Inside the museum: (L to R) Dr. Justin Walsh, Dr. Bryan Lintott (ISCoAH), Jon Haas (Chair Governor’s Commission NMMSH), Dr. Beth O’Leary (ISCoAH), Karen Kincaid Brady (Exec. Director NMMSH), John Hyndman, and Michael Shinabery (NMMSH). Courtesy/NMDCA
Outside the museum: (L to R) Karen Kincaid Brady (Exec. Director NMMSH), Dr. Justin Walsh, Dr. Beth O’Leary (ISCoAH), Dr. Bryan Lintott (ISCoAH), Jon Haas (Chair Governor’s Commission NMMSH), Mike Shinabery(NMMSH), and John Hyndman. Courtesy/NMDCA
NMDCA News:
Recently, the New Mexico Museum of Space History hosted attendees of the ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) Next Steps 2025 conference at New Mexico State University (NMSU) and the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, with Dr. Beth O’Leary leading the event.
Delegates from ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Aerospace Heritage (ISCoAH) explored the museum; they immersed themselves in New Mexico’s crucial role in space exploration history. From the early rocket tests at White Sands to the historic Apollo missions and the rise of commercial space tourism, the museum’s exhibits beautifully highlight the journey of human ambition and innovation. Each gallery inspires awe about our desire to explore beyond our planet.
Tour organizer and College Professor Emerita of Anthropology at NMSU, Dr. Beth O’Leary, is a pioneer in space archaeology. Her work began in 2000 when a student’s question about how preservation law applied to the Moon inspired her mission to preserve and protect historic lunar sites, especially Apollo 11’s Tranquility Base. Thanks to Dr. O’Leary’s efforts, Tranquility Base is now listed as an archaeological site in New Mexico’s Archaeological Records Management System (ARMS), the country’s largest archaeological database. It is on the State Register of Cultural Properties.
A few days before the tour, the delegation received a warm welcome by New Mexico Secretary of Cultural Affairs, Debra Garcia y Griego, and Jon Haas, Chair of the New Mexico Museum of Space History Governor’s Commission and a recent NASA retiree. Haas’s career as Principal Engineer at the NASA Engineering and Safety Center, located at Johnson Space Center’s White Sands Test Facility, demonstrates the state’s strong ties to aerospace innovation and safety. Under his leadership, the Governor’s Commission supports the museum’s stewardship of traditional artifacts from the Space Age and the compelling story of humanity’s first steps on another world.
In Dr. O’Leary’s words, “This would not have been possible without the assistance of Jon Haas, Chair of the Governor’s Commission, who is an amazing scientific spokesperson and the best booster of the museum. It was wonderful to see the storage facilities of the museum, especially the LEM, which Jon Haas secured.” (A LEM is a Lunar Excursion Module, used during the Apollo program to land astronauts on the Moon)
The fact that delegates from ICOMOS chose to visit our museum for their International Conference underscores our museum’s significance. The International Scientific Committee on Aerospace Heritage (ISCoAH) successfully nominated the Moon as a 2025 World Monuments Watch site, recognizing it as one of 25 global heritage sites facing urgent preservation challenges. Being included in this prestigious list opens doors for global support and raises awareness about the significance of historic lunar sites.
Additionally, the New Mexico Museum of Space History features LA 2,000,000, which marks the exact spot on the Moon where Apollo astronauts landed on July 20, 1969—238,857 miles from Earth at lunar coordinates 0.67266° N, 23.47298° E. A plaque on the museum grounds commemorates LA 2,000,000, creating a lasting connection between New Mexico and one of humanity’s most outstanding space achievements.
The New Mexico Museum of Space History is proud to have hosted ICOMOS, ISCoAH, Dr. Beth O’Leary, and Jon Haas, sharing New Mexico’s vital role in safeguarding humanity’s legacy on the Moon with visitors from around the world. Dr. Beth O’Leary and her international committee have affirmed New Mexico’s leadership in Aerospace Heritage, underscoring the state’s significant contributions to aerospace innovation and preservation, as celebrated through the museum’s exhibits and programs.