GRANTS, N.M. – Cibola County has a rich history in mining. Uranium once boomed in this community, creating a strong economy that eventually led to the creation of Cibola County as a breakaway from Valencia County. Mining in the area contributed massively to the United States’ success during the Cold War. To honor the sacrifice of miners and their families, the New Mexico Mining Museum was established in the City of Grants, New Mexico.
NMMM Executive Director Brenda Curtright said that the Mining Museum Board of Directors decided they wanted to make a bigger impact for National Miner’s Day which was on December 6. The museum decided to make the event last a month and tie it into traditional New Mexican culture.
The board decided to give families an opportunity to honor their family members and miners who passed away all month. Families and other former miners can visit the New Mexico Mining Museum and write their name on and decorate a luminaria. Families who are not close to Grants or cannot get out of the house can contact the New Mexico Mining Museum or the Grants-Cibola County Chamber of Commerce on Facebook and the entities will make a luminaria bag for the miner.
This is not limited to former miners. Current miners and their families can have luminarias made and lit for them.
A luminaria is a Christmas lantern, and while it does not necessarily have anything to do with religion, it is a New Mexico staple. New Mexicans use these paper lanterns to light their pathways and their homes.
The Mining Museum will light the luminarias on Christmas Eve, December 24, in front of the mining museum at 5:30 p.m.
NMMM had 200 luminarias after just the first day, and that number has been steadily climbing.
“This is for all miners: Past and present. There is no application, just come on in – we will confirm through our registry of miners that that they are active and we will make them a luminaria.” Executive Director Curtright said, “We care about the miners of this community and across the state, the board thought this was a great way to get the families of miners engaged again while honoring their sacrifices and the, especially, the miner’s sacrifice.”