Doña Ana Village Historic Preservation Committee

06/04/2026

A brief summary of the restoration of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria in the 1990s under the guidance of Cornerstones.

Nuestra Senora de la Purification in Doña Ana, NM, located just north of Las Cruces, is a large adobe church built in cruciform plan in 1840. The concrete bell tower and mission façade are thought to have been added in the 1920’s or 30’s and the church was covered in cement plaster at some poi...

06/03/2026

The 2019 Dia de San Lorenzo Fiesta parade. Our Lady of Purification hosted the San Lorenzo Fiesta for decades and it became the biggest fiesta of the year in Doña Ana after the Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria Fiesta faded away. The San Isidro Fiesta was another important saint's day in Doña Ana in the late 1800s and into the 1900s but also faded away. Dia de la Candelaria is February 2nd and many claim that bitter cold weather during the fiesta is what caused its demise.

06/02/2026

Our Committee has been around in one form or another for 50-years and has always been made up entirely of volunteers. We are a homegrown Doña Ana organization that has always worked hard to do what is best for our community without compromise. There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes that often times leads into confrontations with other organizations, governments, and others because we refuse to compromise when it comes to the betterment of our community. We volunteer our time and many times donate our own money to make Doña Ana a better place to live for everyone. If you ever attended an event or just visited the plaza, used the De La O Center, walked into Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, you can do those things thanks to the work of the present and past members of our Committee. None of it was easy to get done and we fought many battles, but ultimately we were successful and we will continue fighting for our community no matter if it leads into new battles. We are all proud Doñaneros and Doñaneras and do not back down from a fight.

06/01/2026

Congratulations to Liana Aguirre, the Town of Mesilla Historic Specialist, for organizing this great event. Hopefully, we can expand it to include Doña Ana in the future.

05/29/2026

Another opportunity for a guided tour of a local historic district and best of all it is FREE!

Take a stroll around the Alameda-Depot Historic District in Las Cruces with our “History and Houses” program! Join us on Saturday, May 30, at the Railroad Museum at 10am to start the tour. We will return to the Railroad Museum at 11am.

Learn about the neighborhood that the railroad “created” and the way that happened. Our conversation will focus on the people who designed, built, or lived in a few of the houses in the neighborhood.

We will walk about 1 mile with several stops. Please bring water, sunscreen or a hat, and anything else you might want to stay comfortable. Don't forget your walking shoes!

Ages: 18+
Fee: FREE
Registration: No
Location: Railroad Museum, 351 North Mesilla Street

For more information, contact Kyle McGrogan, Education Curator (Railroad Museum), at [email protected] or (575) 528-3426/TTY 711.



Image Credit: Amador House, Ca. 1905 in the Brownlee Subdivision.

05/27/2026

Esther Garcia-Giron was born in Doña Ana in 1912 to David Garcia and Jesusita Apodaca Garcia. In 1935 she married Guillermo "Willie" Giron. She spent her entire life in Doña Ana and raised her family here. Esther and her husband were passionate advocates for our community and passed that passion down to their children who continue to advocate for our community.

05/27/2026

Happening until Friday!

May 26-29, 2026: Historic Preservation Week! The detailed schedule is here! Please use this link to register for events Event Registration for Mesilla Preservation Week, May 26-29, 2026 – Fill out form (https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=DQSIkWdsW0yxEjajBLZtrQAAAAAAAAAAAANAAVPSmINUQ1M3OUNKNE1SRlRIVlNMRFc2R1oyV1lOUS4u&route=shorturl) that state registration is required (Space is limited for these events!), but please feel free to join us for talks. There will be movies, workshops, discussions and demonstrations. Email: [email protected] with any questions. Preservation is the key to keeping culture, heritage, memory and our historic buildings alive! Be part of it! Hope to see you there! Theater

05/26/2026

As part of Mesilla's historic preservation week, our great friend Eric Liefeld will be hosting a tour of the recently restored Armijo house this evening. This is a great opportunity to learn about the history of the property and the recent restoration work done on the house.

In recognition of Historic Preservation Month, the City’s Historic Preservation Program is pleased to share a special tour of the Nestor Armijo House, taking place on Tuesday, May 26, at 6:00 PM. The tour will be led by Eric Liefeld of Mesilla Valley Preservation, Inc..
The City’s Historic Preservation Program is partnering with the Town of Mesilla (Old Mesilla) to offer this tour as part of Mesilla’s Historic Preservation Week activities.

Located at 150 E. Lohman Ave, the Nestor Armijo House is a beautifully restored 19th‑century adobe building, known as the first two‑story home and the first property with electricity in Las Cruces. The tour provides an opportunity to learn more about one of the area’s earliest and most historically significant homes.

All are welcome to attend and explore this piece of local history!

05/25/2026

Today we honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Two brothers left their family farm in Doña Ana and never returned home. We must never forget the sacrifice of these two brothers and their families. Damacio Espalin Jr. died on June 18, 1942, as a prisoner of war after surviving the Bataan Death March. Daniel C. Espalin was killed in action on October 21, 1944 during the battle of Leyte, Philippines. May they never be forgotten and forever honored.

05/24/2026

Roque "Rocky" Lujan, World War II veteran who landed on Omaha Beach as part of D-Day operations which began on June 6, 1944. Mr. Lujan also fought at the Battle of Bulge and helped liberate the Buchenwald Concentration Camp with General George S. Patton's 3rd Army.