Meeting “Mrs. Joe Dan”
- Michael Jay Tucker's explosive-cargo
- May 4
- 4 min read
So last time I had us just exiting the Museum. We came down in the elevator, then went out the front door, and headed back along the path that led to the Museum gift shop. A moment later we were inside and browsing the offerings.
We ended up getting a book about Turquoise--I believe it was one of Joe Dan Lowry’s.(1) But I’m not sure because we gave it to David and Emily. Well, we’ll just go back and get another one on our next trip.
We looked at the jewelry. There were several pieces that were interesting, but we’d already had out trip to Turquoise World and so weren’t in the market for anything else. And we looked at some of the t-shirts and such, but, again, saw nothing we wanted.(2) And there were some mining and turquoise-themed toys we thought might interest the g’kids, but we took a pass.
About the photos: First, a shot of a statue inside the Museum. This Madonna (I think) actually belonged to the builder of the Castle, Gertrude Zachary. She did collect religious art, among many other things. Whatever, it is quite an impressive work.
Next, another exterior shot of the Museum. (Sorry for the poor quality.) This is the entrance.
And, finally, nothing to do with the story but I like the shot, here’s Martha at breakfast in December of 2024. It was a terrific muffin, by the way. This was at the Rivery Cafe here in Georgetown.
I noticed that the woman who had let us into the Museum in the first place was near the counter. I said hello. She responded. Because I am my father’s son (Lord! How that man could get people to talk!) I ended up asking her some questions about the Museum, the collection, and the family behind it all.
We had a nice chat, actually. At one point she identified herself as “Mrs. Joe Dan,” and I looked her up later. She was, of course, Davonna Lowry, described on the Museum’s webpage as “is the museum’s photographer and the family business general manager.” It was from here that I first heard a little of the origins of the collection...and of how it almost got a new home at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, but it just didn’t happen. That’s a shame, but I suppose in the long run the Castle that’s is its current home is at least as good a match.
We talked a bit more about the other aspects of the collection and its fate. Right now, she said, it looked like the Museum would be in this location from now on. Though...on the other hand...they were just renting the space. They were getting a good deal and all that, but, well, you never can tell what will happen in the long run.
It was then that she frightened me by adding that “Who knows? Maybe someone will come along and purchase it all.” I had a vision of someone with very deep pockets seeing a gold mine -- okay, Turquoise Mine --swooping in, and taking it all off to display in Paris or London or... God save us!...Las Vegas. Or, for that matter, to Dubai or NEOM, the futuristic city that is supposed to be under construction in Saudi Arabia. Assuming, of course, that they ever get it built.
That would be awful loss to Albuquerque, and to New Mexico in general. So, special note: Anyone out there with cash and a love of the Southwest? Or, if not cash, then great organizational skills and lots of friends who might donate? Either way, watch the Museum carefully. If something looks like it might go the wrong way...act!
We’ve already lost the Santa Fe Depot and the Alvarado Hotel. We don’t want this to go as well.
Anyway, we finished our conversation. Martha and I gathered up our purchases, and we headed out. We were satisfied. We had finally toured the Turquoise Museum. And now we could tick that off on the List Of Stuff To Do.
More importantly we’d done our bit to stomp ennui like it was a bug.
Then, Martha and I went across the street. We checked out the little shop that was just across the street. It was very nice. I suggested that we have coffee at the cafe but Martha said she had had enough caffeine for one day. So, instead, we headed to Old Town again. It was time, we thought, for an early dinner.
And though we didn’t know it, we were about to enjoy an excellent meal...
Plus a Grand Re-opening, after a fire and flood...
And months of dreadful silence.
More to come.
Footnotes:
1. For just a few of Joe Dan’s works, see https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001K8324M
2. You might, however. Check out the Museum’s clothing offerings here: https://turquoisemuseum.com/product-category/clothing/
3. If you haven’t encountered it already, NEOM is a planned city that is supposed to be built in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk Province. It is the brainchild of crown prince Mohammad bin Salman and is supposed to be a super-technical, futuristic City Of Tomorrow. Whether it will happen on not remains a subject of some debate. See the project’s webpage here: https://www.neom.com/en-us.
Neom also has a Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neom
Copyright©2025 Michael Jay Tucker
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