The destination for this Saturday breakfast was The Range Cafe’ in Bernalillo, NM.  Bernalillo is a town approximately 10 miles  north of Albuquerque and it is also the location of the Coronado State Monument, an archaeologically important Native American site that preserves the ruins of Kuaua Pueblo.  This event was organized by Ethan Ortega who recently joined the staff as a ranger at the Monument.

Everyone assembled at the hardware store parking lot across the street from the Range Cafe’.  Joining the Tin Lizzies were 10 members of the Veteran Motor Car Club of America (VMCCA) as well as Orlando and Melody’s daughter and family of six from the United Arab Emirates.  Attending this breakfast were 43 (Tin Lizzie members and family members) and 14 Model T’s.  The Range Cafe’ food was excellent and the venue very colorful and fun!

Luke and his son Cole in Larry’s 1925 speedster Orlando and Melody’s son-in-law Patrick with Ellie, Emma, and Josh On the way to Bernalillo The Wing’s 1924 coupe (foreground) at the breakfast Bill and Donna Hansen’s 1924 Model T touring car Gathering before breakfast Julie (center) with the Azevedo’s 1921 Faultless Raceabout Breakfast at the Range Cafe’ Breakfast Breakfast Orlando and Melody’s family with Rose Ross Baby CeCe with sister Emma Josh and Ellie

After breakfast, everyone made the short drive northwest to the Coronado State Monument located off US Highway 550 and overlooking the Rio Grande.  According to the official website “It is named for Francisco Vasquez de Coronado who is thought to have camped near this site with his soldiers between 1540 and 1542. Vasquez de Coronado was searching for the fabled Seven Cities of Gold.”

“Archeologists working at this site during the 1930s discovered a series of kiva murals, which are considered some of the best examples of Pre-Columbian art ever found in North America. The Kuaua Murals were painted as frescoes over a period of about 75 years in the 15th Century.  Fourteen of the original murals are displayed in a gallery in the John Gaw Meem-designed visitor’s center.”

Source: http://www.nmmonuments.org/coronado

Our large crowd was divided into two groups to visit the mural gallery and a reconstructed kiva (ceremonial chamber) that was excavated and rebuilt in 1938.

Dave and Laura in their 1918 Model T depot hack Our Model T’s with a stunning Chrysler owned by Ken Murphy Luke and Cole in Larry’s 1925 Model T speedster Paul, Marilyn, and Patrick in their 1920 Model T touring car A beautiful 1932 Packard with Ethan Ortega Mark and Sharon Dominguez’s 1927 Model T touring car (foreground) Two coupes and Bruce’s newly rebuilt Tudor (foreground) Entering the pueblo grounds Coronado State Monument visitors center A guided tour of the Monument Listening to the history of the site Our guided tour Tour of the site Leaning about the kiva recreation Dave and Laura (left) Ethan – our event organizer Susan and Laura viewing a garden of native crops Our latest Tin Lizzie members Brian and Carolyn Gilmore!

The breakfast was wonderful and the visit to the Coronado State Monument very interesting.  We even picked up two new Tin Lizzie members.  We welcome Brian and Carolyn Gilmore (docents at the Coronado State Monument) to our club!

Thank you to Ethan for organizing this great event!