PHOTOS: New Mexico State Fair through the years
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The New Mexico State Fair has gone through many changes over the years. The first fair in New Mexico was a territorial fair in 1881.
The first time it would be referred to as a “state” fair wouldn’t be until 1911, one year before New Mexico would officially become a state. “But the governor decided, ‘we need to have a state fair, we’re going to be a state sometime, so let’s have a state fair,'” said Rodger Beimer, a New Mexico State Fair historian.
Prior to 1938, the New Mexico State Fair was held in the area of Rio Grande Blvd. and Central Ave. “East Albuquerque didn’t exist, I mean, the University of New Mexico was way out of town. The fairgrounds ended up being further out of town than that,” said Beimer.
In the mid-1930s, New Mexico Governor Clyde Tingley spearheaded a movement in the legislature to make the statute that established the New Mexico State Fair Commission. “Then he said, ‘Well if we got a State Fair Commission, we better have someplace to have a fair,'” Beimer said.
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So in 1936, local business owners, joined by the Chamber of Commerce and some bankers said they would put up some money if the state could do the same. “The City of Albuquerque and the state came up with $10,000, and in 1937, they bought 181 acres of land, which is now where the State Fair is,” said Beimer. In 1938, the first State Fair at the location where it is currently held took place.
The racetrack grandstand was built along with the original buildings at the fairgrounds. “There was horse racing and that’s where all the carnival acts and the concerts and things like that happened,” said Beimer. “Rodeo was held in front of the grandstand outside where the racetrack is now.”
Below are a few photos from the New Mexico State Fair over the years:
- Skipper Rigdon rides around the ring at the State Fair Rodeo | Albuquerque Museum, gift of the New Mexico State Fair, Charlie Frelund, 1947
- View of the State Fair Midway looking northwest | Albuquerque Museum, gift of the New Mexico State Fair, Charlie Frelund, 1953
- Crowd stands at the turnstiles for opening night of the State Fair Rodeo | Albuquerque Museum, gift of the New Mexico State Fair, Charlie Frelund, 1949
- Long Horn Ranch Stagecoach in the State Fair Parade | Photo by Rexx Curtis, 1951
- A man rides a bronco in the State Fair Rodeo | Albuquerque Museum, gift of the New Mexico State Fair, Charlie Frelund, 1947
- Canned goods competition at the State Fair | Albuquerque Museum, gift of the New Mexico State Fair, Charlie Frelund, 1940
- Chairwomen of local garden clubs at the State Fair’s Flower Show | Photo by Marthey Photo, 1952
- The Chevrolet exhibit at the State Fair Auto Show | Photo by Marthey Photo, 1952
- Frank L. Nicely and Company Furniture’s exhiit at the State Fair | Photo by Marthey Photo, 1952
- Junior Livestock Sale in the State Fair Dairy Barn | Photo by Marthey Photo, 1952
- New Mexico State Fair Midway | Photo Courtesy Albuquerque Museum, gift of John Airy, 1965
- Falstaff van pulls a float in the New Mexico State Fair Parade | Photo by Wengerd, 1953
- University of New Mexico marching band marches in the State Fair parade | Photo by Rexx Curtis, 1951
- New Mexico State Fair Cattle Barn |
- Three women judge the cherry pie baking contest at the New Mexico State Fair | Photo by Marthey Photo, 1952.
- Vegetables on plates in the horticultural exhibit at the State Fair | Photo by Marthey Photo, 1952
- Wilma Vaughn, State Fair Queen | Photo by Clarence E. Redman, 1950
- Fair Queens check in at State Fair office with Marleah Werker | Photo by Clarence E. Redman, 1950.
- State Fair Commission car carrying E. Lee Francis in the State Fair Parade | Photo by Rexx Curtis, 1951
In 1957, the Tingley Coliseum opened as the State Fair Coliseum. Roy Rogers and Dale Evans and the Sons of the Pioneers was the first act to perform there and did a show once a night for a week to mark the occasion.
One of the greatest traditions the State Fair has is the State Fair Queen, which began in the early 1950s, according to Beimer. “Every year, including this year, candidates from throughout the state, nominated by representing county fairs or county rodeos….can be nominated and can participate in the selection of a State Fair Rodeo Queen,” said Beimer.
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The queen gets selected on the second to the last day of the rodeo. The queen then reigns over the next year’s events. “The reason for that is the queen then – throughout the winter and the springtime, as an ambassador for the New Mexico State Fair – gets to travel the state at the expense of the fair so she can go promote the fair and get people involved,” said Beimer.
The New Mexico State Fair starts September 5 and runs through September 15.
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