Closing out its final meeting of 2025, the Aztec City Commission heard a mixed report Tuesday from the Aztec Museum and Pioneer Village director, who warned that although the museum drew thousands of visitors this year, it faces a budget shortfall.
Membership, now at 138, is slightly down from last year, Joan Monninger said. Guest numbers fell to 4,087, possibly because of bad weather during the Fall Festival and Car Show. Visitors from 40 states and 21 countries registered.
For a small seasonal community museum, 1,000 to 5,000 guests per year is considered a “pretty solid goal,” she said, adding that visitor satisfaction is good based on how much time people spend in the museum’s 15 structures.
“One of the things that we think about is, are we giving people a reason to visit, and are we giving them a reason to return,” she said, noting their “mission is to collect, preserve and share the rich history of the communities we serve.”
The museum is open May 1 to Oct. 31 and by appointment in the offseason while staff add to collections and prepare exhibits, including a new one now underway. Hours during visitor season are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The 1953 Mac Johnston letter sweater with the State Championship patch was one of the cool things this year, she said. “One of the most sentimental things” was when a lady saw the Fiesta dresses in a case donated by Tweeti Blancett.
Staff brought her back to hold the dress for the first time since she was a teenager. “We did an oral history interview with her and she talked about growing up here,” said Monninger. This is the “kind of stuff that is really hard to explain to people, just how moving these moments are for us.”
Monninger thanked their volunteers, board of directors and Vista Nueva High School students who help in the spring and fall. She also thanked city workers and Jack Scott who dealt with a water leak near season’s end.
Museum events included an Easter Egg Hunt, the return of the Six Old Soreheads, the Tully House Picnic in Flora Vista, Movie Nights, the Aztec Fall Festival & Car Show, and Museum Group and School Tours.
A new exhibit, “The Unspun Tale: Sheep in San Juan County,” funded by a $1,000 San Juan County grant, is scheduled for 2026.
Operational costs were about $70,000, with a projected income of $62,000, Monninger said, appealing to the commission for help with the shortfall. Mayor Mike Padilla advised her to talk with the city manager about submitting a request.
Business items
Four business items and one resolution were approved.
Ramon Hancock, Hilcorp Energy Corp. landman, presented proposals for two new gas wells in city limits. Hancock said the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division has approved both applications for permits to drill.
Production on both wells is projected for mid-April. Both items were unanimously approved, and production is projected for mid-April.
They are:
Department officials also presented their reports. At a glance:
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