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Camino al Norte/The Road North: The Journey of Don Juan de Oñate
Bilingual – interpretive labels in English and Spanish
In 1598 Juan de Oñate led the last great expedition from Mexico to establish a kingdom north of the Río Grande. He hoped to create a new Mexico that would rival the original. He failed, but he began the establishment of roads, cities and industries that are woven into the texture of the American Southwest.
Capturing scenes and sights along the Camino Real from its starting point in Central Mexico to its destination near Taos, the exhibit includes 40 photographs of the Oñate Trail as we see it today, an outline map of the road, overview text, and photo captions in English and Spanish.
Panel topics include:
- Mountains, towns, streams, and men, women, and children in southern Chihuahua
- Desert lake, dunes, sunrise and fog nearing Juarez
- Pass of the North, Mount Cristo Rey, Mesilla Valley near El Paso
- Elephant Butte Reservoir, view of Albuquerque, San Juan de los Caballeros
- Río Grande in the Rockies, Santa Fe Fiesta, Church at Acoma, Inscription at El Morro
Exhibit format
Available in two editions, a wall-hanging fine art edition and a freestanding school edition.
Fine Art Edition: includes 40 photographs, outline map, overview text, and 2 framed posters by distinguished artist José Cisneros. Mounted in white mats, metal frames, 16”x 20”.
Shipping weight (4 fiber cases): 210 lbs.
Wall space required (running): 70’
School Edition: organized in 8 panels (4 two-sided units) framed in oak. Photos and bilingual texts are mounted on mats behind plexiglas. Panels measure 26” wide x 38” high and attach to wooden leg poles to stand 68” high.
Shipping weight (2 fiber cases): 105 lbs.
Floor space required: 5’ x 7’
Optional materials (available on request):
- Video overview, narrating Oñate’s adventures and misfortunes, in two versions, for youth and adults, both in English and Spanish.