State Fossil

State Fossil

Studying the past in New Mexico has always resulted in rich finds about early human history and information about those species which were here millions of years before.  One of these early species was the Coelophysis (see-low-FYS-iss), an early Triassic dinosaur...

State Grass

Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis) The Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis) is one of the more widespread species of grass in New Mexico occurring in all 33 counties.  This perennial grass is a warm season grass and is without doubt the most valuable forage grass in the...

State Gem

Turquoise set in silver Hundreds of years before the Spanish explorers arrived, the Indians were mining and fashioning ornaments out of this gemstone in combination with shell and coral from the California coast they acquired in trading with other tribes. Chemically,...

State Flower

Soaptree Yucca (Yuca elata) One of the more common sights across lower elevations in New Mexico are various species of yucca.  One of these, Soaptree Yucca (Yuca elata) is one of the more widespread species.  Yucca are members of the Family Agavaceae. ...

State Folklorist

Claude Stephenson, Folk Arts Claude Stephenson, Folk Arts Coordinator and the State Folklorist, also serves as the ADA Coordinator. Claude currently sits on the New Mexico Music Commission and the New Mexico Centennial Steering Committee. He also manages the New...

State Flag

New Mexico Flag New Mexico historian Ralph Emerson Twitchell designed the first flag of New Mexico statehood, as authorized in 1915.  It consisted of a blue field with a miniature United States flag in the upper left corner, the state’s great seal in the lower...