Harvest Festival, Las Golondrinas 2019
The weather was picture-perfect for the 47th Annual Harvest Festival.
Welcome to El Rancho de las Golondrinas, “The Ranch of the Swallows.” This historic ranch, now a living history museum, dates from the early 1700s and was an important paraje or stopping place along the famous Camino Real, the Royal Road from Mexico City to Santa Fe.
Autumn is a vibrant time to visit the Rancho! Taste syrup from the burro driven sorghum mill, help make cider by cranking a traditional apple press, and pick a pumpkin from the scarecrow-guarded patch. Visitors can stomp grapes by foot, make corn husk crafts or roll their own delicious tortilla by hand. There’s a lot to do at this long-running and acclaimed event!
Printable maps and self-guided tours are available.
Nikon D500, Tamron 18-400 mm
Activities and Vendors
Traditional arts and crafts vendors displayed their creations throughout the day. They were gracious and welcomed sharing information about their techniques and backgrounds.
The Little Plaza, The Well, Chapel and Founders Room
After entering the large wooden double doors you are standing in the middle of the Golondrinas Placita, a reconstructed example of an 18th century Spanish Period home. In the open space called a placita (little plaza), there is a well (noria), which provides easy access to water. The hornos (earth ovens) are where the family and their servants and Indian slaves spent much time cooking.
The large peaked-roof structure with stone walls is the chapel and Founders Room. Believed to have been built in the 18th century, this is the oldest building still standing on original foundations at El Rancho de las Golondrinas.
Historic interiors exhibit a kitchen, reception room, family room, Torreón (tower), storage room, weaving and spinning rooms, servants' room, corrals, barn and chicken coop.
Hiking the Royal Road
El Rancho de las Golondrinas was strategically located on the Camino Real, the Royal Road that extended from Mexico City to Santa Fe. The ranch provided goods for trade and was a place where the caravans that plied the road would stop on their journey coming from or going to Santa Fe
Torreón Archaeological Site
Torreones (Defensive Towers) were built as refuge from attack, and the numerous torreones in the La Ciénega valley would have provided protection for Spanish settlers. Archaeological excavations suggest that this torreón was most likely built in the 18th century and was used for defense, storing crops and possibly later as a private residence. Archaeological fieldwork was completed in 2010 and the foundations seen here have been rebuilt over the original foundations.
Orchards, Vineyard and Winery
Fruit abounds at Las Golondrinas during good years. The types of fruit available during the Spanish period included apples, apricots, peaches, cherries, pears, plums, melons and grapes.
The Penitente Meeting House of our Lady of Peace and the Big Mill from Sapelló
A panoramic view of the Penitente Meeting House is visible from the trail leading to the Big Mill from Sapelló.
The adobe building high on the hill overlooking the ranch is the morada. The Brotherhood of Our Father, Jesus of Nazareth, a fraternity of men known as the Penitentes (the penitent ones) is an important group of lay members of the Catholic Church known for their good works benefiting the community.
The largest mill at Las Golondrinas was originally built and used by the Pacheco family in Sapelló, New Mexico, and later operated by the Leger family. When the mill is not in use, the water is diverted into the tree-lined millpond. During certain museum programs, the mill grinds flour from wheat. Flour was ground and sifted into different grades: Fine (Flora Fina ), Medium (Semita ), Coarse (Harina Despajada ), Bran for animal feed (Salvado ).
Sierra Village
The Sierra Village is comprised of buildings that are not original to the ranch, but are arranged to show what life was like in the high sierras of Northern New Mexico.
