Support needed for Roswell Museum’s post-flood recovery

The Roswell Museum suffered significant flooding and subsequent damage during the City's historic flooding on October 19 and 20, 2024. Assessment continues of the 51,000-square-foot facility, which includes twelve gallery spaces, a planetarium, classrooms, auditorium and ceramics studio. Recovery will be a multi-year process.

Museum staff entered the building on Sunday morning 10/20 to remove key works from the permanent collection and evaluate damage once the 4-6 foot flood waters receded and the electricity was turned off. Due to safety measures taken, staff were unharmed in the disaster. Volunteers arrived Monday morning 10/21 to remove debris and mud from the exterior of the building, allowing for safer entry. The Conservation Center of Chicago, a disaster relief conservation laboratory, also arrived in Roswell on Monday and is working with museum staff to assess damage and begin efforts to stabilize art and artifacts. Multiple state officials toured the devastation on Tuesday 10/22, including Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez, who noted the extreme severity of damages and the museum’s cultural significance. Debra Garcia y Griego, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, came after governor Michelle Lujan Grisham toured the city. In addition to providing valuable resources and contacts, Garcia y Griego mobilized museum staff statewide. 

Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) representatives toured the facility with FEMA providing staff members additional national-level resources for advice and guidance when preserving historical elements, including specialists from the Smithsonian. Items in need of specialized treatments include the Robert H. Goddard Rocketry Collection and the Rogers and Mary Ellen Aston Collection of the American West with artifacts dating back to the Spanish Colonial Period. Concurrently, Servpro is providing remediation in cleaning the building of water and silt, reducing humidity levels, and removing compromised flooring, drywall, and furnishings to ensure the safety of the staff and workers and prevent the formation of mold.

Founded as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) Federal Art Center in 1935, the museum opened in 1937 and is one of four WPA museums still in operation. The museum serves as a cultural beacon and historical steward with a vast collection of Southwest Art, historical archives and artifacts, the Robert H. Goddard Rocketry Collection, a world-class planetarium, and art education outreach for children and adults. Though the museum is closed until further notice, all efforts are being made to ensure the museum’s continuation as a cherished resource, enhancing learning opportunities in southeastern New Mexico.

Museum staff recognize the importance of transparency about the impacts to the beloved institution. Press coverage was delayed to prioritize staff safety and collection security. The museum’s Board of Trustees and the Roswell Museum and Art Center (RMAC) Foundation, along with City, State and National departments and agencies will continue to mobilize support to ensure the longevity of this vital institution. Click here to aid the museum’s recovery by donating to the RMAC Foundation.