Monday, April 1, 2019

Las Ceinegas National Conservation Area (Empire Ranch)

March 28, 2019


We visited Las Cienegas NCA  about 3 weeks ago for just an overnight stop.  Without any scouting we saw there was plenty of space for a longer visit.  



Sharing our campsite with the local residents. Las Cienegas is still a working ranch.


As you drive in, there's a sign pointing to "BLM Headquarters" and we thouought it was just offices.  As an after thought, we drove up to see what there was to see.  What we found was a museum housed in the old ranch house with 27 rooms of history documenting the Empire Ranch all the way back to 1876.  Ironically, there are no offices.













If the above posters aren't legible, click this link for more Empire Ranch History


The exterior of the ranch house was remarkably bland, just a sprawling single story white adobe structure.




Adobe walls, about 16 inches thick.



The cowboy kitchen.


Interesting home made wooden spoon with a little hook at end of the handle to keep it from sliding into the bowl.















Coming next, The Desert Blooms.

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