ON JUNE 25, 1857, Edward Beale left New Mexico’s Fort Defiance on a surveying mission along the 35th Parallel Route to the Colorado River on the Arizona–California border. The party included 12 wagons, 44 soldiers, 95 dogs, horses, and mules—and 25 camels. Part of a U.S. Army experiment, the camels were a Sahara-size success, lugging 700-pound packs of supplies with little trouble and outperforming the mules. “The camels really captivated me,” says Doug Baum, a history buff and former zookeeper. “This tidbit crystallized in my mind what I was supposed to do.” In 1997, he established the Texas Camel Corps to bring the living history of the Army camels and their role in settling the Southwest to schools, libraries, museums, national parks, and historic sites. The Camel Corps arrives at Coronado Historic Site, in Bernalillo, on April 12 for a day of storytelling, photos with the animals, and a touch of time travel. Here are a few camel facts to know before you go.
They’re desert experts. With long, thick eyelashes as protection from sandstorms, humps filled with fat to sustain them, and thick, calloused- padded feet to ward off the heat, camels are well-suited to rugged climates. “Camels are a walking lesson in ecology and environmental adaptation,” Baum says. “From their nose to their tail, every part of the body is built for where they live.”
They get a bad rap. “People assume camels are mean and irascible,” Baum says. But he knows them to be docile, gentle creatures. “Folks say how kind they are and how soft their noses are.”
They can connect us to the past. As Beale’s expedition reached what is Los Lunas today, they passed a general store. One of the men ran back to buy a bottle of whiskey. When he asked what it would cost, the owner gave him the bottle for free and said the sight of the camels was payment enough. “Seeing the camels brings smiles to so many faces,” Baum says. “Whenever I stop, people look in the trailer and get so excited.”
CAMELS AT CORONADO
April 12, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Coronado Historic Site, 485 Kuaua Road, Bernalillo
Each day of the Gathering of Nations features two Grand Entries.
Photograph by Will Huston.
GATHERING OF NATIONS
April 24–26, Expo New Mexico, Albuquerque
For more than 40 years, the largest powwow in the country has packed a powerful punch of traditional dancing, vibrant regalia, and Indigenous joy. Taking over Expo New Mexico, the Gathering of Nations includes the Miss Indian World contest, a horse parade, a traders’ market, and live performances. It’s also the best time to see so many diverse tribes from throughout the country in one place.
Doña Clementina navigates life with strength in the American premiere of Luigi Boccherini’s opera, sung entirely in Spanish at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
Photograph courtesy of Opera Southwest.
Albuquerque Restaurant Week
April 4–13
Delight in the Duke City’s dining scene during this weeklong event that offers unique experiences at some of Albuquerque’s top restaurants.
Light, Space, and the Shape of Time, Albuquerque
April 5–July 20
Taking inspiration from the 1960s Light and Space movement, this Albuquerque Museum exhibition creates an immersive experience with common materials. See glass sculptures, neon pieces, and colorful acrylic and resin works.
Opera Southwest’s Doña Clementina, Albuquerque
April 6–13
Taking the stage at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, the American premiere of Luigi Boccherini’s opera is sung entirely in Spanish and centers around Doña Clementina as she navigates life with strength.
Las Cruces International Film Festival
April 9–13
Celebrating 10 years, this student-run film fest brings screenings of independent films, workshops, and stars, including Helen Hunt, to Las Cruces.
Baroque Holy Week, Santa Fe
April 12–13
Santa Fe Pro Musica’s Baroque ensemble combines musical prowess with special guests during this cherished series.
Tucumcari Film Festival
April 25–26
Both national and local filmmakers are featured at this fest, formerly known as the Tucumcari Rawhide Days Film Festival.
The 15th Annual Southwest Chocolate & Coffee Fest features 200 global vendors, local artisans, and culinary demonstrations.
Photograph courtesy of the Southwest Chocolate & Coffee Fest.
