HARVEY WEEKEND:
Once again, Fred Harvey will be honored through a weekendlong historical celebration in Santa Fe and Las Vegas, N.M. The eighth annual Fred Harvey History Weekend starts today at 1 p.m. at the New Mexico History Museum, and continues all day Saturday and Sunday.
Harvey, a 19th-century hospitality entrepreneur famous for creating a chain of Western hotels and restaurants along the country’s expanding rail lines, has a special legacy in New Mexico’s development as a tourist destination. Santa Fe’s La Fonda Hotel was a “Harvey House,” as was Las Vegas’ Hotel Castaneda, which is currently being revived.
The weekend kicks off with a series of free talks at the History Museum, 113 Lincoln Ave., from 1-5 p.m. Topics include a look at “new” Fred Harvey history and an update on developer Allan Affeldt’s renovation of both La Castañeda and Lamy’s Legal Tender saloon. Santa Fe Antiques, 1006 Marquez Place, will also hold a Harvey-themed open house at 5 p.m.
Saturday’s festivities start with coffee and breakfast at 10 a.m. at Lamy’s Legal Tender, 151 Old Lamy Trail. RSVP for the breakfast at legaltenderlamy@gmail.com. The free historical talks continue from 1-5 p.m. at the museum. Saturday’s presentations include a lecture by Harvey’s great-great-granddaughter, an exploration of the cooking in Harvey restaurants and railroad dining cars, and a screening of new interviews with former Harvey Girls.
A special dinner with recreations of dishes from Harvey’s hotels, restaurants and dining cars is at 6 p.m. at La Fonda. Cooking demonstrations will go on between courses. Tickets for the dinner, at $150 per person, are required. They are available at ticketssantafe.org.
Sunday’s events will all be in Las Vegas, starting with a tour of the former Montezuma Hotel, which is now the home of United World College, from 10 a.m. to noon (reserve your spot at tours@ southwestdetours.com). A reservation only brunch at takes place at The Range Cafe on the Plaza, 230 Plaza Park (reserve a seat by calling 505-425-3591, tickets are $25 per person). At 2 p.m., there will be a tour of La Castañeda and a screening of short documentaries starring Castañeda Harvey Girls.
For a full event list, including a schedule of Friday and Saturday’s History Museum talks, go to nmhistorymuseum.org. The talks are open to the public, but you can reserve seats at nmhm.events@state.nm.us.