Community Involvement

BNSF Awards Grant to Conserve Historic Murals

Recently, the BNSF Railway Foundation awarded a grant to the Koshare Foundation in La Junta, Colo., to help conserve historic Velino Herrera murals on display at the Koshare Indian Museum there.

Herrera's murals are the last remaining large murals of the renowned Zia Pueblo artist. Painted in 1949, the Koshare Indian Museum placed the murals on the walls of their kiva, a room used by modern Puebloans for religious rituals. The grant will allow conservation efforts led by Koshare Museum executive director, Jeremy Manyik, and Conservator Victoria Ryan of Art Care Services in Colorado Springs.

"The BNSF Railway Foundation recognizes the cultural and historic importance of these murals," said Andy Williams, BNSF director of public affairs. "We are proud to support the Koshare organization's effort to restore the murals so visitors to the museum can enjoy them for years to come."

The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, commonly known as Santa Fe, helped the Koshare Indian Museum with the purchase of the murals in 1949. Over the decades, Santa Fe, now BNSF, worked closely with the Koshare Indian Museum to preserve the culture and history of the community.

"We would not be able to pursue a project of this magnitude were it not for the generosity of foundations such as Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF)," said Kathrine Larkin, Koshare Foundation chair.

Pictured left to right, Victoria Montana Ryan, art restoration specialist for Art Care Services and fellow of the American institute for Conservation, Jeremy Manyik, Koshare Indian Museum, museum director, Brock Lowman, BNSF representative.