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.
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“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…

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…

Arthur Johnson Memorial Library (Old Post Office)

Northeast Region: Raton

This building was originally the Raton Post Office and was built during the WPA era. Paintings by various well known New Mexico artists can be viewed in the library. 244 Cook Ave. Raton, NM 87740 | (575) 445-9711 openmon: 1-6pm | tue: 10am-6pm | wed: 10am-6pm | thu: 10am-9pm | fri: 10am-6pm Read more…

Branigan Cultural Center

South Region: Las Cruces

Constructed 1935. The Branigan Cultural Center hosts changing cultural exhibits, as well as educational programs, classes, and other special events. The building is on the National and State Registries of Historic Buildings.On view at the Cultural Center is the mural “First Book about New Mexico-1610”, painted by Tom Lea (1907) 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…

Carlsbad Museum & Art Center

Southeast Region: Carlsbad

According to the City of Carlsbad the Carlsbad Museum and Art Center was founded in 1931 and fulfills its mission as a cultural and educational institution through the collection, preservation, exhibition and interpretation of artifacts, documents and works of art relating to prehistory, history and aesthetic environment of the City Read more…

City of Las Vegas Museum & Rough Rider Memorial Collection

North Region: Las Vegas

Constructed 1940 The City of Las Vegas Museum and Rough Rider Memorial is housed in the historic Municipal Building. Las Vegas Municipal Building was designed by the Santa Fe architectural firm of Kruger & Clark and constructed during 1939-40 as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. Among the museum’s exhibits Read more…

Clayton High School

Northeast Region: Clayton

Constructed 1939. The entire four-block junior and senior high school complex was designed and funded by the WPA and built in the Pueblo-Revival style in 1939. It included a cafeteria, two-story high school, agricultural and manual arts building, a gymnasium/auditorium that also housed a home economics classroom, tennis courts, a Read more…

Clayton Public Library

Northeast Region: Clayton

Constructed 1939. The former Clayton Library, now known as the D.D. Monroe Civic Building, was built by the WPA in 1939 in the Pueblo-Revival style. The building was designed by Willard C. Kruger. It served as the public library until the 1980s when the library moved to a new building Read more…