Learn About the Tularosa Basin at the New Mexico Museum of Space History
The New Mexico Museum of Space History was built after a proposition by former Alamogordo mayor Dwight Ohlinger. He took inspiration from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, proposing a Space Hall of Fame built in Alamogordo. This was all due to the role that the Tularosa Basin played in the development of the US space program.
The Tularosa Basin is known for its stunning natural beauty, rare gypsum sands, and of course, its role in the space program. It’s located in the Basin and Range Province of New Mexico. You’ll find the Sacramento Mountains to the east and the Organ and San Andres Mountains to the west.
The White Sands Missile Range, located in the Tularosa Basin, is known as the birthplace of America’s rocket and space activity. Many experiments have been conducted in this area, including the testing of rocket technology. The Hoffman Air Force Base deploys worldwide to support national security and peace and is also located in the Tularosa Basin.
We all know that New Mexico skies are perfect for stargazing, so there are several astronomical observation sites in the basin. Our state’s earliest archeoastronomy observation sites were discovered in the Sacramento Mountains. The Three Rivers site in the basin contains prehistoric petroglyphs which detail how the ancient man perceived their surroundings, including celestial bodies like the stars and moon.
The Basin Overlook at the New Mexico Museum of Space History
The Basin Overlook Exhibit offers a breathtakingly beautiful view of the Tularosa Basin. It focuses on the events in the Tularosa Basin that contributed to America’s exploration of space. The Basin’s glorious history is one of the primary reasons that the New Mexico Museum of Space History was built. Visit the museum and see the exhibit to learn more about this amazing place.