Aztec Museum Seeks City Support as Budget Shortfall Threatens Access

The Aztec Museum and Pioneer Village reported a mixed year to the Aztec City Commission on December 12, with strong visitor interest countered by a projected budget shortfall. Director Joan Monninger told commissioners the museum logged 4,087 guests in 2025, with visitors registering from 40 states and 21 countries, and that membership stands at 138, slightly down from last year. Operational costs ran about $70,000 while projected income was $62,000, leaving an appeal to the commission for help to close the gap.

For a small seasonal community museum, Monninger said, 1,000 to 5,000 guests per year is a realistic target and visitor satisfaction appears high based on time spent in the museum's 15 structures. "One of the things that we think about is, are we giving people a reason to visit, and are we giving them a reason to return," she said, linking programming and exhibits to repeat visitation. The museum's mission, she said, is simple and community centered. "Our mission is to collect, preserve and share the rich history of the communities we serve."

The museum operates seasonally from May 1 to October 31, with Tuesday through Saturday hours during visitor season and appointments available in the off season while staff add to collections and prepare exhibits. Staff highlighted popular items and moments from the year including a 1953 Mac Johnston letter sweater with a State Championship patch and an emotional moment when a woman held Fiesta dresses she had not seen since her youth. "One of the most sentimental things" for staff was conducting an oral history interview and hearing memories of growing up in the area. "We did an oral history interview with her and she talked about growing up here," Monninger said, adding, "just how moving these moments are for us."

Monninger thanked volunteers, the board of directors, Vista Nueva High School students who assist in spring and fall, and city workers who helped address a water leak late in the season. She told the commission the museum will seek municipal support. Mayor Mike Padilla advised Monninger to speak with the city manager about submitting a formal request.

The meeting also covered broader community planning items that bear on public health and equity, including approvals for budget resolutions, purchase agreements and an airport engineering contract. In quasi judicial business commissioners unanimously approved proposals by Hilcorp Energy Corp. for two new gas wells inside city limits, permits already approved by the state Oil Conservation Division, with production projected to begin in mid April. Department reports touched on senior center funding actions, water plant work and the status of an urgent care project, underscoring how cultural institutions, infrastructure and health services intersect in local planning and community wellbeing.

Decisions the city makes in coming months will affect not only the museum's ability to preserve local history but also educational programming, volunteer opportunities and the community supports that contribute to residents' social and mental health. The museum plans a new exhibit called The Unspun Tale Sheep in San Juan County, funded by a $1,000 county grant, for 2026 as it pursues solutions to remain an accessible resource for the region.