Description
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, this lecture invites reflection not only on the nation’s founding but on New Mexico’s distinct and much longer history. In 1776, the Province of New Mexico followed a very different path from the English colonies that would form the Republic. As a remote outpost of New Spain, New Mexico faced ongoing Indigenous resistance, economic decline, and limited access to trade. Explore life in New Mexico in 1776 to understand how these conditions continue to shape the state today.
Matthew Barbour holds both a BA and MA in anthropology from the University of New Mexico and has worked for the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs since 2002. Currently, Barbour is the deputy director of New Mexico Historic Sites. He has published over 200 non-fiction articles and monographs, and has twice been awarded the City of Santa Fe Heritage Preservation Award for Excellence in Archaeology.