Farmington Museum Moves Forward on Major Story of Farmington Exhibit, Funding Secured

The Farmington Museum will host a large new exhibit titled the Story of Farmington in Dallas Hall after the City Council on Tuesday approved advancing to additional development phases. The design contract with New York based Reich and Petch runs 739,620 dollars and the museum and community partners have now raised 778,600 dollars to support the project.

The exhibit is planned for a 5,000 square foot footprint and was conceived through months of local engagement. Senior exhibition designer and project manager Peter Lam said the design team has worked with residents and cultural stewards since May to shape the project. “We have been working away since May on Phase 1,” he said. He added the designers visited area residents to define the goals and the audience for the exhibit. “We have defined what the project objective will be. We have designed who the audience will be,” Lam said. He said the team was inspired by the colors of Farmington sunsets. “We were really inspired by the sunsets in Farmington,” Lam said.

Designers toured regional sites including Aztec and Salmon Ruins, the Bisti Wilderness Area, the Riverside Nature Center, the Navajo Museum of Art and Culture, and the Aztec Museum. The exhibit will explore the four seasons of Farmington and incorporate interactive elements including digital media, imagery and artifacts. Historical themes slated for inclusion consist of the oil and gas industry, farming and apple orchards, paleontology and geology.

Funding came from multiple sources. A 100,000 dollar grant from New Mexico Destination Forward helped, and Visit Farmington initiated fundraising with 150,000 dollars. The city Community Transformation and Economic Diversification fund contributed 70,000 dollars and the city of Farmington added 30,000 dollars. Museum officials reported that an additional 428,600 dollars was raised in the past 60 days through a partnership between public and private entities. Christa Chapman said community members provided 214,300 dollars and the Museum Foundation matched that amount to reach a total of 778,600 dollars.

Mayor Nate Duckett welcomed the project and its potential to draw visitors and encourage outdoor exploration. “I’m very excited about this project,” he said. The council approved proceeding after Chapman and Visit Farmington staff requested movement to Phases 2 and 3. “Why would we nay something that’s already funded,” Duckett asked.

Beyond tourism dollars the exhibit aims to serve as a community hub, offering educational opportunities for youth and a venue to reflect diverse local histories. City leaders say the project also supports broader economic diversification goals that influence local public services and community wellbeing, and museum staff emphasize continued outreach as work moves into the next phases.