Humans have impacted and transformed the high desert mountains, river valleys and buffalo plains of New Mexico for centuries, harvesting water for crops and shelter, celebrating life in ritual and ceremony, making landscapes sacred and special.
- Posts: 28 -
“The Big Ditch” Riverwalk Park
Southwest Region: Silver City
“The well known Riverwalk Park Area (known locally as “The Big Ditch”) was done with New Deal funds following a severe flood. The main purpose for the project was flood protection. There are also WPA sidewalks in this area and water and sewer lines were put in throughout the city. Read more…
Alameda Park Zoo
South Region: Alamogordo
Constructed 1898. The Alameda Park Zoo in downtown Alamogordo has the reputation and history of being the oldest zoo in the Southwest. The Alameda Park Zoo has more than 12 acres and over 250 exotic and indigenous animals. An education center, gift shop, restroom facilities, picnic area, and playground are Read more…
Albuquerque Rail Yards
Central Region: Albuquerque
Constructed 1880. “This site and its significant historic structures, located in the historic Barelas neighborhood and between the rail road tracks and 2nd Street, reflect an important part of Albuquerque’s economic and industrial past. The Atlantic and Pacific Railroad established locomotive repair shops and offices at the site in the Read more…
Artesia City Park (Central Park)
Southeast Region: Artesia
Constructed 1937. “The Artesia Improvement Company donated the land for a city park in 1906. In 1937, the corner pillars and stone walkways to the center of the park were added as a WPA project. Artesia Main Street, a local downtown revitalization organization, has plans for a complete renovation of Read more…
Artesia Residential Historic District
Southeast Region: Artesia
Constructed 1904. With mature trees shading many of its streets, a public park improved by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), and its early and mid-twentieth century building stock, Artesia’s historic residential district retains its original gracious character and integrity. Architecturally Artesia was influenced by the proximity of the railroad as Read more…
Ashley Pond Park
North Region: Los Alamos
Constructed 1995 Ashley Pond was named for Ashley Pond ll. He was the founder of the Los Alamos Ranch School. The pond was used by the school for swimming in the summer and making ice in the winter. On February 8, 1943, the school was vacated to make room for Read more…
Boston Hill
Southwest Region: Silver City
Boston Hill is actually comprised of three hills located at the southern edge of Silver City. The hill is notable for mining activity, which first took place in the 1870s. Though it was prospected for silver ore, it was manganiferous iron ore that was actually mined at this site. The Read more…
Cahoon Park
Southeast Region: Roswell
Constructed 1936. The City of Roswell acquired the Haynes property in the 1930s and turned it into a municipal park. It was named Cahoon Park in 1936 after pioneer banker E.A. Cahoon. Now, the North Spring River is an intermittent waterway about 5 miles in length coursing through Roswells western Read more…
Carnegie Park
North Region: Las Vegas
Carnegie Park was one of two city parks platted by the City of East Las Vegas soon after the Santa Fe Railroad arrived in 1879. Along with Lincoln Park, the two Las Vegas city parks are among the best preserved 19th Century parks in New Mexico. Laid out in a Read more…
Couse Pasture
North Region: Taos
Constructed 1930. The Couse pasture and house gardens together interpret open horse pasture lands neat the plaza and also a cultivated garden of one the Taos communities leading art families. Bucolic pastures with magnificent mountain views are common in the Taos valley, but the Couse pasture is distinctive for its Read more…