moon as a 2025 World Monuments Watch site—one of 25 global heritage sites facing urgent preservation challenges—which may bring increased support and awareness for historic lunar sites.
The museum also features LA 2,000,000—a marker that commemorates where Apollo astronauts landed on July 20, 1969—creating a connection between New Mexico and this significant moment in human history.
Dr. O’Leary and her committee emphasized New Mexico’s leadership in aerospace heritage through their visit and collaboration with local organizations.
