Civic Buildings
Government buildings in New Mexico have precedents in the early 1600s and now offer an impressive collection of city halls, county courthouses, libraries, fire houses, and other municipal assets that span over four centuries of history and architectural styles.
Icon attribution:
Assemblage icons created by Three musketeers – Flaticon
Designed & Cultural Landscapes
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.
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Landscape icons created by Creative Squad – Flaticon
Historic Districts
After the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 was adopted, New Mexico established historic districts in Spanish colonial neighborhoods, territorial boomtowns, American downtowns, eastern plains and oil patch towns. These districts preserve the best of New Mexico’s architectural landmarks.
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Ancient icons created by Three musketeers – Flaticon
Historic Hotels & Motels
Territorial and Victorian hotels are legendary in New Mexico (and some haunted!). Automobiles ushered in new family vacation favorites of motels and swimming pools and unforgettable desert sunsets. These memories are made every day in New Mexico lodging classics.
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Motel icons created by Freepik – Flaticon
Historic Theaters & Drive-Ins
From the days of vaudeville and silent films to the current digitally enhanced 3D spectaculars, New Mexico’s theaters have dazzled audiences for over a century. Explore these timeless stages with us!
Icon attribution:
Cinema icons created by Freepik – Flaticon
Museums & Libraries
Before New Mexico became a state in 1912, Carnegie libraries flourished and the Museum of New Mexico led community efforts to preserve the state’s rich archaeological and historical artifacts. These legacies continue to enrich intellectual life for all New Mexicans and visitors.
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Vase icons created by Vector Stall – Flaticon
National & Scenic Byways
The dramatic landscapes of New Mexico provide unforgettable sightseeing adventures to the legions of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians that explore the state’s system of scenic byways, from Route 66 to the old Santa Fe Trail, and many paths in between.
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Roads icons created by muh zakaria – Flaticon
Plazas & Courthouse Squares
New Mexico is home to original and authentic community plazas — beginning with prehistoric Native American ceremonial plazas and many distinctive Spanish Colonial era plazas, and evolving into the modern years with American courthouse squares. No other state can boast such a history of town and village squares.
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Courthouse icons created by juicy_fish – Flaticon
Public Art & Murals
New Mexico is home to a vibrant arts community that has created numerous spectacular examples of public art ranging from the monumental to the minimal, adorning plazas, parks, facades and sometimes the unexpected.
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Wall icons created by Freepik – Flaticon
Railroad
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad steamed through Raton pass in 1879 ushering in a fabulous period of progress and growth that reached every corner of the vast state. Explore these incredible roundhouses and depots, railroad districts and mercantile houses, locomotive and cabooses, hotels and freight offices that helped tame the southwestern frontier.
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Railroad crossing icons created by Smashicons – Flaticon
Veteran Memorials & Military Monuments
New Mexicans have served proudly in battles and wars to preserve precious freedoms. These epic conflicts and sacrifices are commemorated in local memorials, parks, public art and museum collections remembering Civil War campaigns on native soil to duty and service on international shores.
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Veteran icons created by Smashicons – Flaticon
WPA & New Deal
The federal Public Works Administration of the 1930s saw unique projects in many New Mexico communities that supported traditional folk arts along with impressive public projects such as parks, community buildings, art and murals. Often these projects reflected local adobe architectural forms and craftsmanship.
Icon attribution:
Handmade icons created by GOWI – Flaticon