About Us

About the East Mountain Historical Society

Our Mission

The East Mountain Historical Society (EMHS) is a group dedicated to preserving and documenting history in the Sandia, Manzano, and Manzanita Mountain towns and villages east of Albuquerque, New Mexico, including portions of Route 66 and the historic Turquoise Trail.

As reflected in our logo, we also are dedicated to preserving “la cultura de las montañas” – the culture of the mountains.

This area of interest includes the villages of Tijeras, Carnuel, San Antonio, San Antonito, Cañoncito, Sedillo, Cedro, Juan Tomas, Yrisarri, Escobosa, and Chilili, as well as surrounding areas that have family or historic ties to these towns and villages.

Established in 1992, the goals of the East Mountain Historical Society are to:

Collect historical data pertaining to the East Mountains.
Conserve, preserve, and protect historic buildings, archaeological sites, and historically significant landscapes.
Enhance public appreciation and understanding of East Mountain history and culture.

Our Goals

Our immediate primary goal is to secure a space that would serve as a permanent repository for East Mountain history collections, photos, and historical documents, and which would serve as a museum, visitor’s center, and EMHS home so we may:

- Continue collecting photos/oral histories/historical documents.

- Share these collections with the public for the purpose of research.

- Research and preserve documents on land grants and homesteads.

- Document and preserve genealogies of families in the East Mountains.

- Exhibit photos, oral histories, and historical documents.

- Host special programs/speakers.

- Have a space for regular EMHS board meetings.

Our Members

EMHS is a volunteer organization made up of dues-paying members, plus honorary members who pay no dues and have lived in the area 50 years or more. Its financing is derived mostly through membership dues and donations.
It is a 501(c) 3 tax-exempt organization.

Our Collections

The society collects historical data through interviews with older residents, copying old photographs and documents, and researching information in state libraries and archives.

You can view our Photo Achive at this link: Photos

Our Events

EMHS holds or participates in at least four free events a year to share historic information with the public. These events include public talks by old time residents and experts, as well as musical events that have included dance lessons and concerts by musicians playing traditional songs and instruments.

The East Mountain Historical Society (EMHS) provides this Web site as a service to its members, to those interested in the history of the area, and to the public, in furtherance of the mission of EMHS as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation.
The contents of this Web site are copyrighted, which includes the contents of the EMHS newsletter. However, in light of the mission of EMHS mission as an educational organization, portions of the newsletter may be cited or quoted so long as the Society, or the author of the article where applicable, is given credit as the information source.
The opinions expressed by contributors to the EMHS newsletter and Web site are solely those of the individual writers. EMHS is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for, damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on any information contained within the site.

Our Address

East Mountain Historical Society
PO Box 106
Tijeras, NM 87059

© 2022

Text by Denise Tessier, EMHS Historian

Disclaimer: No part of this website may be reproduced, stored in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, without the prior written permission of EMHS.

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