Constructed 1938.
The 1938 Art Deco Style Courthouse is a four-story structure of cast stone and blond brick with cast concrete and metal bas relief embellishments. It was designed by R.E. Merrell and partially funded through the Public Works Administration. The decorative motifs include thunderbirds and a bas relief medallion depicting three early settlers with an Indian guide. The interior continues the Art Deco styling with terrazzo flooring and Deco style grills over the radiators. This style is also sometimes referred to as “WPA Moderne”. The courthouse is listed on the state historic register. — Source “Public Art and Architecture in New Mexico 1933-1943” by Kathryn A. Flynn
100 W. 2nd St. Portales, NM 88130 | 575-356-8562
