ARTICLES
Discover the Rich History
Explore the rich history of San Juan County through captivating photographs.
oUR sTORY
Family and Scholarly Research
The San Juan County Historical Society was founded over 30 years ago by a passionate group of individuals who recognized a critical need: no local organization was solely focused on preserving the historical records of San Juan County. At the time, source documents were not only difficult to locate they were actively disappearing. These dedicated volunteers took action, developing a plan that soon led to the creation of an archive. Today, that archive stands as the cornerstone for historical preservation and research in the county.
San Juan Historical Society
Hear From Our Own Members
My 50 years of living in Farmington, from the beginning, has been a love story. My deep feelings for this community were formed and nurtured not only by my passion for history, but by the people I have met here, the organizations I have been part of, my marriage to Farmington’s first pediatrician who came during the oil and gas boom of the 1950’s, the quilting revival after the bicentennial and the restoration of a historic stone house in Cedar Hill. My endless curiosity and enthusiasm have driven me.
This is a young town and county with stories of homesteading pioneers only 150 years old. I headed a quilt documentation project at the Farmington Museum which resulted in my oral interviews of 26 county families whose pioneering stories inspired me. Their mothers and grandmothers made quilts here in spite of a hard life in a harsh environment as early as 1890. I wrote their story, a women’s history book. Three books followed; the story of Farmington’s pioneer cemetery, oral interviews with some who grew up in a tiny, rural town that boomed into the city we know today and the pioneering pediatrician who came here with his contemporaries to help form that city.
San Juan County and its’ diverse cultural heritage is more than a place. It contains the heart and soul of a variety of people who share an appetite for remembering the past, whether born and raised here or, like myself, coming here and adopting the county as my own. I am a charter member of the San Juan County Historical Society along with many others who love the stories, tales, narratives and accounts of this county. I have served on the Board of Directors, to help improve the Historical Society to meet its’ core mission of saving a living archive of local history and making it available for generations to come. Today the Historical Society has made great progress toward achieving this mission. Hopefully younger historians will look back and be reminded of our time here and why we live in this special place.
by Connie J Nordstrom, July 13, 2025
Member Testimonials
San Juan Historical Society
Testimonials
Hear what our Visitors have to say about us
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about the San Juan Historical Society and how you can contribute to preserving local history.
What is the society's mission?
The mission of the San Juan County Historical Society is to collect and preserve historical documents pertaining to San Juan County; preserve these documents for future generations and create a computerized database from these documents for legitmate research and scholarly endeavors.
How can I contribute?
Join as a Member, Donate or Volunteer
Where can I find more information?
You can find more info by simply selecting About Us on the menu bar.
Can I volunteer?
Fill out our interest form or contact us by phone or email. We’ll follow up to schedule a brief orientation.
How can I donate?
You can Donate by Contacting Us by phone at 505.334.7136 or emailing us at sjchistoricalnm@centurylink.net
SAn Juan County Historical Society
Contact Information
For further inquiries or to arrange visits, please use the contact details below.
Feel free to contact us for more information or to donate artifacts.
Office
Visit our office during business hours for in-person inquiries.
201 North Main Avenue, Aztec, New Mexico 87410, United States