Mining history celebrated
Hard Hat, Boots Museum Gala is Saturday in Grants

Fritz Eberhardt, near, and J.B. Norton both from Albuquerque, walk through the Grants Mining Museum on Thursday morning while on a guided tour of the underground exhibit. [Photo by Matt Hinshaw/Independent]

By Mike Marino
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — The Grants Chamber of Commerce is preparing to host the Eighth annual Hard Hat and Boots Museum Gala at The New Mexico Mining Museum. The event will kickoff at 7 p.m. Saturday. The mode of dress is dressy-casual, or western is optional for all attendees.

This year's theme will be a salute to the Bailey and Fife Mining Company and is sponsored by URI and Strathmoor Minerals. Food and beverages will be served with a no-host bar, and dancing will be part of the festivities with music provided by the "Over the Limit" band.

"We have a lot of events throughout the year, but this is one that is very special to the area because of its history of mining," Star Gonzales from the Grants/Cibola County Chamber of Commerce said.

The museum and information center is one of the top attractions in Grants, and every year people visit from all around the country. Tourists come to absorb the rich mining history of the Grants area all year long, but summer is particularly busy for the museum staff.

The Mining Museum includes an underground tour and a full display of uranium mining history on the main floor, as well as artifacts highlighting the area's logging and railroading history.

The chamber of commerce has several other events planned for the year.

"We get a lot of people coming to the chamber every day for information on our community and what we have to offer and we are excited about all the events coming up," Gonzales said.

For information on the Mining Museum, call(505) 287-4802.

For information on other Grants Chamber of Commerce events, call (505)287-4802.