Display maps East Mountains’ vanishing past

After a popular monthlong run at the East Mountain Library, the East Mountain Historical Society’s map of natural and man-made historic sites and landmarks is now on display at the Moriarty Historical Museum through July.

“Mapping Our Vanishing Past” is a 6-by-6-foot map covering an area stretching north to the San Pedro Mountains, south to Chilili, west through Tijeras Canyon and east to Stanley. It includes vanished and some existing highways and roads, churches, post offices, schools, dance halls, ruins, acequias, springs, old railroad beds, stage coach routes and more.

The map grew out of the East Mountain Historical Society’s awardwinning New Mexico Centennial Oral History Project in 2012, during which many old-timers talked about growing up in places no longer on modern maps.

Folded, glove-box style versions of the display map, updated with even more information, are available for $7 at the Moriarty Museum and at these outlets: Brandy’s Hair Salon, Hitch ‘n Post Feed Supply and One Stop Office in Tijeras, and the Triangle Grocery in Cedar Crest. Both the folded and poster versions of the map are available at the Hey Mavis! gift shop in Cedar Crest and via the East Mountain Historical Society’s web site at eastmountainhistory.org.

The Moriarty Museum also carries the East Mountain Historical Society’s six vintage Route 66 postcard reproductions, which can also be purchased at One Stop Office, Mail & Copy Business Center, Tinkertown on the road to Sandia Crest, and the Owl Café in Albuquerque. Sales of the maps and postcards fund the East Mountain society’s preservation work and educational mission to raise awareness of local history. For information about the all-volunteer East Mountain Historical Society, visit eastmountainhistory.org.