Steel Gangs, New Mexico’s Native American Railroad Workers

Join us on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 2 p.m. as railroad historian Fred Friedman explores the vital contributions of Navajo, Acoma, and Laguna railroad workers to the Santa Fe Railroad, highlighting their skill, cultural influence, and enduring relationships with the railroads since the late 19th century.
Retired railroad track maintenance supervisors have related that the best workers ever known to railroads have consistently been Native Americans. They were used to the climate, disciplined and competitive. They brought their culture with them as they traveled. In particular, Navajo [Dine], Acoma, and Laguna tribal members have remarkable histories with the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Railroads, beginning with the Navajo Treaty of 1880 and with an oral agreement between the Laguna Tribe and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe RR. The relationship extended beyond the track alignment and involved labor strikes, distinct cultural characteristics and relationships that continue today.
The program will be held at the Albuquerque Museum at 2000 Mountain Rd. NW in Old Town. Parking is free in the lot south of the Museum. Admission to the Museum and the AHS program is also free.