You’ve likely heard the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Sometimes, to truly get a glimpse into life decades ago, a picture can be your greatest teacher. The following historic photos of New Mexico were captured in the mid-1930s, during the challenging Great Depression and just a few short years before World War II.

1. A large dust storm blows through a farm in May of 1935. These difficult farming conditions made many farmers move to new areas.
Dorothea Lange/Photogrammer
2. A young girl stands in front of the small town of Mills, located in the northeastern part of New Mexico. This photo was taken in 1935.
Dorothea Lange/Photogrammer
3. A man makes adobe bricks to build various buildings such as homes and schools in 1935.
Dorothea Lange/Photogrammer
4. This photo shows a temporary home in 1935 that was part of the Bosque Farms Project. Bosque Farms was one of the New Deal resettlement communities. Eventually, these temporary homes were used for barns and outbuildings.
Dorothea Lange/Photogrammer
5. Men and their teams of horses work to level the land in 1935 as part of the Bosque Farms Project.
Dorothea Lange/Photogrammer

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6. This photo was captured in Rancho de Taos in May 1936.
Arthur Rothstein/Photogrammer
7. A man works on constructing a new irrigation canal in Bosque Farms. This photo was taken in May 1936.
Arthur Rothstein/Photogrammer
8. This photo shows a charming schoolhouse in Taos County in 1936.
Arthur Rothstein/Photogrammer
9. A group of children watch the rides at a carnival at Roswell. This photo was taken in 1936.
Arthur Rothstein/Photogrammer
10. A photo of the Elephant Butte Dam in 1936.
Arthur Rothstein/Photogrammer
11. An image of the highway going west on U.S. 80 near Lordsburg. This photo was captured in July 1938.
Dorothea Lange/Programmer

Do any of these photos stand out to you? Which ones did you find most interesting? Let us know in the comments!

If you want to take a step back in time, plan a visit to one of these 10 unbelievable ruins in New Mexico.

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