Santa Fe Trail Monument Preview and Presentation by the State Historian of New Mexico September 11, 2010

The public is invited to attend the foundry send-off of the Santa Fe Trail monument, which will be held at the sculptors’ studio in Santa Fe on Saturday, September 11, from 1 to 5 PM (1600 Lena Street, Studios A-5 & 6, Santa Fe, NM). This is an opportunity to view the completed clay enlargement of “The Magoffin Family Santa Fe/Chihuahua Trail Monument,” which soon will be cast in bronze.

At 2 PM, Dr. Rick Hendricks, New Mexico State Historian, will deliver a talk on the Magoffin Family and the Santa Fe and Chihuahua Trails. His archival research has uncovered new information about the family. At 2:30 PM, the sculptors, John Sherrill Houser and Taliesin Houser (father & son), will discuss the creative processes in making the monument - creating the small-scale model, the enlarging and mold-making phases, and bronze casting. The over life-size monument depicts Susan Shelby Magoffin, seated on her travel trunk, making an entry in her trail diary. Mr. Ring, her faithful greyhound, stands next to her. Susan’s diary, first published in 1926, is a major source on the Santa Fe Trail. It is unique for its time because it is culturally sensitive and reflects a woman’s perspective. The monument includes a large, bas-relief of her brother-in-law, James Wiley Magoffin, veteran Santa Fe trader, and his wife, Maria Gertrudis Valdez, a native of San Antonio, Texas.

Tax deductible limited editions of the Magoffin statue, bas-relief and maquette of Susan are available for purchase from the non-profit corporation, XII Travelers Memorial of the Southwest, to support the monument’s production and installation in downtown El Paso, Texas. For more information call: Erin Pantoja, PR Coordinator: 520-730-8294, erinpantoja@live.com