WHEELS Museum Newsletter
Spring 2023 What is happening!
Music and History
Music Event:
Doug Figgs and Badger. Back by popular demand.
Saturday, April 1, 1:00 PM. at WHEELS, 1100 2nd St. SW.
Reservations only (505) 243 6269. Doug’s show was sold out last year, so call early!
Donation: $10.00. RSVP at (505) 243 6269.
In 2021 Doug was honored with the IWMA Male Performer of the Year award and "The Cowboy Way" received the IWMA Group of the Year award once again! Also in 2021 the song "El Caballo del Fuego" written by Doug Figgs, Floyd Beard, and Mariam was awarded the prestigious "Wrangler Award" from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum! "For several years now I have enjoyed listening to Doug's recordings and live performances. He's an excellent songwriter, picker and singer whose poignant western songs stem from his cowboy lifestyle in New Mexico. He's a Spur Award winner for good reason. His songs tell vivid stories from the frontier and the modern day west. Though Doug is quickly becoming a favorite on the western music scene, his tunes transcend all genres. I can't imagine who wouldn't enjoy listening to a Doug Figgs song!" Mike Blakely
For more about Doug see: https://www.dougfiggs.com/
Speaker Event:
Author/Speaker Event:
Ronn Perea. “Historic Albuquerque”
Saturday, April 8 at 11:00 AM at WHEELS, 1100 2nd St. SW.
Reservations (505) 243 6269. Admission is free, but of course, donations are gratefully appreciated.
Ronn is a great story teller, comedian and lover of Albuquerque and New Mexico History. He is a WHEELS docent and has written 5 books delving into our history. His talk will be full of old Albuquerque anecdotes including delightful stories about our beloved Alvarado Hotel and the politicians, actors and entertainers who stayed there.
This is a free event but, of course, donations are always appreciated. Ronn’s books will be on sale.
For more about Ronn, see: https://ronnperea.com/-l9OM0b6HK66zvSz6recm*t-/
Speaker Event:
Historian: Roland Penttila
“Railroad Time”
Saturday, May 27 at 10:00 AM at WHEELS, 1100 2nd St. SW.
Reservations (505) 243 6269. Admission is free, but of course, donations are gratefully appreciated.
Roland Penttila introduces you to Sir Sanford Fleming and describes how missing his train got him thinking about time and how we understand it. His work led to the world time zones and the standardized use of time that was a boon to the emerging industrialized world. As trains facilitated faster travel, there was a need for everyone to know what time it was.
Roland Penttila is a retired civil engineer who added amateur historian to his photography hobby. He approaches his historical research like an engineering project and is interested in a variety of historical topics.
Cultural Event:
Shabbat with Friends NM organizes gatherings that tap ancient folk, musical, and culinary traditions of the Jewish Sabbath (Friday eve-Saturday). We bring a taste of the Sabbath experience to the ABQ Wheels Museum on Friday evening, March 31, 2023.
The evening will feature ritual, song, learning, and joyful relaxation led by Rabbi Dov Gartenberg, the Convener of Shabbat with Friends. Here is the flow of the evening.
• 5-6pm The doors open at 5pm for a custom tour of the museum by the founder, Leba Freed.
• 6-7pm A Shabbat potluck feast opened by the Shabbat table rituals.
• 7-8pm. Sitting in a circle we will have a special musical and group singing hour with a special offering of Passover songs of the Seder and selected table music melodies led by the SWF Oneg Shabbos (Joy of Shabbat) Ensemble.
This gathering is open to the community. All our gatherings are intergenerational and kid friendly. It is a wonderful event for children who will be captivated by the exhibit and the model trains. The Wheels Museum is located at 1100 2nd SW between Pacific and Cromwell. There is ample free parking.
Pre-Registration is required to attend. Sign up early to guarantee a place. As part of preregistration, we will provide a link to the potluck signup and invite you to make a small donation to support both the museum and Shabbat with Friends.
Pre-Registration Link the Shabbat with Friends Gathering at the ABQ Wheels Museum:
Website: https://www.shabbatwithfriends.org
Historic Tours:
Trip to Chimayo. Saturday, April 22. Please join us for another WHEELS sponsored trip to historic landmarks of the Southwest. See poster below for details.
Train trip to the Grand Canyon. May 19-May 23. Only a few spaces left.
This trip will be scheduled through Amtrak Vacations as a Grand Canyon Getaway. North America's greatest natural monument awaits you on your Grand Canyon Getaway! Your exploration begins in Williams, Arizona, where you will be surrounded by nature in a quaint Route 66 town. Then, you will climb aboard the Grand Canyon Railway for a journey through a beautiful stretch of ponderosa pine forest to one of the seven wonders of the world: The Grand Canyon. At the South Rim, you will be treated to a tour and experience the Canyon in all its majesty. Keep your camera handy!
The trip will include the Amtrak trip from Albuquerque to Williams, the Grand Canyon Railway trip from Williams to the canyon and back, and then the return trip to Albuquerque by Amtrak. Lodging is included: Friday night will be at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams, Saturday will be at the Maswik Lodge at the Grand Canyon, and Sunday will be back at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. The Fred Harvey Restaurant will provide breakfast on Saturday morning and dinner on Sunday night. All other meals will be on your own. On Saturday you will enjoy a Motorcoach Freedom Rim Tour of the South Rim of the canyon. This will leave plenty of time for you to explore the Grand Canyon on your own on Saturday and Williams while you are there.
Call Leba or Janet at 505-243-6269 for reservations or more information.
New Exhibits
ATSF Roundhouse: The Railyard Roundhouse was one of the most important and iconic structures in historic Albuquerque. Unfortunately, the Roundhouse, like many structures, was demolished in 1986. When giving tours to visitors, we often have been at a loss to do justice in describing the Roundhouse. Now, through the generosity of a donor, we have a scale model (HO gauge) of the building. Volunteer Chuck Jones is doing the finishing touches of rebuilding the model. It is now on display for you to see.
Eastern Railroad Terminal: When you visit our WHEELS’ Alvarado Exhibit you see one of the finest examples of Santa Fe Rail passenger structure. Now through the generosity of Norm Wolstein, we have a scale model (O Gauge) of a railroad terminal that existed in the eastern United States.
Lionel Circus scene. Visitors often see model train exhibits when they are completed. Under the direction of volunteer John Westfall, a circus, with circus train, is coming to town on the Lionel (O Gauge layout).
Here is picture of the beginning phase of construction.
WHEELS visits the New Mexico Legislature. On February 23, President Leba Freed, with volunteers Alan Trosclair, Tom Sims, Richard Pytel and Richard Buratti visited the Santa Fe Roundhouse to request capital outlay funds for continued legislative funding of improvements for WHEELS.
Planning an event?
If you would like to schedule an event, apart or group tour at WHEELS, for up to 40 participants please contact us at 505 243-6269.
WHEELS Museum is a non-profit, volunteer run organization.
Address: 1100 Second Street SW, Albuquerque N.M.
Phone: (505) 243-6269 e-mail: wheelsmuseum@aol.com website: http://wheelsmuseum.org/
Mailing address: Wheels Museum, PO BOX 95438, Albuquerque, NM
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9AM - noon. Saturday 10AM – 2 PM. Summer months: Sundays 10 AM to 2 PM.
We very much would like to be open for more hours but we need more volunteers to be able to do so. If you are interested call Leba or Janet at (505) 243-6269.