Hidden History: A Revolutionary Story from New Mexico

As our nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, discover a remarkable story that began not in Philadelphia, but in Taos. Join us for an afternoon celebrating the New Mexico Historic Women Marker Program—an initiative dedicated to bringing the stories of extraordinary New Mexico women into public view through historical markers across the state. Celia Foy Castillo will introduce the Women Marker Program and share the compelling story of María Rosa Villalpando at this free presentation.

Born in Taos, Villalpando lived an extraordinary life on New Spain’s northern frontier during the same turbulent years as the American Revolution. Captured in a Comanche raid and traded across the Plains, she later married a French trapper and settled in Spanish St. Louis. When her husband abandoned the family and returned to France, Rosa successfully navigated the Spanish legal system to secure her family’s future. She also lived through the 1780 British and Native attack on St. Louis, the westernmost battle of the American Revolution.

Rosa’s remarkable journey of resilience, courage, and determination, and the descendants who still live in northern New Mexico today, reveals how deeply our state’s history is woven into the larger story of North America. Her life challenges us to see the nation’s founding through a broader lens, one that includes the people, cultures, and communities of Spain’s far-reaching frontier.

Come discover an extraordinary New Mexico woman whose story deserves to be remembered, and learn how the Women Marker Program is ensuring that more of these remarkable stories are preserved for future generations.

This program takes place in the museum’s auditorium and is FREE! Stay to join us for a reception hosted by the Endowment Fund of the Women’s Board of the Museum of New Mexico after the lecture.