Los Alamos Historical Society Executive Director Elizabeth Martineau in the Victory Garden behind the Hans Bethe House on Bathtub Row. Enterprise Bank’s support helped create this garden open daily to the public. Photo by Gordon McDonough 

Sponsored Advertising Content
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com

Despite the global pandemic and state health emergency mandates, Los Alamos Historical Society continues to meet its mission. 

“While we look forward to opening the museum when allowed to do so safely, in the meantime our Lecture Series will continue this fall via Zoom Video Conferencing, and we will offer virtual field trips for schools. We also are working on new Fuller Lodge exhibits,” Executive Director Elizabeth Martineau said. 

Martineau has served as executive director of the Historical Society since 2019.

“What a year it has been!” she said. “While the pandemic has created financial challenges, it also has provided the time and opportunity to expand our online presence and reach beyond museum walls. Los Alamos is historic! We are surrounded by history and continue to make history every day.”

Martineau credits community support for allowing her programs to continue during the shutdown.

“One of our strongest supporters is Enterprise Bank & Trust and LANB before them. They have a long tradition of supporting our community, including the Los Alamos Historical Society,” she said. “Their financial support goes back many years, creating a steady financial partnership that has allowed us to expand programs, such as the Lecture Series and Victory Garden, that help ensure a vibrant historic district in downtown Los Alamos.”

Enterprise Regional President Liddie Martinez describes the Los Alamos Historical Society as a vital part of the community.

“Enterprise Bank & Trust is proud to continue our long-established partnership with the Los Alamos Historical Society and Museum,” Martinez said. “Their enduring efforts to collect, preserve, archive, and provide access to the many documents, artifacts, photographs, history, personal stories and interpretive exhibits are critical to the Los Alamos community, our region, state and nation.”

Through the Los Alamos History Museum, Los Alamos Historical Society Archives and Collection,  Bathtub Row Press publications, ownership and interpretation of historic buildings, educational programs and more, the Los Alamos Historical Society preserves, promotes and communicates the remarkable history and inspiring stories of Los Alamos and its people to the community, global audience and future generations.

One of its more recent projects is the Los Alamos History Museum’s victory garden – a modern take on the WWII victory gardens.

“Enterprise Bank & Trust contributed to the creation of our new Victory Garden behind the Hans Bethe House at 1350 Bathtub Row. It is open to the public daily,” Martineau said. “By planting and tending the garden, we hope to inspire interest in history and in the value of home gardening. Gardening connects us with the history of Los Alamos.”

She explained that during WWII, the U.S. government encouraged citizens to plant victory gardens. Growing food, instead of buying it, meant there was more farm-grown food available to send to troops overseas. Growing a victory garden gave families fresh produce, a source of pride, and a way to relax.

“Los Alamos was an Army base during World War II and residents planted victory gardens in 1944 and 1945,” Martineau said. “The Army did not allow water to be used for gardening in the summer of 1943. But in 1944, the community created a space for victory gardens east of Fuller Lodge lawn. Plots were 25 feet by 50 feet and were available to anyone who wanted to start a victory garden.”

About one in seven Americans planted a victory garden during WWII, making more than 20 million victory gardens across the United States growing more than one million tons of vegetables, she said.

Martineau grew up as an army “brat” exploring the world. She landed in Los Alamos in 1986 and said she was enchanted by the natural landscape and deep history of the region. She holds a master’s degree in instructional leadership and spent the first part of her career teaching. Martineau moved into the museum world in 2005. She said that after many years collaborating and volunteering with the Los Alamos Historical Society, joining them as executive director was a natural fit.

“What I love most about the Historical Society is that it is truly a community organization that is supported and driven by many individual citizens, local businesses, volunteers, and the county working together for the common good,” Martineau said. “Join us!”

To learn more about the Los Alamos Historical Museum, become a member, or visit the museum shop online, visit losalamoshistory.org.

Side Bar:

The offices of the Los Alamos Historical Society are upstairs at historic Fuller Lodge. Designed in 1928 by John Gaw Meem for the Los Alamos Ranch School, and later used by the Manhattan Project, Fuller Lodge is now a public building on the National Register of Historic Places.

Los Alamos Historical Society Board of Directors:

• Board President Roger Waterman
• Vice President Cheri Trottier
• Secretary Wendy Hoffman
• Shay Burns Kendricks
• Mary Pat Kraemer
• Robin McLean
• Michael Redondo
• John Ruminer
• Sharon Snyder
• ​Mike Wheeler
• ​Ron Wilkins