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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Colfax County Courthouse
Northeast Region: Raton
Constructed 1936. The 1936 Art Deco style Colfax County Courthouse is a five-story blond brick building embellished with glazed tile cornices and bas relief metal panels. The larger bas reliefs depict farming, mining, and cattle raising, the main industries of Colfax County. The motifs on the embellishments include cattle brands Read more…
Curry County Courthouse
East Region: Clovis
Constructed 1936. The Curry County Courthouse in Clovis was built in 1936 using WPA funds. 700 N. Main St. Clovis, NM 88101 | (575) 763-6016
Deming Post Office
Southwest Region: Deming
Constructed 1937. Built at the bid cost of $62,400, the national register-listed Deming Post Office was constructed in 1937 by the New Deal programs and is a red brick, single-story building with limestone belt courses, lintels, sills and decorative panels. Kenneth Adams completed the mural “Mountains & Yuccas” in the Read more…
Dona Ana County Courthouse
South Region: Las Cruces
Constructed 1937. This 1937, three-story, Spanish-Pueblo Revival style building was partially funded by the Public Works Administration. The courthouse, which is listed on both the state and national historic register, is currently vacant, but there is potential for it to be rehabilitated and repurposed in the future. — Source “Public Read more…
Downtown Truth or Consequences sidewalks
Southwest Region: Truth or Consequences
Constructed 1940. Downtown Truth or Consequences Truth or Consequences, NM 87901
E3 Children’s Museum & Science Center
Northwest Region: Farmington
Constructed 1937. The Farmington library was moved to a new building constructed in 1937 as a Works Progress Administration project located on the small city park at the corner of East La Plata and Orchard. The collection consisted of 2,000 books. This building was remodeled in 1961 and again in Read more…
Eddy County Courthouse
Southeast Region: Carlsbad
Constructed 1939. The original courthouse built in 1891, was a Victorian structure built for $21,000 with a steeple and dark colored locally-made brick; later additions were built similarly. When New Deal funds ($185,000) became available in 1939, the architecture of the building was drastically changed to the early Spanish style Read more…
Grant County Courthouse
Southwest Region: Silver City
Constructed 1930. Built in 1930, the Art Deco style courthouse was the first county courthouse to use New Deal funds for decorative murals. Theodore Van Soelen, N.A. painted two murals titled “Chino Mines” and “The Round Up” under the Public Works of Art Project in 1933 and 1934. Van Soelen Read more…
Herzstein Memorial Museum
Northeast Region: Clayton
Constructed 1919. Originally built as a Methodist Episcopal Church in 1919, the Herzstein Memorial Museum houses the largest WPA collection in the State of New Mexico. The collection includes furniture, paintings, and other items made by workers of the WPA. — Source: Herzstein Memorial Museum website 22 S. 2nd St. Read more…
Historical Center for Southeast New Mexico
Southeast Region: Roswell
Constructed 1912. The Center serves as a repository for historical items from Southeast New Mexico. Contained within the collection are bronze busts by John Raymond Terken in 1937. The busts are of prominent citizens John S. Chisum, Joseph Lea, John J. Hagerman and Amelia Bolton Church. — Source: “Public Art Read more…