By Ashley Flores, Bernalillo Community Museum
After years of work, the Bernalillo Community Museum is opening its latest exhibition, A History of Sports in Bernalillo on Saturday, June 29.
Through seven sports-related exhibits, visitors will learn of local athletes’ accomplishments and the individual community members who worked tirelessly to maintain Bernalillo’s sports programs.
An interactive exhibit portion will ask visitors to test their athletic ability. While the individual accomplishments of local teams and athletes are always an important aspect of sports, the museum staff hopes that A History of Sports in Bernalillo will remind visitors that it is the day-to-day commitment to a common goal, a team, and a community that makes sports special for the community.
This exhibition was curated primarily by local student employees and all content for the exhibition came directly from community members, Bernalillo High School and the Sandoval County Historical Society.
Exhibits include “Hometown Heroes,” which looks at some of the local individuals who dedicated years of their lives to participating in and developing local sports and community-based programs.
“Beyond the Court” highlights local nonprofit organizations that use sports to create positive changes in their community.
“Sports in Bernalillo” lists 16 of the current sports teams at Bernalillo High School, the history behind each sport, and some of the accomplishments of local athletes.
“50 Years in the Making” discusses the history of Coronado Little League, how the program was started, and how it has been able to thrive for the last fifty years.
“Spartan Pride,” and “Our Mustangs of Bernalillo,” provide detailed histories of each school and a background for their fierce competitiveness.
Lastly, “Test Your Skills,” has a series of challenges that will allow guests to test their eye-hand coordination, accuracy, and reflexes.
The exhibition’s grand opening is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 29. The Bernalillo Community Museum is open from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and is located at 118 Calle Malinche. Admission to the museum is free.