A special website of the Silver City - Grant County Chamber of Commerce.
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Grant County is in the sunny southwest corner of New Mexico.

A large map of the county, showing points of interest, roads and features of the county, is available here.

Upcoming Events in Grant County

First Friday Downtown and Gateway Arch Dedication
September 3, 5:00 pm
Most businesses are open late! Street Life, music, puppets, stilt people, drama, stuff for kids, and more. And special dedication ceremonies for the Downtown Gateway Arch. Location: Downtown Silver City Phone: 575-534-9005

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San Vicente Artists' Fair
September 4 to September 5
More info to come Location: Historic Silco Theatre in Downtown Silver City
San Vicente Artists' Annual Art Fair
September 4 to September 5
San Vicente Artists’ Annual Art Fair takes place on Labor Day Weekend, Saturday and Sunday Artists and fine-crafters from all over the Southwest take part in this popular celebration of regional art. Visitors come from New Mexico and many other states to enjoy this diverse event. Step into an historic environment in the Silco Theatre, visit displays both in and outside, and enjoy talking with the artists. The historic Silco Theater, a renovated landmark in the heart of downtown Silver city, is the home of many cultural events and within easy walking distance of restaurants and galleries. Location: Historic Silco Theater Phone: 575-590-2006

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27th Annual Gem and Mineral Show
September 4 to September 6
The Grant County Rolling Stones Gem and Mineral Society’s 27th Annual Gem and Mineral Show will be held in Silver City, New Mexico on Labor Day weekend. The hours are: Saturday & Sunday, September 4 and 5 from 10am-5pm, Monday September 6 from 10am-4pm. The location is the new Grant County Business and Conference Center, 3031 Highway 180 East, Silver City. Admission is free. Over 55 dealers from throughout the United States, Mexico, Asia, and elsewhere will have their wares for sale. Activities include free daily field trips, Silent Auction, and the Wheel of Fortune. Food service is provided by the Silver City Lions Club. For more details, contact Grant County Rolling Stones Gem and Mineral Society, Vendor Manager L. Lett at 575-538-3216 or rollingstonesgmsshow@gmail.com Web site: http://rollingstonesgms.blogspot.com/ Location: Grant County Business and Conference Center Phone: 575-538-3216

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Astronomy Evening
September 4, 7:00 pm
ASTRONOMY EVENING AT GILA CLIFF DWELLINGS NATIONAL MONUMENT For: Saturday, September 4, 2010 Take advantage of New Mexico’s magnificent dark skies by attending the season’s second astronomy evening at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument on Saturday, September 4th beginning at 7:00 p.m. Schedule of events: 7:00 – 7:15 p.m. Make your own Star Wheel Navigate your way around the night sky. This fun take-home planisphere will show you “what’s up” each night. 7:15 – 8:00 Evening program: The Life and Times of Aldo Leopold Dr. Scott Fritz, Assistant Professor of History at Western New Mexico University will present an illustrated evening program “The Life and Times of Aldo Leopold” at the Aldo Leopold Amphitheater adjacent to the Gila Visitor Center. 8:00 – 8:30 p.m. Evening program: Stars of the Gila Dr. Al Grauer, an astronomer from the University of Arizona will offer visitors an opportunity to explore the wonders of the cosmos with “Stars of the Gila” an evening program examining the connection between the night sky and the Gila’s earliest inhabitants. 8:30 – 10:30 p.m. Night sky viewing (weather permitting). Telescopes provided by area astronomers, but visitors are encouraged to bring their own field glasses or telescopes. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Becky Latanich at (575) 536-9461 or by e-mail at becky_latanich@nps.gov. Location: Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Phone: 575-536-9461
Grant County Cowboy Culture
 
Visitors to Grant County will find themselves surrounded by cow country as much of the land is still used, at least part of the time, for grazing cattle.

The cattle industry got its start here in the 1880s as the gold and silver mines began to play out and pioneer families turned to more renewable resources such as grass. Ranching became a fresh start for homesteaders and businessmen alike, with a few of those early ranches becoming extremely large and prosperous. The pioneering ranchers brought in new breeds of cattle, built dams to collect runoff, drilled wells to provide water for their stock, and, yes, had to fight for the land. Ranch cowboys often accompanied U.S. troops on their excursions across southern New Mexico. The hard work paid off, and ranching continues to be a part of Grant County’s economy and culture. In fact, some of those pioneer ranches are still owned and worked by the same families.

This cowboy culture can be enjoyed by taking in the Silver City Wild West Rodeo in May/June, the county fair in September, by horseback on a guest ranch or with an outfitter. The Silver City Wild West Pro Rodeo attracts more than 300 cowboys and thousands of spectators who come for the high-flying bulls, the bucking broncos, and all the action of this PRCA sanctioned event. The Chamber of Commerce website can direct you to guest ranches and outfitters that specialize in cowboy experiences and wilderness trips. On a horse you can reach deep into the rugged and scenic Gila National Forest and back a hundred years in time.

If you enjoy cowboy music, be sure to include a night at the Copper Creek Ranch where they serve up a chuck wagon dinner and some mighty fine classic cowboy music. The chamber website can also help you find a cowboy entertainer who will come to your cabin or campsite and put on a show just for you—- just type “cowboy” in the search box. And while you are in Silver City, keep an eye out for the actors who put on occasion “hysterical” gunfights on Yankie Street. The action is hilarious, and the guns, of course, shoot blanks.

Cowboy culture is alive and well in Grant County. The work is still hard and a little dangerous and mostly done far from the road. You may not see a cowboy except when they come to town. Most will change into clean jeans, a nice shirt and “go to town” boots so you may not be able to tell a real cowboy from a tourist. If he’s extra polite, wears a long-sleeved shirt all year, and takes his hat off indoors, you’re probably seeing the real thing.

 
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